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Triathlete Doublespeak...

Saturday, 22 August 2015 00:10

UPDATE: Awesome racing in windy West Metro this morning. Lots of highlights of the Life Time Tri - Maple Grove to share. Words and pics on Tuesday. RESULTS

By Susan Lacke (triathlon.competitor.com)

What your triathlete says and means are two different things.

It’s taken five years and a combined 15 Ironman finishes, but I think my husband and I are finally speaking the same language.

Sure, the words coming out of our mouth are English, but—like most two-triathlete households—we both know very well that what one person says isn’t to be taken at face value. There’s a hidden meaning behind every phrase, and it’s usually some variation of “I’m full of crap.”

It’s not that anyone is lying, per se. I prefer to think of it as taking creative liberties with the truth. If Neil tells me he’s signed up for his fourth Ironman in one year, he’s basically bought a...

one-way ticket to the doghouse, because putting up with his grumpy ass for another training cycle does not appeal to me one bit. If he tells me we’re spending Thanksgiving in Cozumel, however, he knows he can slip a race in there with a little less grief (but only a little). Other white lies, half-truths, and tall tales of Triathlete Love:

“I got a membership at the tri shop. We’ll save 10 percent on every purchase!”
Translation: “I’m going to buy 40 percent more stuff!”

“I hear Kentucky is actually very romantic…”
Translation: “So there’s this race on our anniversary…”...READ MORE