I think my concern is that I think the sport has a cost issue. I think it has an IM issue which has its own cost fleecing system going. I think the problem I see is that the local events, they aren’t trying to behave in that manner. They want the 1st timer, they want the person who’s riding a 27 year old bike out of the closet. Those people make the sport healthy. But I don’t know if they can continue to bring those people in in great numbers when their small town usa events have costs associated with them, that they can’t get around. That’s the issue I see is that we all complain about all the costs. I am good friends with several RD’s who do local stuff and also RD for IM events. Those are good people that want to help grow the sport, and there are tons of local RD’s with the same goal and motives. They just want to provide races. But they are getting pinched at every corner too.

So yes there is a cost factor but there is also a cost realization that I think really is hurting grass root attempts. No longer can you just get by on bare bones etc. Everything is CYA, permitted out for everything etc.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II