Multi-sport Widows: GOOD RIDDANCE!
After checking the mail, I take the newest copy of a certain magazine, and get started reading. Catching up on what has been going on in my little universe based on the experiences and recollections of those who are probably different from me in everyway except that we share the brotherhood (or sisterhood). The first thing I see is some article about a woman complaining her marriage failed because of triathlon.
Allegedly, her husband was so concerned with training and preparing for his race season, the strain was more than she could bear and she just had to divorce him. First, to this triathlon widow (as she decided to call herself) I would say, let’s face it, it is obvious triathlon ruined her marriage. There is no other explanation possible. Her rant went on to say how it damaged the relationship, and her husband became distant. It wasn’t that he was tired from his workouts, no, that makes way too much sense. Perhaps the reason he got involved was to escape from this crazy woman and her incessant nagging. He might have been at his job thinking, how can I escape from crazy hose beast for 15-20 hours a week? I know, IRONMAN!
This lady is off her rocker. Triathlon has given me more relationships than I can ever imagine. More than Facebook, more than being captain of the high school swim team, and more than holding the record for most time spent naked in a meat freezer. Aside from making new friends in training and racing, lets talk about romance, because it is obvious our friend from above thinks the sport has no room for it anywhere.
In working at a bike shop, I have seen so many couples that enjoy the sport of triathlon together. They have matching cycling kits, buy bikes together, and yes even plan their vacation time around which races they will be participating in. In addition to the countless strangers at races, there are also the people I know who have a stronger relationship because of multi-sport, and I honestly can’t imagine them without the happiness they create and share through triathlon. But, there is more than the long-term loving relationship to come out of triathlon.
There is nothing sexier than someone with a hot body and a humorous personality. These are both qualities people of our lifestyle tend to have. I have found these make the ladies (and some guys) go crazy. Aside from friends, I can’t count how many chicks (and some dudes) dig the triathlete line. “Hey baby, ever been with an endurance athlete before?” goes a lot further than you think. Triathlon has gotten guys tail on a scale almost on par with that of any boy band from the late 90’s. In fact, I theorize the most irresistible man will ultimately be a triathlete with boy band capabilities.
The thing about all of this is, yes triathlon takes time and compromise, and more importantly the support of friends and family. The sport seems to cultivate and grow relationships more than destroy them. In fact, in all my years this crazy lady seems to be only person scorned by triathlon. But of she wants to give up a guy who is in shape, cares about health to go marry Mr. Stick in the mud that is fine, she can have the dark side. This sport does more than give you a sexy body, it gives you lifetime friendships that spawn from a 10 minute suffer session during a race, or a flat out sprint to the line. Accentuate the positive, and don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Triathlon creates love, friendship and one-night stands and I couldn’t be happier.
Written by Chris Berg
