M*A*S*H - a movie before the TV show? Triathlon history.
"Through early morning fog I see, visions of the things to be, the pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see..."
Suicide is Painless, Johnny Mandel (Theme to MASH)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVBATYWFKp8 |
| Did any of this well known cast come from the original movie? |
It's important to understand our triathlon history. By history, I'm not only referring to the contributions of John Collins, Scott Tinley, Dan Empfield, Bob Babbitt and Joe Friel, but of the more recent experiences of everyday Joe Athlete who's walked the road you're on before you. USAT thinks that this is important enough that it's the very first thing taught in the Coaching Certification Course for would-be coaches. In the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
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I met a young woman recently who had no clue that the TV show M*A*S*H had come from a very successful movie by the same name, and the movie from a book by Richard Hooker (actually a pseudonym for a surgeon named H. Richard Hornberger.)
One of the reasons this truth hits home in the triathlon world is the very common tri forum post, "I just was looking at buying some of those new xyz carbon wheels and wondered if anyone had any experience with them?" Or you noticed that in your last sprint tri, the athlete next you in the transition area finished the swim well behind you but managed to exit T1 well before you! Now you figure that cutting time off your transitioning is needed. All you have to do is go to You Tube for videos like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHcsqKM_mo (not new, just accurate) and after a few practice sessions in the driveway - yes, the neighbors will stare at a woman in her wet suit standing next to her garbage can in suburbia but this is one of the small costs of excellence in triathlon - you'll be the queen/king of T1 and T2.
A terrific place to learn new things is the transition area before the race. Triathletes are proud folks and many like to talk. I do pretty well in my age group, especially the swim, and I can't tell you how many times a complete stranger will approach me and ask something like, "How come you have so few items in your transition set up?" I then talk about experience and the particulars of this specific race and we have a good give and take. How I learned most of what works for me in sport by those who came before me. Just as often, I'll learn something from them like, "Well if you were to place your bike over there for this particular race you'll avoid much of the foot traffic." This is also very true at race's end before the finishers party when everyone is full of themselves, their accomplishments, and relaxed.
In short, take the time to read, to talk, to quiz others, understand the "history" of your sport and it's intricacies and you'll be faster, For sure. You might even stand on that podium next time.
A terrific place to learn new things is the transition area before the race. Triathletes are proud folks and many like to talk. I do pretty well in my age group, especially the swim, and I can't tell you how many times a complete stranger will approach me and ask something like, "How come you have so few items in your transition set up?" I then talk about experience and the particulars of this specific race and we have a good give and take. How I learned most of what works for me in sport by those who came before me. Just as often, I'll learn something from them like, "Well if you were to place your bike over there for this particular race you'll avoid much of the foot traffic." This is also very true at race's end before the finishers party when everyone is full of themselves, their accomplishments, and relaxed.
In short, take the time to read, to talk, to quiz others, understand the "history" of your sport and it's intricacies and you'll be faster, For sure. You might even stand on that podium next time.
