WAYNE"S WORDS
September 28, 2004
Reading Time: 4 Minutes
Topic: Random Thoughts

I took a road trip to KC this last weekend to observe the "goings on" at the U.S. Half Triathlon Championship/UltraMax Ironman Triathlon at Smithville Lake north of KC.
I tried to organize my thoughts into a logical sequential article, but at this point, all I get are just random thoughts.
Here they are in no particular order:
*Road trips are fun, you get out of town and go somewhere you'd never ever go to unless there was a race there.
*Mark Livesay and crew put on one of the best organized triathlons I've ever been involved with.
*The volunteers at this race were EXCELLENT. They knew what to do. Cars had to pull off the road at times to stay out of the way of the bikers. Some volunteers were out there from before sunrise until late in the evening. You gotta love that kind of dedication and commitment from the volunteers and the race directors.
*A lot of triathletes have traded in a negative self-destructive lifestyle of obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, for a lifestyle of fresh air, sunshine, exercise, good nutritional habits, training and racing, and are very successful not only in triathlons but also in other areas of their life.
*Why do women have so many shoes?
*When you drive I-70 you see the worst of Missouri. You have to get off the beaten path to see the really beautiful parts of Missouri, like Smithville Lake.
*Don't bring dogs to triathlons. I know I might get some hate e-mail on this one, but the dogs are really bored, there's a potential problem with the dogs getting in the way of the triathletes, biting someone, barking and biting each other, pooping/peeing somewhere that you'll walk, and no one ever thinks your dog is as cute/cool/pretty/awesome as you do.
*A ½ or full Ironman are kinda boring to watch for 5 to 13 hours, especially for kids and dogs (See above). I think the best time to be there for your triathlete is at the finish. After the race, reality hits, and sometimes hits hard. They need you then, emotionally, and physically. They need you to hold them up, to get food/water/ice/beer for them, to put their stuff back in the car and to tell them how well they did and how proud you are of them.
*My friend Nick had a great idea for results, put them up on a giant screen and have the triathletes come up and get their hardware whenever they want. Keep the results up until the last person leaves.
This is always the worst part of a triathlon, waiting for the results/awards. I'd much rather have my name up on a giant screen for hours than have my name mispronounced for two seconds to get an award.
*My daughter Kristen just graduated from Mizzou and is working in KC. Her birthday was this week. I'm way too young to have a kid who just turned 23!!
*If you put on a ½ or full Ironman have coffee and donuts for sale early in the morning until about 10:00. I'd pay $10 for a cup of java and a Krispy Kreeme. This is where you can REALLY make some bucks.
*The athletes, friends and volunteers had a perfect day at Smithville Lake, blue skies, no wind and sunny. It was great weather for post race activities too, sitting in the shade having a few beverages talking to your friends.
*Triathletes are some of the most dedicated, helpful, fun, friendly, people I've ever been around.
*I think Big Shark Girls are not only super fast but are really pretty too.
*SBRSTL had a long day.
*Road trips are GREAT!!!

Until next week,
train smart, live right,
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com