I used to do triathlons pretty hard-core with a top tri club in NYC. The amount of athletes I trained with who took illegal performance enhancing drugs was surprisingly high. They would see sketchy anti-aging out-of-pocket concierge docs for 5-10k a month who would prescribe them whatever they wanted/needed.
It's a very ego-driven sport. You get a lot of rich mid-life crisis types, generally uber Type-A Captains of Industry who achieve professional success and then are like "now what, what is my next feather in my cap?" ... the answer is Ironman/Kona. These dudes would drop 15k on a tri bike, swag it out 3 different sets of race wheels, rollers, power meter, carbon everything, $600 a month for the coach, $250 a month for the gym, $300 for pool fees and swim stroke clinics, $350 for yoga classes, $500 a month for massages, 20k per season for race entry fees and travel to races, training camps, etc etc etc.
I always advise to single women who want to meet rich dudes to join a tri club. My tri club alone had like 5 marriages in the time I trained there.
Anyway, fun sport, but I couldn't take the egos. I've found ultrarunning to have a much more down to earth and friendly crowd.
It's a very ego-driven sport. You get a lot of rich mid-life crisis types, generally uber Type-A Captains of Industry who achieve professional success and then are like "now what, what is my next feather in my cap?" ... the answer is Ironman/Kona. These dudes would drop 15k on a tri bike, swag it out 3 different sets of race wheels, rollers, power meter, carbon everything, $600 a month for the coach, $250 a month for the gym, $300 for pool fees and swim stroke clinics, $350 for yoga classes, $500 a month for massages, 20k per season for race entry fees and travel to races, training camps, etc etc etc.
I always advise to single women who want to meet rich dudes to join a tri club. My tri club alone had like 5 marriages in the time I trained there.
Anyway, fun sport, but I couldn't take the egos. I've found ultrarunning to have a much more down to earth and friendly crowd.