4 Ways Triathlons Could Make You More Successful In Your Career

Have you ever watched an IRONMAN triathlon on television? These athletes swim, bike, and run a grueling course. I was never really familiar with them until I got involved in co-chairing a charity event where triathletes were fundraising. Watching these people power through the course was jaw-dropping for me. I like fitness, but this took it to a whole new level!

Triathletes Have Something In Common...

Leading up to the event, I got to know many of the athletes. Through email, phone, and finally in-person at the event itself, I came to realize these individuals shared a common trait: They were all very successful in their careers. While their professions varied, their commitment to professional success was as strong as their commitment to racing. From this I had a theory: Could triathlon racing help someone be better in their career? I decided to find out.

A Race Operations Manager Confirmed My Theory

Audra Tassone is the Northeast Operations Manager for IRONMAN. I've gotten to know her through the charity fundraising at the Timberman races held each August. This includes a Sprint (1/3 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run which is great for first-timers) and a IRONMAN 70.3 (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run - half the length of full IRONMAN). I asked her if she noticed any correlation between career success and triathletes and her answer was a big, "yes!"

Here's what she had to say...

#1 - Triathlons Are An Extension Of The Athlete's Professional Self

"Triathletes, by their nature, enjoy being challenged. They're the type of people that want to always improve and change for the better. Racing helps them push to new levels," says Tassone. She said this type of conditioning helps them stay calm and work through career challenges as well. "They don't give up easily in anything they do," Tassone emphasizes, which means they see career setbacks as fixable - and act accordingly.

#2 - With Each Race, Their Personal Confidence Increases

Tassone shared with me many first-time Sprint or 70.3 racers are individuals who started out with a simple 5K race road race. "Once they see what they're capable of completing on their own, they don't want to stop. Each race is another victory that fuels their confidence in their ability to accomplish things in life." Tassone says the happiness derived from this personal success drives them to take more calculated risks in their careers too. "They want the same feeling from their jobs that they get from completing races."

Picture of the early hours before the race begins - provided by IRONMAN.

#3 - Besides Physical Benefits, Triathletes Develop Valuable Skills

Training for a triathlon doesn't just offer the physical rewards of being more fit and reducing stress, it also develops focus, time management, and being regimented. "As new triathletes get stronger, it inspires them to find ways to get even better. Staying on their training routine helps them get comfortable with the consistent effort needed to reach new levels of success." Tassone says athletes can then use that experience to help them stay on track in their careers too, stating, "The skills are interchangeable between athletics and career."

#4 - You Are The Company You Keep

Of all the career benefits triathletes gain, Tassone says it's the community factor she feels is most impactful: "Triathletes share a level of support and camaraderie that is very special. It doesn't matter what race level you're at, you're part of the tribe. The community is very supportive of all racers because they share a common bond of wanting to triumph over personal adversity." Tassone says many athletes form bonds that carry well beyond race day. Forming training groups and planning to attend races together are just a couple of ways they develop these relationships. Tassone says, "I know a lot of racers who have become colleagues and friends as a result of meeting at races."

Any Triathletes Out There Want To Share Their Experiences?

I'd love to hear from any readers who are triathletes. I invite you to share your experiences in the comments below. Who knows? Maybe you'll inspire some professionals here to train for their first triathlon, and ultimately, set them on a potential path to greater career satisfaction!

P.S. - Have we met yet? First, thanks for reading my article! I have the privilege of being the CEO of CareerHMO.com. Besides writing for LinkedIn, I also write column for INC Magazine is called "Workplace Referee." I invite you to CLICK BELOW on some of my most popular articles:

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