How it was

Amy White, managing editor of Inside Triathlon, whom I have known for some time, just asked me to consider writing for the magazine, starting with a shot at the back page "Fourth Leg" column. She suggests I might write about "how it was." So how was it 15 years ago in tri? Much more informal. Struggling for Olympic status. Less specialized equipment. Fewer sponsors. A ragging debate about drafting. Pre-Powergel and GU. More guys with buckets of water. There's a funny story here somewhere. Racing the last 5 miles on a flat? Water so hot and gunky in a small Michigan lake that I felt like the monster from the depths emerging? Doing my first race - an Olympic - in Milwaukee so no one I knew in the Chicago area would see me perform so poorly? Being forced off the road in a mad bike sprint close to transition and almost running into a house? A gushing firehose fountain at run turnaround at Leon's on a super hot day and my so soggy shoes on the run back after standing under it? Leon shaking every finisher's hand...and then his race being booted out by Hammond because the casino complained about the road closure? Like every column or story I write, we'll just have to see what emerges when I put my fingers on the keyboard! Whatever it is, it had better be interesting and offer some good thinking and guidance to my fellow tri-people.