"Not A Real Athlete"?!?!

[velogirl]

I struggle with this question with many of my coaching clients (especially the women). Here are a sampling of some questions I ask them:

• Do you schedule your training?
  
• Is that training specific and structured?
  
• Do you monitor your caloric intake and the ratio of macro-nutrients (aka carbs, protein, and fat)?
  
• Do you measure the amount of fluids you drink on a daily basis?
  
• Do you maintain your equipment and clothing so you can participate in your sport?
  
• Do you get enough sleep so you can ride?
  
• Have you read a book, watched a video, or taken a class to learn more about the sport of cycling?
  

I think you get the picture. If you answered yes to even one of these questions, I would consider you an athlete.

It's difficult for many women, especially those of us pre-Title 9, to consider ourselves athletes. As girls, we were taught to be humble. Athletes aren't humble, right? We were taught that being competitive isn't feminine. But athletes are competitive, even if our competition is a local hill or a personal best time or completing our longest ride. We were taught that a beautiful body isn't muscular. Heck, you've all got muscles, even if they might be hidden under a little more adipose tissue than an elite athlete!

You do not need to be a racer to be an athlete. But for those who ride regularly, I would encourage you to be proud of your athletic accomplishments! And if someone questions that, just smile and know that there are other beautiful women cyclists who believe in you.

Lorri

[Nanci]

Maybe Manfriend should ride a Century with you to see if it's an athletic endeavor! Then tell him, "Now when I do these, that's the halfway point!"

He certainly has to concede that Lance et al are athletes. The difference between you and Lance is less than the difference between you and a non-cyclist.

I've puked at a race- the 5k where I set my PR for that distance. I could see the clock from 3 miles, and knew I had a shot, but it would take everything, and then when I crossed the finish, I still could have been ok if I could have kept moving, but a vol wanted my tear-off, and that was the last straw, stopping. Luckily, there was basically nothing in my stomach.

Sometimes I feel like I don't get as much respect from BF as I should, because my speeds are slow and because I'm not an Ironman...But then he's pretty quick to discuss nutrition and training strategies!


Nanci

[seagrape]

That's funny! I've seen people throw up from exertion- come close myself. If I may be honest, he's probably just threatened by your athletic prowess and is (unconsciously) trying to negate your success... As someone else suggested, have him ride a century- or two- with you, or throw him in a pool and see if can do repeats of 100s on whatever time and see how he does!

But then, again, Freud I'm not

My DH knows better than to say such things- I'd bop him right in the nose!

[nuthatch]

What a great thread! Thanks for posting your list, Lorri - it really gives a person some definition to what athlete means.

I would never have thought of myself as an athlete until my sister-in-law came along (she runs every day and raced in her youth). Now she has MS and struggles to maintain her daily fitness but she still feels she is an athlete. Isn't it amazing how a title like that can make you feel all daring and powerful!? Things I wouldn't have tried before, I do now, because in my mind I'm an athlete too.

[Veronica]

I'm with Seagrape, bop him on the nose, after you ride a hilly centuy with him.

V.

[Trek420]

I'm with Veronica, take him on a hilly ride and pass him wearing this

[Veronica]

I also want to know what's he doing now that makes him a real athlete? Or is he a former athelete who just fondly remembers his glory days?

V.

PS I STILL think you should bop him on the nose!

[fixedgeargirl]

Dianyla, if your friend's definition of an *athlete* is so limited, I'd be tempted to write him off as a semantic twit ! I am curious to know what he would call Lance Armstrong or my friend Mike Curiak who has won Iditabike more than once or my friend who just co-set a world record for amount of vertical gained on skis in a 24-hour period (50,000ft )?

I am now embracing the title of athlete for myself. I don't race, nor do I have a training plan. But I do get (and need) regular amounts of aerobic exercise. I engage in a few activities to achieve this. I am fit, and loving it! After years of denial, I have recognized this as a part of me. It was a long, hard time coming, but I'm glad I'm here. Thanks, Lorri, for posting your list. What an awesome way for us to regard ourselves!

I used to scoff at the idea that NASCAR drivers were "athletes". Then I saw a show about the amount of strength it takes to handle those machines and the amount of physical training those guys do. Changed my own definition of an "athlete".