"Not A Real Athlete"?!?!

[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".

[SadieKate]

For after the ride while you're waiting for him (can be purchased at www.girlbike.com)

[maillotpois]

AARGH!!! Of course you're an athlete. Crazy boys!

I used to get into arguments with DH about what is or is not "athletic" or a "sport". For example billiards or car racing. While I could do neither well, I would argue that these are not athletic. (Of course, I am sure both require tremendous eye hand coordination and reflexes, and car racing may even involve some endurance. But you get the point.) Anyway our arguments used to come down to anything that was a ball sport was a "sport" and thus, the person an athlete - as opposed to things I did at the time (hiking, climbing mountains) as being endurance based things that were less "athletic".

Of course now that we both cycle, he sort of sees my point and I don't think we have had one of those arguments in years!

[Trekhawk]

This thread is very cool. Eva is right he is being a bit of a w*nker. I think taking him for a ride as the others recommend would be a very humbling experience for him, then talk about who is the athlete.

Nanci - mate if it makes any difference you have my respect. Im always reading out your Brevet posts to my husband and Im in awe you have come such a long way with your riding.

[Dianyla]

Wow, this thread has really blossomed into something amazing overnight! You gals are awesome!

Some person-specific replies:

And from his comments to you about him being an athlete and you not, sounds like he's a bit of a wanker (good old Aussie term! do you have that term in the US?)

Heh, we technically don't have that term here but my roomie is british and he has taught me well. Yeah, I would definitely call ManFriend a bit of a wanker sometimes.

• 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?
  

velogirl, thank you for this list. I can answer yes to almost all of them (well, except for that pesky adequate sleep issue).

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

Veronica, you just hit it on the nose there. Other than the occasional tag-along on a bike ride (he drops me on very steep hills but on any other terrain I have to wait for him to catch up) and the occasional dayhike (where we're pretty evenly matched as long as I'm toting all the food) he really hasn't done much in the way of athletic endeavors since participating in team sports in high school.

still others think if you don't have a sub 3% body fat level you can't be an "athlete".

I figure if I drag my voluminous butt around for 20+ miles while enduring a bike seat wedgie the entire time...I'm an ATHLETE!

I totally agree! This is another part of the problem. He is quite slim (6'2" 150lbs) and has aged very gracefully and I think that this just reinforces his perception that an athlete (i.e. him) has low bodyfat and a non-athlete (i.e. me) looks more like a fluffy marshmallow zooming along on my bike (I'm 5'4" and 150lbs). I know I'm working much harder than he is to move the same amount of poundage down the road, and considering I can drop him that just highlights the difference in our physical fitness levels. So, yeah...

Sadiekate and Trek420 - I love those jerseys. Hmmm, I think I saw the Southpark one on the clearance rack just the other day, maybe I should go back and get it?

Kathi, sorry to hear about your ACL injury, those are very slow-healing. Sending Happy Knee Thoughts your way!

Everyone else who has replied, thank you! I agree that a good bop on the nose is in order for this bad doggy!

[doc]

I have a friend who is a firefighter. He called me the other day to let me know the firefighter obstacle course was open to the public for one day if I wanted to try it out. He told my husband, "I know how competitive she is. She would love the challenge". He also went on to tell him it is super hard, guys sometimes have trouble finishing, but he thinks I could do it. As it turns out I was working that day so I couldn't do it but you can believe I'm planning to do it next year.

So what is my point? It is clear to most men that a woman who can ride a century is a mega athelete. I've never done a couble century. I bow down to your athletic prowess.