Triathlon training could be very exhausting both for the mind and body.
Now, for everyone--for those who have done it, those who thought about it, and for those who will never consider it--acknowledges that this is true.
But there is a great difference between just being informed of it and really understanding it.
Most people will never understand what other people have experienced to achieve their goals if they themselves have not gone through it.
It gets underestimated or it could continue to remain a mystery for them.
It can be a sad circumstance, really.
What's the aim of all this discussion? It's to let you know that you may not be much appreciated for your arduous training.
You may not be able to do some of the things that you are used to while training, like watching TV, eating lots of what we consider "unhealthy" foods, working out on "irregular" hours, etc...
but you just have to be ready to deal with these changes.
A lot of people who begin to train for triathlon will also have a sudden change in diet.
You would be avoiding any of the "anti-fitness" foods as mentioned above.
Now this can result to havoc in their personal lives.
They're all of a sudden in need of only lean beef.
No more McDonald's or other fast food! They cut out almost all french fries when they used to be a staple of their meal.
They say goodbye to the romance with jelly doughnuts in the mornings.
No more of the sauces their spouses or special someone always cook for them or they constantly have when they dine out; they are no longer want to eat them.
And most noticeable of all is avoiding sugar They simply do not want the sugar any longer.
Not just say goodbye to french fries but to other fried foods as well.
But you as well have to start spending less time with your friends.
No more bars and you might have to cancel those poker sessions and spend lesser time on the phone, instead of these you're out there training for swimming at some local pool or in the woods running.
There would also be changes in your sleeping habits.
Not so much of a night-owl any longer are you? You wish to be "early to bed and early to rise" to make yourself healthy and wise.
When your friends wish to go hang out until midnight at Coyote Ugly you're simply not interested.
You need to be up before dawn so you have got to go to sleep early! Your "energy" will be different as well.
You aren't going to be satisfied to watch television that much anymore, after you get deep into your triathlon training.
You're going to feel uneasy.
You might preoccupy yourself with new or even outdated and forgotten hobbies.
You may be able to do some woodworking.
Just about anything that you make you more energized mentally and emotionally.
I know a lot of this sounds unusual, but the bottom line is: you should be mentally ready to manage these changes when want to say you have done my first triathlon.