WAYNE'S WORDS
October 10, 2004
Topic: What We Learned in Kindergarten

In 1988 I read a book by Robert Folghum titled: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. It takes all the ways you should live your life and puts them into simple rules that even a Kindergartner can understand.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
I think you learn how to get along and cooperate with people in Kindergarten. If you don't, you get put into timeout (same as jail if you're an adult).
If these rules worked for a group of wild screaming five year olds, they should also work for a bunch of wild screaming triathletes.
Fulghum wrote the book for adults. If everyone followed the rules in Fulghum's book, the world would defiantly be a better place.
So with great respect and apologies to Robert Fulghum here's my version.

All I Really Need to Know About Triathlons I learned in Kindergarten

* Share everything. If a buddy needs something let them have it. Nobody likes a triathlete who hogs everything and doesn't let anyone borrow stuff.
* Play fair. In a triathlon you don't cut the course, you don't draft, don't ride your bike through the transition area, and you keep your helmet buckled.
*Don't hit people. This is important in the swim and especially on the bike. Hitting someone or something on the bike can basically put you out of the race.
*Put things back where you found them. This is really important after you come home after a race. You're tired and grumpy, but it's important to put your stuff back in the right place so you can find it next week when you try to pack up everything in about five minutes.
*Clean up your mess. Think transition area. Pick up all you GU wrappers, cups and empty water bottles old dirty towels and anything else that wasn't there before you arrived. Help out the volunteers.
*Don't take things that aren't yours. This is a rule that is understood by ALL triathletes.
I've never had anything taken from a transition area, my car, or anywhere else when doing a triathlon.
*Say you're sorry when you hurt someone. This not only means physically but emotionally too.
*Wash your hands before you eat. Duh!!! After grabbing slimy cups of water, touching all you sweaty gross stuff, you need clean hands when you chow down on those breakfast burritos from Chevy's.
*Flush the toilet. That is if there is a toilet and it will flush and there is some toilet paper and the line isn't too long. If using a porta potty put the lid down hold your nose and for God's sake keep your eyes close.
*Warm cookies and milk are good for you. I don't know any protein bar or energy supplement that gives you the proper percentages of protein fats and carbohydrates that tastes as good as a glass of cold milk and a couple of homemade chocolate chip cookies.
*Live a balanced life. This is something triathletes have to do very well or else they'll burn out or get kicked out. We are able to balance racing and training with work, family, home and still able to throw in having fun every now and then.
*Take a nap every afternoon. Amen, I try to do this every day and it really is great!
*When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. This makes a lot of sense in biking, except for the holding hands part.
*Finally, remember your first reading book and the first word you learned-LOOK.
This is good advice while racing, in the swim, on the bike, during the run, in the transition area and after the race when you relaxin, watching the tri gals walking around.
There were a few more, but I think you get the point. Life is like triathlons and vise-versa. The proper way to live can be broken down into a few simple golden type rules.
Those simple rules can also help you in doing triathlons.
Again, my apologies to Robert Fulghum.

Until next week,
Train smart, live right.
Wayne