Money Talk
By Alison Colavecchia
5.10.04 (www.slowtwitch.com)

Triathletes talk a lot about money. Not about our pros and how much they make, like other sports do. We talk about how much doing the sport costs, the incomes of its participants and how much we spend on the toys perceived to be necessary for participation in the sport.

Instead of talking in generalities, I thought I would provide an actual example.

Getting to the start of my first Ironman cost somewhere between $10,000- $15,000 in Canadian dollars. That is, it cost that much to go from absolute ground zero through to Ironday. It took five years. For those of you still gasping, that works out to an average of around $2,500 per year.

Let me try to tell you where this money went.

In the swimming department, over the five years, I purchased a training suit, one tri-specific swimsuit, and four pairs of goggles and toiletries for my swimming bag. The towel I used was a gift. I bought one pair of paddles and a pull buoy. I pay approximately $2.00 for the public adult swim, averaging this out to twice per week for about 9 months of the year, totalling $144.00 per year or roughly $720.00 for the five-year period. I rented a wetsuit I think about 6 times for on average $35.00 per race.

The cycling of course has been the most expensive and I have discussed some of the items in other articles, but for a quick recap I offer the following. I try to ride most of the year and only stop when there is ice on the road. If it is minus 20 Celsius and there’s no ice, I will ride. So I need all weather gear. I also need all weather bikes. My first bike was a used Miele, which I paid $200 for. This is now my winter bike. I have an inexpensive Cateye computer on this bike as well as mudguards. I have a light that was a gift. I bought a decent stem for it for $70 and some inexpensive aerobars. I rode this bike for the first two years for both training and racing.

In my third year I purchased a tri-bike, a Cervelo One, with Dan E’s and Dan’s R’s help (see article) and paid roughly $1800 for it. I upgraded the seat, bought a front bottle system, Bento Box, slightly better but not fancy bike computer. I also invested in a pair of Mavic training wheels, and a double back mounted bottle holder and a bunch of bottles over the years. I have one pair of lined riding tights, three pairs of cycling shorts, two long sleeve microfibre shirts and one cycling jacket (gift). I have a few pairs of specific cycling socks but otherwise wear my skinny running socks. I have purchased two pairs of cycling shoes in five years have a light (gift) and heavy pair of booties as well as toe covers (these are wonderful) and shoe inserts. I have 5 cycling jerseys. Two are club colors and one a gift, the other more of a layer for winter riding. I have paid for two annual check-ups for the Cervelo and a few minor replacement parts, a couple of bottles of bike lust, good chain grease and a chain cleaner. I have a small assortment of minor tools and two cycling pouches. I have a small pump, floor pump, buy about 3-4 tubes per year and own a patch kit that I have never used. In order to ride with the cycling club on a regular basis (and not get razzed) I purchased a road bike for about $2800 Canadian (paid in instalments). I own one helmet. For the last two years, I have joined the cycling club for $52.00 per year.

I have faithfully purchased 2-3 pairs of running shoes per year at about $150.00 per pair. I have a couple of pairs of tights, nylon shorts and 2 short sleeve microfibre shirts. I use my cycling jacket and own one nylon vest. I have a headband, one hat, and two pairs of little running gloves (the dollar store ones are just as good) and a wack of skinny socks. I own a heartrate monitor, low cost model and one Ironman watch.

I have most often raced close to home going away only 4 times during the five years (Muskoka, Peterborough, Tupper Lake and Lake Placid) We were still able to drive to these races but decided to take family vacations around them which increased the costs significantly but these figures I have included in the overall total. I raced about 25 races in 5 years and participated in one Rideau Lakes Ride ($120.00). The races were a combination of running and triathlons the most expensive being Lake Placid, the others ranging in cost from $24.00- $100.00 each. I did a couple of 5km runs, one 10-km race, a pair of half-marathons and an increase in triathlon distances each year including two half-Ironman's and one full. The only race that I bought pictures at was the Ironman and I also indulged in a few finishers goodies most of which I gave away save two t-shirts, a pair of tights and a bumper sticker. I bought a seat cover that I will never ever use ever again…ouch; replacement parts for my aerobottle system and a couple of extra bottles because they matched my bike (they were also $2 each).

