Best and Worst Pets for Triathletes

You train. Hard. A lot. You work. You have family and friends and just maybe have found a significant other who will put up with your crazy schedule and decreased sex drive at peak training time. Do you really have time for a pet? Why would you want one?

Well, the answers are: yes, if you get the right kind. And: because they give you the unconditional love you might be lacking (mom and dad don't count) and teach you to care about something other than your killer abs for a bit of every day.

So now you want a little friend. Here are some suggestions for a pet that will fit into your trilifestyle:

BEST PETS

1. a cat- they're independent, so they won't freak out when you're gone most of the day. They're also fuzzy and cuddly so you can hug and kiss them and snuggle. (The downside? They might just destroy everything you own if you get one who resents being left alone every day. But as long as it's not your bike or tri clothes, who cares? Buy a scratching pole.)


2. a hamster- they're fun to watch. They will play in their little tubular home all day and play around in your hands when you get home. Not as much clean up as the cat (littler pet, littler poo), they also don't make much noise.


3. a fish- the ultimate tri pet. Very low maintenance. They won't get pissed off and make noise at you when you're sleeping to come play with them. They don't cost a lot and if you're lucky, you might even get one who recognizes your presence and swims to the side of his bowl when you stick your head there to make fishy faces at him. Just don't name it Goldie, that's lame. How about Peter Reid?

WORST PETS

1. a dog- ok, here this one out. Assuming you work out and then work all day long, a dog is not ideal because it needs love and attention. Not to mention bathroom breaks. They are, however, extremely intelligent and loyal and will definitely give you the attention and unconditional love you may crave, if frequenting your local tri club functions has not yet yielded a significant other. But coming home from a long hard day to find a yellow lake on your kitchen floor is not going to make your hectic life any easier.


2. A bird- yes, they're low maintenance, but they sing. Not good when you need nappy time or sleepy time. And you don't want PETA on your butt when your bird suddenly eats it one of your restless nights. Not like you'd kill a bird or anything...


3. A ferret- they like to munch on your toes and bite holes in your clothes. Enough said. (And they're illegal as pets in California.)

So there you have it. If you feel your life is all about you, need some tlc, or a little more entertainment in your life that's not spoon-fed to you from the E! channel, try getting a pet! It may be just the change you need to get re-inspired about your training and your "you" time.

Happy pet finding!

5 Reasons Why Tri Clubs are Better Than Any Dating Service

If you haven’t yet joined a local tri club, maybe it’s time you reconsidered—especially if you’re single. Here’s why:

1. Every member has been prescreened to have similar interests to you. Triathletes, no matter what distance they’re training for, are highly motivated, positive, self-sufficient, nice, fun, goal-oriented people. And don’t forget athletic, good-looking, and muscular. Multiply those qualities by thousands of people, and you’ve got a dating pool made in heaven!


2. There are tons of opportunities to meet up with the aforementioned pool of potentially perfect matches under the guise of doing something else. “Training” is the number one best excuse for a date, as are club social events, races, and “carbo loading” i.e. chatting at your local brewpub. Triathlon provides many alternatives to the word “date”, letting you out of the preconceived notions of what should happen on a “date” and the awkwardness that ensues once said “date” doesn’t go as planned. A few more examples of alternative triwords to the word “date”: a “training ride”, a “recovery run”, and an “ocean swim” (if you really want to show off that 6 pack right away)…


3. Everyone you meet will be wearing spandex. If not at your first meeting, then very soon thereafter. So if you want to size someone up, or see him/her in a bathing suit, you won’t have to do any work at all. In fact, your future date will be happy to show off his/her body in the skimpiest outfits known to mankind. If Louis Garneau marked that top and those tiny bum-hugging shorts as appropriate, they must be!


4. You can go out to eat, again under the pretext of something like “carbo loading”, and not worry about getting teased endlessly for ordering an appetizer, entrée, and dessert—and licking every plate clean! Your tridate will do the same.


