6 Triathletes Share Why They Left The Sport

Triathlon is often billed as a lifelong sport, and in our 2025 Triathlete Community Survey, 92% of triathletes said they planned to compete in the sport for as long as their body would allow. But that doesn’t mean triathletes do it for life. Even those who reach championship-level events – like the World Triathlon Age-Group Championship or Ironman World Championship – often walk away afterward, leaving behind a sport that once defined much of their identity.

Ironman acknowledged this in their announcement that they would make a return to a one-day Kona format, citing a drop-off in repeat participation. In an interview with Triathlete earlier this year, Ironman CEO Scott DeRue said brand data indicates “both men and women, once they achieve the pinnacle of the sport and complete the Ironman World Championship, not all, but some significant number, will reduce their engagement in full-distance Ironman racing.”

So what happens in the time between “I want to do this sport forever” and “I never want to do this sport again?” We sat down with several former age-group triathletes to explore the reasons they left triathlon – and what might one day bring them back.

Meet the panel: 

• Dave Smith, Flanders, NJ: Multiple Ironman and 70.3 finisher, raced from 2009–2020
• Allison Gittelman, Chantilly, VA: Ironman and 70.3 World Championship qualifier, raced from 2009–2019
• Erin Weiler, Minneapolis, MN: Eight-time Ironman finisher and 2016 Kona athlete, raced from 2011–2018.
• Kelsey Hunter, Vancouver, BC: Age-group World Championship qualifier, raced from 2013–2020
• Josh Hageman, Sudbury, MA: 2019 Kona finisher, multi-time Ironman and ultra competitor, raced from 1998–2019
• Michelle Lake, Reston, VA: Four-time 70.3 World Championship qualifier, raced from 2006–2021, now a full-time triathlon coach

Triathlete: Welcome to the Retired Triathletes Club! We clearly still care about the sport – we’re here talking about it – but none of us are actively racing or training right now. Let’s dig into why you stepped away and what played into that decision.

Gittelman: Triathlon gave me so much energy in the early years – it was all I did, and my whole family traveled to races with me. But eventually, I lost that burning desire. Then little things started to bug me – the cost of race entries, travel, and gear. I also had some bad experiences on bike courses and began to feel I was putting myself at risk. That fear crept in, making me worry the next race could be worse.

Smith: Allison, all the things you just said make sense to me: There are people out there that make you wonder if they realize they’re risking others’ lives. But for me, I always loved the sport. Then my job made me bi-coastal. I was living in hotels and went from training 12 to 15 hours a week to barely squeezing in a couple of runs. It wasn’t a conscious decision to leave triathlon – it just happened.

Hageman: I was also all in. Then my family and I moved, which kind of upended everything. I planned to get back into it, did a race, but I had a pretty good crash – landed on my face, broke myself up pretty badly. I was laid up for a while and started questioning: Is the reward really worth the risk?

Hunter: I thought I’d take a year off to focus on running, then COVID hit. I also moved from Ottawa to Vancouver, where the triathlon community isn’t as robust, and I just fell out of the scene.

Weiler: I love triathlon. It was a big part of my life. My husband and I met while training for an Ironman! But then we had our first kid in 2021, then started IVF for our second, and that’s been my world now. I always thought I’d go back, but I don’t have 15 hours a week to train anymore. Now I swing kettlebells, run occasionally, and play with my four-year-old. I like the other side of life.

Let’s hear from Michelle, who is the only one in this group still very much actively involved in triathlon, but as a coach.

Lake: I gradually started to lose some motivation, but tried to keep it going by shifting into other formats – marathons, swim-run, cycling only. But I was just pushing the burnout further. In 2022, I had a moment where I said, “I don’t want to train on weekends anymore.” I quit cold turkey and went all-in on my coaching business. That, and swim meets for my kid, take over my life now. I love helping my athletes, but signing up for a race is something I’m just not excited about.

COVID inevitably comes up when talking about triathlon’s trajectory since 2020. How did that forced pause affect your relationship with the sport?

Lake: As a coach, I noticed a lot of athletes signed up for races in 2020 only to have them postponed to 2021. That overloaded year burned people out. I’ve seen many athletes go from racing every month to quitting – it was just too much for them. They found other things to do.

Smith: I tried coming back after COVID, but the training just isn’t sustainable for my life now. When life shifts in a totally different direction, it’s tough to motivate yourself for those long rides or runs. Without full dedication, racing loses its fun. After a DNF at a 70.3 in Texas, I knew I was done.

Hunter: Before COVID, I planned to take a year off from triathlon and even booked all my 2020 races for the first time – but none happened. In the meantime, I discovered the mountains and got into trail racing. I loved the flexibility of that training compared to the  pressure of, “I need to be spending X number of hours on the bike, X number of hours swimming.”