During the latter two and a half years I paid for personal coaching which was worth every penny (thanks Joel), regularly attended a physiotherapist and occasionally had a massage. I was reimbursed for all the physio and for some of the massage. I joined the Parks and Recreation gym for $200 per annum. I bought a pack of blank videotapes to tape races, two yoga tapes and a theraball.

In order to pay for all of this I was willing to give up other things. I don’t spend much on clothes—I try to buy most of them used. You wouldn’t know it; I have a good eye. I used to get most of the children’s staples used too, until my older daughter became a little more savvy, that is. I have driven used/hand-me-down cars until my current vehicle. I bring my own lunch to work, have sewn all the upholstery-type-stuff myself and done most painting and home jobs myself. We did not have cable and most of our movies then were borrowed from the library for free. I don’t go away on fancy vacations or out often for meals, entertaining was most often done at home. I did not participate in any other sports. My ex-husband played hockey and basketball and our children have participated in a full range of winter and summer, in-school and club sports over the five years.

In trying to decide whether these expenditures were overly extravagant or completely self-indulgent, I have asked myself the same questions I have asked clients and friends when they were trying to make fairly big life decisions. For example, whether to take a new job. The main question that I believe worth addressing is what is your mental health worth? If you take the new job that pays an extra $10,000 but you’re now driving an extra hour to and from work, is this worth it to you? To your family?

Being athletic again seemed to even out so many aspects of my character, physiology and emotional well-being. I tend to be someone who goes full-tilt into things and then move on. This did not happen with triathlon. The consistency, organization and commitment that triathlon demanded of me left me surprisingly less vulnerable to mood swings and reduced my need to overdo things elsewhere. I have in the past eaten, shopped, drunk, smoked and worked too much. Believe me, overdoing it in these areas can cost a heck of a lot more than $2,500 per year! Instead, I gained a healthier sense of self, felt fitter, sexier and more vibrant than at any other time in my life. My return to sport also gave me the confidence to pursue a wonderful career opportunity.

Lest you think me a complete neurotic or neglectful mother, I can assure you I am not. I write this because I don’t think my experience has been all that unique. Hundreds of thousands of folks discover every year that living an active life is a stabilizing force in their lives. Indeed I think most would say that the increased fitness sport brings to their lives carries with it a moderating force which serves to buffer against the stresses of daily living, as well as from the stress of extraordinary life events. Perhaps what is more unique is the level of activity required to get me personally there. Going for a few walks per week just doesn’t cut it for me. About 7-10 hours of activity per week, whether I am pursuing a race or not, seems to be about the optimal level. This is the amount of sports activity that keeps me adaptable, confident and energetic, and an all-around better person. I imagine this is due to both a characterological need to be a bit driven in some direction, and having a body that grew-up accustomed to expending significant volumes of energy in a pool.

I am a milk & cookies mom. My children go to school with homemade lunches, eat homemade dinners every night, and eaten at a family dinner table almost every day of their lives, excepting pizza and hockey nights. I have been as involved as they have requested in their athletic and class activities, attended all of their important functions, and baked cupcakes until they told me it was no longer cool. I have shuffled my children to their social engagements, volunteered at their schools, helped with homework and tucked them in most nights. I have taken time off work to nurse them when they were sick. I can keep up with them when they run and, if an impromptu bike ride or ski day presents itself, I can jump in. I have a steadily increasing head of grey hair but I believe they would use words to describe me that sound something like vital and optimistic. I do not believe my children would describe me as an absentee triathlon mom. I do believe they are just as proud of me as I am of them.

I think most folks prefer our company when we are at our personal best. If having me function at this level costs a reasonable amount per year, isn’t this a good return on the investment? If you could feel happy, healthy and vibrant most days of every year what would you be willing to pay? What would you be willing to give up elsewhere in your life to have this?

Cost of 5 years of triathlon training and racing somewhere between $10-15,000 in Canadian dollars. Cost of having children proud to call me their mom? Cost of walking with dignity and durability? Priceless.

Still Tri’n