5. Conversation will never fail. Even if you don’t eventually marry the first person you meet at your local tri club, you will have something to talk about. There are endless tri-related topics to choose from, and if you are both trigeeks (almost guaranteed, as you were prescreened, here, remember?), you will both be passionate about whatever the conversation turns to. Like 650 vs 700 cc wheels. Or wetsuit vs. no wetsuit. Or the ridiculous rise in race fees. There’s no way you’re going to eat $150 worth of Gatorade and Powerbars in that upcoming Olympic race! Goodbye awkward first meeting, hello instant connection.

So if you’re not already a part of a triathlon club, check one out! There are tons of singles (hey, it’s hard to find someone who understands your drive to work out 30+ hours this week…but not in a triathlon club!), and endless fun events at which to meet them.

Happy tridating!

Ode to the Long Ride

When I start out all alone

sometimes I just want to go home.

Everything hurts and I'm in a lot of pain

and I certainly don't like to bike in the rain.

Then somewhere around mile 60

My body decides to do something nifty.

The endorphins kick in and I'm riding on high

I can't even feel that pain in my thigh.

I begin to fly up the climb

Making it to the top in record time.

And once I hit the top,

The feeling doesn't stop.

Nothing could possibly go wrong,

And I begin to sing my favorite song.

Then just at about mile 90,

Something happens that is quite slimy,

No, nothing to do with my numb toes,

A very juicy bug dies on impact with my nose.

Ewwwwwww! Splat! It's all over my face,

Its little yellow bug guts go all over the place.

And you might think this would ruin my endorphin rush,

But then I get to thinking and such:

Much better the squishy bug than me,

And so I ride home hapily.

120 miles I have covered,

New places I have discovered.

And I am so proud of me,

But I keep thinking of that juicy bee.

Poor fella was out for a Sunday flight,too,

But, hey, whatcha gonna do?

Happy long riding!

Goofy TriToon of the Day

Having a hard time finding a place to swim? Masters too fast? Too early? Is the redneck pool featured last week just not going to cut it? Here's an idea for getting what you need to get those workouts:

For more tritoons, click here!

Happy swimming!

Office Etiquette for the Triathlete: What to Do When Work=Life for Your Coworker

Triathletes are a special breed. Through years of training, we have worked out that delicate balance between family, exercise, work, and personal time. We know that when one of those things overpowers the others, life gets rough. And the best way to succeed and do your very best is to find the best balance for you.

But what happens when you run up against someone who hasn't figured this out yet? And what if you have to work with them? They may resent you because they don't feel you're pulling your load at work when you don't stay overtime. The "American Way", after all, tells us we should work hard because that's what will make us successful. And we all want to be successful, right?

Triathletes do work hard. We work very hard. But at ALL aspects of life, not just in the office. We tend to measure success not in how much money we make (as long as it's enough for race entry fees, food, and gear, we're set!) or in what promotions we get. And when coworker Joe Schmoe has dedicated his life to ensuring that people everywhere have their appropriate dose of pictures of Britney Spears' shaved head on the gossip website you work at (tailor this example to your situation), he's going to give you poo about "having a life". As if it's more honorable to stay late on Friday night to get that 10th photo of Ms. Spears than it is to spend time with your family or work toward another goal...like, say, Ironman.

So what to do?

You could pin a picture of said coworker's face to a dart board at home, and in the 2 spare minutes you have to yourself before going to bed, launch darts at him. But that's a bit too passive aggressive for a go-getter like you.

Speak with your boss so you have solid hours. That way, there shouldn't be any wishy washiness about when you're allowed to go. If Picture-Finder Joe Schmoe has later hours, or wants to stay later, that's his prerogative. In no way should it make you feel guilty at all.

There are always times when you might be asked to stay later to fix something. And if you can, and it's not an every day occurrence, it's up to you to do so or not.

Just remember: if you do the best you can do all the time (which is a motto most triathletes live by), you should have no regrets. There will always be "haters" who are jealous of your thriving social live, your kick ass athletic physique, and your amazing athletic accomplishments. They don't like you and give you a hard time because they're jealous.

Take pity on them. And maybe one day, buy them a swim cap or something and encourage them to tri, too!

Happy Thursday!