Lance Armstrong

One guy wrote "I don't get why retired cyclists have to invade our sport." Oh good grief. Maybe there are some people out there who started out as triathletes from a very young age, but every triathlete I know came to it from another sport, often running (but swimming and cycling also). HOWEVER, there are plenty of swimmers who complain about triathletes invading "our" sport. Usually it isn't because they are fast but because there can be a lot of them, and their interests in practice can be narrow (eg, long freestyle sets).

I have a friend who is a bike racing fan. He's convinced Lance doped all through his TdF days. My tendency leans that way as well. He was quite disappointed that the Justice Dept. closed their investigation. I don't think that view is all that unusual in the cycling community. Given the continued suspicion, I don't find it all that odd that the tri community would be divided on what Lance brings to the sport. Yeah, that sort of sums up why the poll is divided.

I don't know why, but I get the feeling triathletes don't want him to 'invade their sport' (even though he used to compete in triathlons before getting into serious cycling. My words. One guy wrote "I don't get why retired cyclists have to invade our sport". I replied that "Armstrong was the number one ranked triathlete in the 19-and-under group"(source Wiki) and basically started out in triathlons way before many triathletes knew what a triathlon is. I also don't accept the whining that Armstrong has an "unfair" advantage that he has the cash to concentrate on his training and get the best trainers, equipment and whatever which other athletes don't. This is the disadvantage all athletes in poor countries have all the time. I used to swim in Bolivia in the pool where Bolivia's National swimmers did their daily training. The talented swimmers in Bolivia don't get the same support a swimmer like Phelps or Biedermann would get in the US or Germany so they have the exact same disadvantage which is why athletes from Bolivia(or other poor countries) hardly have a chance at the Olympics. I don't hear anyone complaining about that.

Triathletes like to whine in general, similar to sprinters. Except when they're showing off their expensive gear:D It's interesting how cyclists and swimmers both regard tri-geeks in the same manner. Never was a runner, is it the same for them? I often have the feeling that triathletes make more of a life style out of their sport than swimmers, cyclists or runners do. Oh good grief. Maybe there are some people out there who started out as triathletes from a very young age, but every triathlete I know came to it from another sport, often running (but swimming and cycling also). Actually my impression is that many triathletes are usually people who didn't do any sports at all, got fat and lazy and then decided to do pick up running in their mid/late-Thirties to lose some weight. They do one marathon, get over-enthusiastic and then decide to pick up triathlon. Then they make a big deal about "their" sport and how much they workout. Btw, there is also a top 13 reasons why Lance Armstrong is good & bad for the sport of triathlon article: www.everymantri.com/.../the-top-13-reasons-why-lance-armstrong-is-good-bad-for-the-sport-of-triathlon.html

Random gibberish Wall hangers endless complaints Distance, pure and true :chug: Nice haiku. F*** distance though. I think it would be very entertaining to watch Lance compete in an Ironman, and I hope he makes it to Kona. I have no doubt whatsoever that if that happens, he will get his ass kicked by Craig Alexander.

Triathletes like to whine in general, similar to sprinters. I do some open water training with triathletes. They are great people, incredibly welcoming and supportive. That being said, they do like to whinge. They aren't quite like (shudder) sprinters, though. If I were 1st and Lance was second, I'd be disappointed if he didn't shake my hand, congratulate me, sing my praises to the world, buy me a car, and set me up with his ex-girlfriend. But was Lance in a tiff over being beat? When people finish a triathlon, sometimes they are thinking about things like breathing, stretching out muscle cramps, and whether they finally pushed the old ticker too far this time. Social niceties are farther down the list of priorities. The newspapers like stories, though.

I just briefly perused the Top 13 Reasons hyperlinked above, and stopped when I got to #7. Ridiculous. 7. MINUS – Perception for those that race on the Big Island is that must pay some dues. Race a few times and gain some appreciation on what others have done to get to the top spot. If Armstrong races and wins the first time he tries, what’s the perception in the sport? Did he pay his dues? Does anyone care?

Triathletes like to whine in general, similar to sprinters. that being said, they do like to whinge. They aren't quite like (shudder) sprinters, though. Do you guys mean sprinters in swimming? Are they particularly whiny? :D

Do you guys mean sprinters in swimming? Are they particularly whiny? :D Recent research indicates fast twitch muscle fibers have a direct neural connection to the part of the brain that initiates verbal complaints. In a process similar to Tourette's Syndrome, higher percentage of fast twitch fibers leads directly to involuntary spasms of whining.

I daresay Lance would be 100x more welcome in the swimming community than the triathlete community. I don't know why, but I get the feeling triathletes don't want him to 'invade their sport' (even though he used to compete in triathlons before getting into serious cycling. However, I tend to think the masters swimming community would absolutely love for him to join us and would be happy to see him succeed in the pool. Hopefully he is serious about our Spring Nationals in Greensboro. And if so, somebody please make sure he enters the meet prior to the deadline! Jeff I think you need to seperate the way pros feel vs. the way your average triathlete feels. When Dara Tores came back, quite a few elite females complained loudly and publicly about losing "their" spot to someone who already had their turn. I am equally sure that there are a few pros triathletes who feel the same way. But your average triathlete is glad Lance is back in the sport, other than those who think ( not without reason ) that Lance was a cheat. And I am sure you can find plenty of those folks on the pool deck too. Triathletes do whine a lot. And post their workouts on facebook too often. But they do work harder - way harder - than swimmers (and get divorced because they become too obsessed about it).