It seems quite disappointing that the cover girl on the latest Triathlete Magazine is not a triathlete…Maybe we should just get Cosmo or Vogue.
Here we go with the annual crying over the swimsuit issue.
Maybe it’s just me, and the fact that I’m a perv, but I don’t care if the models couldn’t spell “bike” if you spotted them a “b” and an “i.” I just want hot.
Maybe it’s just me, and the fact that I’m a perv, but I don’t care if the models couldn’t spell “bike” if you spotted them a “b” and an “i.” I just want hot.
Hmm, so Triathlete mag doesn’t think there are any legitimate triathletes that are attractive enough to be on the cover of their magazine? Now that’s offensive.
Sorry to burst your bubble but, triathlete mag IS cosmo and vogue, with a few running clothes and spokes thrown in. but usually it’s even weaker that cosmo and vogue.
(the clue: count the no. of full pages, 1/2 pages, and 1/4 pages of advertising and ‘advertorials’ and then note the total no. of pages in the mag.)
Who cares…she’s hot.
They’ve had other people that aren’t triathletes…latest one that comes to mind was the adventure racing issue.
I want pictures of her, ASAP!
In previous issues they’ve always used genuine triathletes as models. I’d call this a sell out.
my thoughts exactly! the closest they get to triathlon advice is how to spend your money!
For what it’s worth, the “Background” article says SI told them she was a triathlete, and she denied this… but by the end of the shoot she had decided to sign up for one with a couple of the actual triathlete models volunteering to coach her…
I thought the same thing until I read the blurb inside. First off there was the mistake by sports illustrated about her triathlon experience. More important to me though, was the part that said her weekly training consists of swimming, biking, running and yoga. Wait a minute, that’s what I do. Even though I like to race, I don’t think anyone would say that you HAVE to race to be a triathlete. It’s all about living a healthy, fit, lifestyle and it seems like she has that figured out.
After that defense, I still don’t know why they wouldn’t have picked one of the other more traditional triathletes for the cover.
Chris
I don’t think anyone would say that you HAVE to race to be a triathlete. It’s all about living a healthy, fit, lifestyle and it seems like she has that figured out.
I’d say you HAVE to race to be a triathlete. If you don’t toe the line, you’re just some guy/girl who works out.
Triathlete: (noun) One who races triathlons.
Is it really wise to let Merriam Webster define what it is to be a triathlete? They are just following the rules of linguistics. Biathlete (noun) one who competes in biathlons, Duathlete (noun) one who competes in duathlons. Kind of unimaginative ain’t it??
If you want to look at it literally then a “Triathlete” is an athlete who participates in 3 sports, those sports determined by triathlon history as being swimming, biking and running.
I personally do not like rigid definitions of something that is important to me. At its’ core, triathlon is swimming, biking, and running- you can’t really argue with that. Saying that a triathlete is ONLY someone who races seems to me a very narrow view of our great sport.
If I were to stop racing, but keep on training for the sheer joy of it would I stop being a triathlete? What if I only raced once ever- is that good enough for life-long status of triathlete? How many races a year would one need to do to be a triathlete? (I’m posing these questions seriously, because I don’t think you have to race to be a triathlete).
I know it will offend some of the Type A personalities that dominate our sport, but there are people out there who do not need to validate themselves through competition (I personally have not yet achieved this admirable zen-like attitude towards racing). I do think it would be wrong of us to exclude them from our “triathlete” community for a lack of desire to race.
Chris Sweet
True, it’s like Men’s Health for rich, athletic metrosexuals who love to accessorize.
But then, my opinion is invalid because I do not own my own weight in carbon bicycles.
And no, the swimsuit issue doesn’t do anything for me. But then, as someone else pointed out, the regular issues aren’t so great either.
And thanks to whatever magazine or race site gave my email to the BioBuilde folks. They are spamming the hell out of me.
Every year the same complaints. Every time someone complains about the magazines, a bunch of other people jump on about how the magazines are just fluff or too much like Cosmo or whatever. Here’s a suggestion. Stop reading the magazines if you don’t like them. The swimsuit issue seems to do pretty well every year, so obviously the editors have pretty much nailed down what their audience wants.
As for what constitutes a “Triathlete” it seems to be just a very small sector of people who are so selective with who can belong to their exclusive club. Most people I’ve met at races or on training rides are very open to new athletes, and pretty inclusive. I personally haven’t had the time or the health to race for more than a year. If that means I can’t belong to the club with the few who wouldn’t consider me a “triathlete” then I’m ok with that because I don’t want to hang with that type of people anyway.
I think that is kind of the point. Most of us are friendly, accepting people. And the magazines present us with a “this is what a real triathlete rides, looks like, wears, etc” attitude. And this does affect the way people think and act(and hopefully purchase.)
Example: Last year at IMLP, a guy rides by me and jokes, “You can’t go doing an Ironman with hairy legs.” I chuckled, and he chuckled, and I kept spinning my hairy legs for another 40 miles. But it makes the very sad point that you can be a reasonably fit athlete and still be made to feel that you do not live up to the proper aesthetic.
Regarding selectiveness, I think that the backlash that you see is because we are all individuals doing our own thing, and not all of us fit into the mold. Some of us ride road bikes with aerobars, some ride mountain bikes. Some ride carbon or titanium bikes that hange every year. The backlash that you often see is(I think) associated with the idea that buying a $6,000 bike makes you an Ironman, or wearing a $500 wetsuit makes you a triathlete, or whatever. To me, doing triathlons is what makes you a triathlete, whether you do them now, or used to do them, or want to do them someday.
I think that it is important to talk about these things, because we don’t all have the same opinions, and we don’t all like the same things. To me, the swimsuit issue is superfluous. It’s pictures of people who don’t do triathlons wearing clothes that I can’t wear. If everyone else likes it, great. Enjoy. But that doesn’t invalidate my opinion to the contrary, or my right to voice it.
Hmm, so Triathlete mag doesn’t think there are any legitimate triathletes that are attractive enough to be on the cover of their magazine? Now that’s offensive.
For the record, there is a difference between being hot and being a professional model. I don’t blame a professional magazine for using professional models.
I think Triathlete Mag has done a great job retooling itself to focus more on training and age grouper issues as opposed to covering the results of pro races. Let’s applaud that and drop all of the other silliness.
–wh
Sorry, I consider throwing a non-triathlete model on the cover of a triathlon magazine to model triathlon swim wear to be silly. I’m probably just odd, though.