How Do They Afford It?

I read one blog of a gal up in Oregon that does triathlons. She is SUPER enspiring. So far this year she's don IMCdL, she did Augusta 70.3 and she's getting ready to do IMAZ.

It's not just her that does alot of Ironman's. My personal trainer did IMSG this year (he always does) and he qualified for KONA, so he went over to KONA too. Plus he did a bunch of Olympic distance triathlon's.

I've looked to see how much registration fees are for an Ironman and they are EXPENSIVE!!! If I remember correctly, they are close to $600...for one race!!! HOLY CRAP!!! Granted, it's worth it. It's definitely worth it when you cross that finish line and hear that YOU are an Ironman.

But good grief, how do people afford to do multiple Ironman's in a year? I wish I had the money to do a couple of Ironman's a year AND have the money for the traveling expenses too.

Next year, all I'm going to do are Olympic distance triathlons (with the exception of a full marathon and the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay) and Olympic distance triathlons are expensive. They're usually around $70-80 a race. I'm definitely having to scale back how many races I do.

The year that I do my Ironman, unless I strike it rich between now and then and win the lottery, that will be THE ONLY race I do that year.

I just don't get how people have the $$$ to do all these races. I guess they all have better jobs than I do and make more money. :)

Not This Year

I had to send 2 emails tonight that I REALLY didn't want to send. I was looking online and doing research to find a hotel down in St. George for 5/6/11 - 5/10/11 because I'm supposed to volunteer at the Ironman St. George.

After looking at prices of hotels, I just can't justify spending $300+ on a hotel right now. I've got other things I need to purchase for my races, etc.

Honestly, I'm VERY concerned about money right now. I just don't seem to have enough money for everything. It really irritates me that people at my work think I make more $$$ than I do and just because I live at home, they think I don't have any bills. Money is just a major concern for me right now and spending $300+ on a hotel, I just can't do it.

So, tonight I had to send an email to the volunteer captain people at the Ironman to see if I can back out of volunteering this year. Hopefully it's still far enough away that I can back out.

I'm actually really quite upset that I can't volunteer this year now. I can only imagine how inspiring it would be to go down and volunteer at the Ironman and be in the presents of these amazing athletes. Oh well, I have to do what I have to do, you know? There's always next year.

I hope they get back with me soon.

2nd Job Needed

I tell ya, being healthy isn't cheap. Sometimes I say to myself "It sure was easier being fat", and yes, it was easier, but it's not worth it. I would so much rather have this hard life of finding time to workout and everything like that because I love it so much more.

Because being healthy isn't cheap, I am now in need of a second job. This season of my triathlons and 1/2 marathons is the most expensive season I've had so far. I'm afraid next season is going to be more.

I'm eventually going to need to upgrade to a better bike, and right now, the bike I'm looking at is at least $1,500. The helmet that I want, because it is aerodynamic, and will help me go faster, is $165, and that's not the cheapest helmet out there.

Unfortunately, I'm not good enough to get sponsors yet, so all of this has to come out of pocket.

So far this season, just in registration fees, I've paid over $600, and I still have to get a hotel for 1 of my races. I eventually would LOVE to do a race out of state, and that will cost even more because then you have to figure in transportation, hotel, plus, most out of state races are USAT sanctioned, therefore they cost more.

I need to become a member of USAT and NUTs. It's just crazy how expensive it is to be healthy. But you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world.