Lessons about triathlon from a Phillies fan

When I was a kid growing up in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, I played Little League baseball for a few years. I was a pretty mediocre baseball player, more interested in practicing my pirouettes in the outfield than in catching fly balls and in perfecting the art of the grass whistle than in learning to hit. While I had a great time, my career as a baseball player was short-lived and undistinguished, to say the least.

Although I am a pretty bad baseball player, however, I am a pretty good fan of the sport to this day. Through the years, my interest in watching post-season baseball has increased, especially when the Philadelphia Phillies are playing well. For the second year in a row, the Phillies have clinched the National League title and earned their way to the World Series. Although the Phillies ultimately lost to the Yankees, my least favorite team in baseball, I really enjoyed watching their post-season play. Maybe it is because I'm in the midst of a hard training block in the lead up to next weekend's 70.3 World Championships, but watching the Phillies actually reinforced some lessons about triathlon...

1) Even old guys can bring it. While 38 year old Pedro Martinez may lack some of the speed and power that he once had, he used his experience and skill to do a pretty solid job on the mound (okay, they kept him in a bit long, but still...). In triathlon, athletes can still kick some serious booty into their late 30s. At 27, I'm just middle aged as a pro!

2) It takes a team. It doesn't matter how many home runs Utley hits. If the pitching is off, you don't stand a chance and vice versa. From Charlie Manuel to the under appreciated Carlos Ruiz, the Phillies were a pretty solid unit. Likewise, it takes a team to produce a successful triathlete. From a great coach to support staff to family and friends, nobody can make it to the top entirely on their own.

3) It is always more fun in the company of others. I enjoyed watching the Series by myself (for some reason, my German roommate wasn't interested), but I would have had more fun watching with other Phillies fans. Or Yankee fans with a sense of humor. Likewise, I've realized how much I miss training with other people this season. I am getting a bit tired of conversing with myself on long rides.

4) Some people will just never understand your interest. The aforementioned roommate just didn't grasp why I was excited about each hit or disappointed by each run scored against us. No matter how much you explain it, not everyone will understand why you care about baseball, triathlon, pinochle, scrapbooking or whatever else you love.

5) Sometimes it just isn't pretty. Baseball involves frequent "adjustments" and spitting- not terribly flattering ways to be caught on camera. Racing in triathlons frequently leads to photos of anguished expressions, snot and sweat covered faces and some horrendous running forms. I like to say that the day that I have a great run photo from a race is the day that I retire.

6) Pace, pace, build, race. I admit that I am a bit of a fair weather fan. I start to get interested in the Phillies when we are doing well and a have a chance at winning our division. Even then, I don't watch games until the post-season. The way that I see it, I only have so much emotional energy to expend as a fan. I would risk serious mid-season burn out if I were emotionally invested in every in-season game. In triathlon, you are best off starting the season strong and trying to build throughout the year. Every year, there are athletes that have amazing early season results and fizzle out by July. I prefer the simmer method, personally!

7) MVP to LVP. Cole Hamels was the MVP in 2008. 2009 was an "off" season, shall we say. In sport, you can have good plays followed by bad ones, great games (or races) followed by disappointing ones and amazing seasons followed by a mediocre one. There will always be ebbs and flows, but you have to keep looking ahead to the future without being held back by your past, good or bad.

8) Facial hair is awesome. Chan Ho Park was rocking a pretty killer beard. If I were a guy, I'd race with facial hair like that. Kinda like Fair Al-Sultan, but cleaner-looking. Okay, that had nothing to do with triathlon.