That is what gets me very unmotivated about Triathlons in general. To everyone it’s a hobby or a one time endevour, like “oh, you did the Ironman… I could do the swim and bike but not the run…”
The media makes a joke of it too. Showing all these human interest stories and not much of the pros racing. Even the races themselves cater to it as a hobby, as well as the industry in general.
Here is what makes Triathon a hobby and NOT a sport.
- We have a fattie divison: Clydesdales and Athenas. - you don’t see a pick up basket ball game and a divison for short people do ya.
- Danskin Triathlon with Swim Noddles. - Come-on swim noddles, really… why not just let them skip the swim.
- Aquathons, Duathlons, and such. - just do 2 of the 3, it okay and we’ll celbrate that.
- No Drafting on the bike - ummmm, in the cycling SPORT they draft don’t they. Hummm sort of a kiddie version of cycling then.
- Wetsuits when not worn by the pros - ummm, so you cannot swim well and you need it as a floatation device, aka hobby not sport.
- Waves, - the pros don’t have waves, oh that’s right, you don’t swim that well so lets make it comfortable for you too.
- The Ironman in general by most is less of a swim, bike and run but a float, coast and walk.
- Qualifing for our “sports” Nationals is too easy and just money maker.
- Sprint triathlons, Super Sprints and Indoor Triathlons. - enough said.
- The Professional in triathlons are not respected by the media, race directors, vendors or by their peers.
- CEO Challenges, lets have a division for the rich and I work too much people.
Triathlons have turned into a circus. All we need now is a smokers division and were set. I do actually believe that a African-American Division is on it’s way.