5 common misconceptions about triathlon

For non-triathletes, this sport doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s three sports turned into one and it is a painful, difficult pursuit, so to someone who has never tried it for themselves, triathlon is—simply put—weird. Because triathlon is so foreign to so many people, it is easily misunderstood. Here are six of the most common misconceptions outsiders have regarding our sport.

Ironman is the most important race

It doesn’t matter if you’re doing a sprint triathlon, a half-iron race, an Ultraman, or any other distance—there is no one race that is more important than others. The only reason that so many people think that Ironman is the race for triathletes is because the organization of Ironman itself has been marketed so well. The most important race is whichever one you decide to pursue, and if you race any triathlons, no matter the distance, then you’re just as much a triathlete as someone who competes in Ironman events.

It takes a special person to be a triathlete

There is nothing special about triathletes. That’s why there are so many new triathletes at races all around the world every year. One day, someone isn’t a triathlete but they decide they want to give the sport a try. A few months later, they cross the finish line of their first race and all of a sudden they’re a triathlete. Anyone can complete a triathlon, it just requires consistent and dedicated training, which is what makes this sport so inviting and intriguing.

Triathletes don’t give in to temptations

To outsiders looking in, triathlon is just a sport of exercise, and surely a group of athletes who work out nonstop wouldn’t have vices. Of course, anyone in the sport knows that’s not the case at all. From post-workout drinks to mid-ride snack breaks and so many more sweet treats along the way, triathletes are some of the most lax people you’ll meet when it comes to giving in to temptations. Sure, there are some triathletes who follow strict diets, but a lot of us are pretty chill when it comes to food and drink.

Triathletes never have free time

This makes sense when you think about it. After all, we have to train three different sports, and if you add a gym session in there, how is anyone supposed to find time to relax or go out? Well, triathletes are great planners. We know we have to hit a certain number of hours of training every week and, for the most part, we hit that goal. But with that fine-tuned planning muscle, we are also good at making time to hang out with friends and family. We have busy lives, but we don’t only do triathlon-related activities.

You need the best gear

It’s easy to assume that, in order to succeed at triathlon, you need the best gear possible. The fastest bike, the newest running shoes, the most expensive wetsuit. That’s not the case at all. Certain pieces of gear can definitely help you improve your times, but when it comes down to it, all you need to be a triathlete are a pair of goggles, any bike with pumped-up tires and working brakes, and a pair of running shoes. Triathlon isn’t about winning or beating other people, it’s about pushing your own limits, and you don’t need the flashiest gear to do that.