Mailbag THE LOWDOWN MAILBAG
Something to say about USA Triathlon Magazine? Email letters to the editor to
communications@usatriathlon.org with “mailbag” in the subject line. Be sure to include your name. Letters may be edited for length and grammar.
Jeff Matlow, the author of The Lowdown, received a plethora comments on his article from the summer issue — “What Triathlon is About” (page 112). Here are a few.
Hello Mr. Matlow,
I am going to be a junior at the University of Dayton in Ohio. I am on the UD Tri Club and competed in the 2011 USAT Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Ala., this year. In order to do that race, I signed up to get my USAT membership and along with that, of course, comes the magazine. I am a very busy student and so I usually rush through the pages and see if there is anything that stands out.
For some reason your article in the Summer 2011 issue had my attention the second I turned the page. I don’t know how many emails you receive or whether or not this will make it to you, but after reading the article three times, with tears strolling down my face each time, I just can’t seem to stop reading your article. This article really moved me because being a beginner triathlete I have a dream of one day competing in an an Ironman. You couldn’t have said it better yourself about how not many people know much about this demanding sport, let alone the hard work us average- pace triathletes endure each and every day. I always have people asking “Well you haven’t done the Ironman World Championships yet?” or “that must not be too bad of a training schedule.” And just like you stated in the article, “you just want to punch them!” So thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful and moving article in the USAT Magazine. I have already printed out 20 copies of the article to hand out to the rest of my tri team/friends who do triathlons as well (and who don’t finish in the top 10 of the pack!)
— Paige Prenger
Hey Jeff, You really hit the nail on the head! Within my community, I am one of the very few participating in triathlon, and your article reads like a script for the conversations I’ve have to endure. The anger and frustration you describe is real, specifically when explaining a sprint tri to someone and getting the inevitable “that doesn’t sound hard” and/or “I could do that.” Also, the idea in people’s minds that anything less than an Ironman isn’t special is so ignorant. Triathlon is a tough sport, and just having the guts to leave the comfort of your couch and getting out there is an accomplishment. I try to tell these people to please come to one race and see what it’s all about. The few people who I’ve convinced to come, walk away impressed and silenced. Even at a “lowly sprint tri.” I’ve done a few sprints, some Oly’s and by next summer hope to do my first half-Ironman.
Well written and well done! Heshy Neuman
Jeff,
I just read your article, “What Triathlon is all About” and laughed out loud. It is so true. I totally appreciate your view. I am a personal trainer, spinning instructor, triathlete, triathlon coach and cheerleader to my clients and spinning students. I watch the people in spin class start out in the back row, get stronger, gain confidence and start moving up to the front. It is usually at that time that I plant the seed. “You should really do a triathlon. You are a strong spinner. Can you run or swim?” They say, “NO! I could never do that.” In a few weeks, they come back to me and start asking questions about tri. Then my group of first-time triathletes starts to come together. The reason I train triathletes is to watch them cross the line. Doesn’t matter about their time or what kind of bike shoes they have. What matters is that they are strong coming into the chute, they hear the people cheering for them, they have done it! Those strangers are cheering for what they represent. They are inspirations to others and they don’t even know it. They cross the line and are so proud. The greatest accomplishment! Is there anything better than your first tri? Except maybe signing up for your second one...
Thank you for the great article. I loved it. It is the way I feel as well, which is why I do what I do.
— Joanne Swayze Dear Mr. Matlow,
I wanted to thank you for your wonderful article (“What Triathlon Is About”). I could not agree with you more. Like you, I’ve run into many people who only associate triathlons with Kona, as well as people who comment that the sprint distance doesn’t sound that hard (but they haven’t tried it themselves!)
A friend inspired me to get into triathlons about five years ago, and now I am completely hooked. I have only done sprint triathlons, but my goal is to do an Olympic one in two years when I turn 40. I am not a fast runner or biker at all, nor am I a great swimmer.
I
usually finish in the bottom half in my age group. Yet, I love doing triathlons. And like you mentioned, I like to watch the people who finish last because you can see how much it means to them to finish. I remember when I crossed the finish line at my first triathlon and I thought, “Wow, I really accomplished something today.” I completely agree that triathlon is primarily about the impact that it has in people’s lives, especially the “everyday” people like me who never finish in the top 10.
Thank you for the great article, and for reminding people that, as exciting as it is to watch the pros, triathlon wouldn’t be what it is without us average age-groupers!
Sincerely, Fr. Robert Schultz, Schiller Park, Ill.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124