After recently moving for the summer, I went to a new pool today. Nice pool, full olympic size, etcetra.
A couple of guys come struting out on the deck in tri shorts like they’re really something special. In reality they were about 20 pounds overweight. They jump in my lane (without saying anything) and proceed to swim straight down the lane, two wide. After almost running into me, I ask them if they’d like to swim circles. After I explained what circle swimming was they were all for it.
They spent most of an hour workout standing at the end of my lane talking about their new bikes and how they were going to race Lifetime Fitness. I never saw either of them swim more than a 50 non-stop, but they were pretty sure that they were studly triathletes.
My point:
If this is what the sport has degenerated to, I am ashamed to call myself a triathlete. Perhaps my perspective has always been skewed since I swim in a private college pool most of the year where the only other two triathletes are Hawaii caliber and we share lanes with collegiate swimmers.
I think the sport might be better off without organized events. That way no image would develop. We could still get together with friends and have competitions, time trials, and even triathlons, just without any hype. Just a few dudes, beating at the bounds of existence.
Yeah, it can make you wonder how some people can manage to keep their heads so far up their ass, but I have to agree with cerveloguy… Saying that because of that the sport would be better off without organized events is overreacting… Take a look around at all the cool folks out there – there are far more of them IMO.
I can see why you may have gotten a bit frustrated – but the type of situation you cite can happen in many circumstances, including guys and gals in business settings.
If you surf you will see valley geeks with new sticks and wetsuits who do little surfing.
When you visit basketball gyms you’ll notice doodes in Nike gear and uniforms numbered ‘23’ and named ‘Jordan’.
Ever heard the old song “Streets of Laredo”?
“I can see by your outfit that you are a cowboy // I can see by your outfit that you’re a cowboy too”
Then the Smothers Brothers added:
“We see by our outfits that we are both cowboys // If you get an outfit you can be a cowboy too”.
Laugh it off, bro. I remember my first ever tri (not that long ago). I rode the bike in gym shorts and basketball shoes. My T2 was FAST as I had nothing to change. My tires had 30lbs of pressure and my “aero bars” were the old goose wing type. We come in all shapes, sizes and attitudes
You should just enjoy knowing that they can act as studly as they want while you pass them out of the water, lap them on the bike, and are having a nice cold beer while they finish the run course.
I’m really afraid this is the direction the sport is headed. My father works at a large university and says that triathlon is all the rage with the students. If anyone has ever worn lycra in their life they’re now a “triathlete”, regardless if they can’t run a 5k, much less a marathon.
I realize I might be in the minority, but I’ve never thought triathlon was about three sports. Instead, it is about doing things you never thought possible.
Case study: Some cyclists I know are riding across Wisconsin over the 4th of July weekend. The catch is that the only things that they’re bringing are a credit card and a space blanket. They want to make the 335 mile trip in under 48 hours, rest included. To me that is “triathlon”.
"If you surf you will see valley geeks with new sticks and wetsuits who do little surfing. "
Scuba diving - as a former serious diver it was well known to stay away from people with brand new expensive high end scuba gear on resort dive trips in the Caribbean. These people were generally affluent newer inexperienced divers who talked diving better than they could dive. You could always tell the experienced divers by the wear of their equipment because everything wasn’t brand new.
Haven’t been diving in awhile, but used to go almost every day with the old hawaiian sling, and punch holes in my dinner. Also was on the dive team for a few years, got about half dozen body recoveries, one plane crash with a pilot with no head. Still dream of that one sometimes…
Whether it is triathlon or diving or whatever gear intensive activity you pursue (god knows there are so many to choose from) - I think there is a point where one becomes secure enough in thier own abilities that there is no need to advertise what they do by wearing flashy gear - as a means of what seems to be building self-confidence.
Alot of times triathletes parading around in flashy gear and pontificating about everything they are going to do remind me of peacocks strutting around - and I think this can be offensive to many who see the core of triathlon as dedication to training, hard work, modesty regarding performance, and pushing yourself to new levels of achievement…
As caleb is hinting, there is a difference between looking like a triathlete and being a triathlete.
You could always tell the experienced divers by the wear of their equipment because everything wasn’t brand new.
I worked for Texas A&M for several years as a research diver - mostly on the oil rigs in the gulf of mexico deploying current meter arrays (muddy water, zero vis, heavy currents… you can imagine Im sure). I still dive in the old power plana fins I bought back in the 80’s! Sometimes I get funny looks at my old beat up gear, but I got nothin’ to prove to anyone - I know that when push comes to shove I have paid my dues and I know my sh.t…
Sometimes they look down their noses at me through thier neon green masks that match their fins and when this happens I just make a 50ft free dive to the bottom and bring up a shell or something and watch them get slackjawed.
"Case study: Some cyclists I know are riding across Wisconsin over the 4th of July weekend. The catch is that the only things that they’re bringing are a credit card and a space blanket. They want to make the 335 mile trip in under 48 hours, rest included. To me that is “triathlon”.
yo man. guys fueled by nothing but weed and granola wearing cut off jeans and tube socks were doing this in 1974 - without the credit card.
still not sure why you consider it " triathlon", tho . . . . .
I completely agree with your post. 8 years ago or so this sport was hardcore athletes for the most part. I never met a triathlete that I didnt respect. Cant say thats true anymore.
Case study: Some cyclists I know are riding across Wisconsin over the 4th of July weekend. The catch is that the only things that they’re bringing are a credit card and a space blanket. They want to make the 335 mile trip in under 48 hours, rest included. To me that is “triathlon”.<<
