Take It Back!

Several themes and trends coming together today.  Bob Mitera has been doing some great work over at Tales from a Triathlon Lifestyle about improving the sport of triathlon.   Yesterday, paying an homage to the Tour de France's ongoing "Take Back the Tour" ad campaign, he makes the excellent suggestion that we - triathletes - "Take Back Triathlon" from drafters, dopers and rule-breakers.  Amen to that.

The last time I raced Steelhead (2006) I was amazed (and blown into the weeds) by all the peletons out there.  Not just a handful of racers drafting, but 10, 20 riders, sometimes more, all gaining an unfair advantage over those of us riding within the rules.  There were precious few drafting penalties handed out and, though I'm told there were course marshalls out there watching, you couldn't prove it by me.

And the first time at Steelhead (2005) I arrived in T1 to find my bike's chain off, both front and rear derailleurs.  Funny.  It was fine an hour earlier when I headed from Transition to the swim start.  I'm not absolutely claiming sabotage; Lord knows I've been able to accomplish some pretty dumb, low-probability things on my own.  But I've never before had a chain jump right off an unattended bike.

And now there's another sport apparently needing rescue from those claiming to love it: mountaineering.  At best, I'm an armchair trekker (and confirmed height-o-phobe.) The biggest things I've ever climbed are the LONG staircase leading to my backyard pool and the Lifetime Fitness climbing wall.  Yet I'm fascinated by climbing in general and Everest in particular. I've just finished a book called "High Crimes: The Fate Of Everest In An Age Of Greed." by journalist Michael Kodas.   It's eye-widening and a little scary as it rips open Everest's seamy underbelly.  What oozes out ain't pretty.  

From a Publishers Weekly review reprinted on Amazon.com: 

"Kodas has written a disturbing account of stupidity and greed on the slopes of Mount Everest. On assignment for the Hartford Courant in 2004, Kodas joined an expedition led by a couple who had summited the mountain more than a dozen times between them. As he moved up Everest, Kodas watched his expedition disintegrate in a mess of recriminations, thefts, lies and violence. At the same time, a sociopathic guide was leading a 69-year-old doctor to his death on the unforgiving slopes. The twin disasters led Kodas to delve into the commercialization of Mount Everest, and to discover that such experiences were becoming a depressing norm. A thorough reporter, Kodas does an excellent job exposing the ways in which money and ego have corrupted the traditional cultures of both mountaineers and their Sherpa guides. He also brings a painful focus to the delusions, misunderstandings and indifference that allow climbers to literally step over the bodies of dying people on their way to the top."

Sounds like mountaineering ought to join cycling and triathlon on that list of sports needing to be "taken back" by those who love them.  Everest's summit, the Yellow Jersey, Kona.  Big hairy audacious goals, all.  And all needing to be rescued from those who would gain the prize while sacrificing their soul.  I hope that's possible.

iPod Shuffle: "Salt of the Earth" by the Rolling Stones, from "Beggars Banquet."  And "I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down" by Buddy Holly, from "Gold." And "Doing the Unstuck" by The Cure, from "Wish."  And "The Main Thing" by Roxy Music, from "Avalon."  And "Runnin' Out Of Fools" by Neko Case, from "Blacklisted."