While triathletes may be some of the fittest and healthiest people you've ever met, they can oftentimes have their own quirky habits that many people deem abnormal.
Do you smell like chlorine all the time? No problem. Does your bike have its own room in the house? Of course.
For triathletes, many of these quirks are considered a rite of passage in our close, tight-knit community. If any of these quirks apply to you, start swimming, cycling and running stat—and in that order, too.
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You Know You're a Triathlete When...
Written by
Michael Nystrom
Your house looks like a bike shop.
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One bike in the living room, one in the hallway, two in the garage...
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Your Next TriathlonNo bathroom, no problem.
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You've peed in your wetsuit, on your bike and while running. NBD.
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Your Next TriathlonWardrobe makeover.
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When your closet becomes dominated by tri kits and finisher T-shirts.
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Your Next TriathlonYou run without socks.
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Those 15 seconds you save NOT putting on socks are important, OK?
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Your Next TriathlonYou have an M-Dot tattoo.
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How else will anyone know you're an IRONMAN?
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Your Next TriathlonYou get serious gear jealousy.
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The new 2019 model was released? Guess it's time for a trip to the bike shop.
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Your Next TriathlonBirds of a feather.
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You spend more time with your tri friends than your usual crew.
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Your Next TriathlonYou know what a brick workout is.
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We're not talking about doing squats with a couple of cinderblocks.
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Your Next TriathlonYou've used the #swimbikerun hashtag.
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Don't forget #IRONMAN, #triathlon or #lifebehindbars, either.
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Your Next TriathlonYou can't wait to hear, "[NAME] YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"
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The five words making all your hard training days worth it.
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Your Next TriathlonMultiple hours on your bike is normal.
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You'd rather ride four hours than drive your car for one.
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Your Next TriathlonYou have a favorite discipline.
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And you make excuses to skip other workouts to train for it more often.
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Your Next TriathlonYour grocery bill goes through the roof.
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As if the cost of race registrations weren't enough.
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Your Next TriathlonYou've shaved everything.
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Because smooth is fast—or something like that.
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Your Next TriathlonVacations become mini training camps.
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Your family may be barbequing on the beach, but you're swimming across the lake.
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Your Next TriathlonYou're a member of several triathlon Facebook groups.
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Shout out to Pathetic Triathletes Group, You Know You're an IRONMAN When...
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Your Next TriathlonYour bike costs more than your car.
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Well, you can't drive your car on the bike leg of an IRONMAN.
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Your Next TriathlonYou smell like chlorine 24/7.
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You're known around the office as the "swimmer."
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Your Next TriathlonYou dread laundry day.
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Doesn't hanging up all your expensive kits count as active recovery?
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Your Next TriathlonAwkward tan lines are the new normal.
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Awkward? More like a badge of honor
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Your Next TriathlonYou have less than 10 toenails.
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Honestly, why do we even have toenails in the first place?
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Your Next TriathlonYou count down to your post-race meal.
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That cheeseburger, milkshake and pound of fries aren't gonna eat themselves.
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Your Next TriathlonYour friends don't recognize you in street clothes.
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You mean you don't wear your aero helmet and cycling sunglasses at the grocery store?
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Your Next TriathlonChecking Strava is a daily ritual.
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How else are you going to creep on your competitor's progress?
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Your Next TriathlonHearing "mud run" makes you mad.
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"Oh, you've done an IRONMAN? My son/friend/wife does mud runs!"