Michelle, what do you notice is a common trait among the athletes you coach who have stayed with triathlon over the years?

Lake: They’re racing less, and being much more specific about the time they give to the sport. And then they’re okay being in like a base-building phase for a really long time. I’ll see people who do too many races, like a 70.3 every month, and it’s just not sustainable.

This sport can be all-consuming and can become your identity. So how tough was it to unravel yourself as a triathlete?

Weiler: Triathlon was my identity for a long time and ruled my schedule. It took me a while to be okay without a race on the calendar. My tri bike’s still set up in my office, and I ride sometimes, but it’s not the same. I do enjoy the extra time and money – Ironman races now cost over a thousand dollars, so that part is nice.

Alison: My Strava used to say “triathlete, maverick, multi-sport.” Now it says “former competitive triathlete enjoying the scenery.” I unraveled completely, and I’m fine with that. But I still wear my race shirts, and when someone asks if I did a race, I say, “Yeah,” without needing to explain I don’t race anymore.

Hageman: In my head, I still consider myself a triathlete. It’s been woven into my life. I’ve taken breaks before, so maybe in a few years, when I’m in the 50-plus group, I’ll find that spark again. Mentally, I see myself as a triathlete in transit – I haven’t fully unraveled.

Once a triathlete, always a triathlete, right? Again, your love for the sport is obvious, so what would get you to return to racing?

Hageman: I’ve been trying to get into Norseman for years. So if I get an invite, then yeah, we’re going. My family knows, and they’re in on the deal.

Weiler: I’ve always wanted a Umeke Bowl, the award for podium finishers in Hawaii. I know I won’t get one at Kona, but I might at Hawaii 70.3, so that’s the race that could bring me back. But it won’t be until my kid is older.

Hunter: T100 is coming to Vancouver next weekend, and part of me thought, I’ve never done a triathlon here. It’d be fun. But I have a family obligation, and it’s funny how much my priorities have changed. Before, I’d be like, “Hey fam, I need to be back by Sunday morning because of this race.” Now, I’m just glad to drive down for the weekend and spend time with them.

Based on your experiences, how can people get into triathlon without burning out?

Hunter: One challenge is the focus on big, flashy goals, like Kona or completing an Ironman. There’s a lot of prestige in saying, “I did an Ironman,” while shorter races like sprints and Olympics don’t carry the same weight. Even if someone starts small, there’s pressure to level up to Ironman, which can lead to burnout. Other sports, like running, have big goals too – like Boston – but they’re less dominant.

Once you achieve something like Kona, you can feel done, or the journey there may have been so intense that you don’t want to continue. But if athletes shift focus to enjoying the process – racing for fun, staying connected to the community – they’re more likely to stick with the sport long-term.

Hageman: Exactly. I keep coming back to how important it is to keep triathlon fun and light. The sport feels like it’s having a midlife crisis – moving away from its grassroots vibe toward being more intense and performance-driven. That shift can drain the joy. There’s real value in seeing the reward as the race experience itself, not just the finish time.

Triathlete: Whether or not you race triathlon again, what has the sport given you that will stay with you for life?

Dave: Lifelong friends who have become some of the most important people in my life. A deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude. I’ve also had the chance to participate and give back – volunteering, especially, to help make an athlete’s day better, is a great feeling.

Gittelman: The memories are incredible. I had 10 amazing years in the sport and met a great group of friends – we trained, raced, and spent so much time as a community. I also traveled to places I never would’ve otherwise. Austria and Edmonton were highlights. Nothing will ever take those memories away.

Weiler: I echo that. Triathlon taught me so much that I’ve carried it into my relationships, career, and life. It really shaped who I am. I trained mostly solo as I got deeper into the sport – hours on the trainer, grinding intervals, pushing myself. That taught me discipline, resilience, and what I’m capable of.

Hunter: Triathlon taught me how to be part of a community – not just to participate, but to contribute, show up for others, and build relationships beyond the sport. It helps you find like-minded people who share your goals and values. As an adult, making new friends isn’t easy, but triathlon gives you that chance to connect meaningfully.

Hageman: Triathlon gave me a rare competitive outlet as an adult. Now that we’re deep into kids’ sports, which is great, it’s harder to find chances to push myself. Triathlon fills that gap. There are other options – running races, masters swim meets – but nothing has filled that space like triathlon. It’s an individual sport that demands personal growth and delivers real reward.

Lake: Triathlon has been so important to me, and honestly, it breaks my heart that I don’t want to do it right now. But I know the desire will come back. I’d never discourage anyone from doing it; just maybe race less, take breaks, be flexible. There’s definitely a way to do this sport forever.