I am beginning to think that there is a correlation between triathletes and pouring out unwanted and unsolicited advice. I sure hope that I don't turn into one of them .
Maybe it is just me, but I think that idiotic unsolicited advice is one of the most derogatory things you can say to a person. It is blatantly saying "I am so F'n smart, and you are so F'n stupid, let me tell you how to count to 10"
It is a goal of mine to keep my advice to myself unless it is solicited. I guess I try to give other people credit that they are smart enough to figure it out on their own.
At the pool today (side note: it has been about TWO WEEKS!!! since swimming... probably the longest break I have taken in four years- my comeback was actually quite nice, almost as if I had not taken a break- oh, amazing base! I was able to pound out some 100s on the 1:3x, which I am quite happy with) I get interrupted while waiting for my interval by a man, in his 50s, with a moustache, swimming with fins on and we get talking. He has clearly been in the sport for some time, and although he seemed well intentioned, I received quite a bit of 'advice' that I didn't ask for, and quite simply, a retard could probably figure out.
Do I scream idiot? do I look like I don't have a brain? Do I ride in a short bus? Maybe if I wore my glasses more often, or carried textbooks around with me, or better yet, wore a corduroy jacket with elbow patches and smoked a pipe and drank brandy out of proper stemware I would not project this image? Is it because I may not have quintessential 'tri-chic' body? Is it because I am under 25? I need to figure out why I project this image and take proper measures to correct the situation at hand (if there is one). (I'm secretly hoping that all it takes is the jacket :) ...)
Here is some of the fantastic advice that was so graciously given to me:
" Be sure to bring several pairs of gogles to a race..."
(thank you, I do, and don't tell me how wonderful tinted goggles are because they suck in dark water)
"You know, you really need to take electrolyte tabs in hot weather" (You, my friend, must certainly be a genius to figure this one out- do you honestly think I would have signed up for, and done, one of the hottest half iron races if I didn't know thing about endurance nutrition?)
"You really need to bring clothing with you [to a race] for all weather conditions" (You don't say, I really enjoyed the thermal shirt and vest that I had with for my Ironman in 55 deg weather. Thank you very much.)
"Roadies are arrogant- don't hang around them" (this one made me mad. I have many friends who are roadies, and merely laughed to his face in response to this comment)
Yes, this is just one man; however, my theory was for all triathletes. Here are a few more comments that have been directed towards me.
"Don't forget to put your goggles under your cap" (this was said to be Ironman morning (aka think of being the most nervous and filled with self doubt you ever been in your life). I sure hope that I have figured this out by NOW!!!!!!!!!!!)
"You should sleep during your taper" ( I blatantly laughed at this one. Gee, I was planning on staying up for several weeks straight and living off of Red Bull)
"If you lower your arm pads, you will NEED add spacers to off set it" (No, because that is why I am lowering my arm pads- because I WANT them to be LOWER!)
"You shouldn't do any longer distance races, You should do local sprints." (this was told to me by a completely random guy who happened to be a triathlete that I sat next to on a plane- mind you, this was affter I just did my first half iron, and he self adimittedly only focused on long course events)
****And, my number one piece of completely unsolicited advice (drumroll please...)
"You shouldn't sign up for Ironman Wisconsin. It is too hard." (wow, I guess I will never do anything in life if it is too hard.)
This venting session is brought to you by the words 'arrogant,' the letter for I for ignorant, and the letter S for stupidity... Oh, and the number 3.14 because I am only smart enought to remember Pi to the hundredths place *eye roll*
Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.
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