II see white people... (Page 2)

I'm not disagreeing with you that people CAN participate in tri on the cheap, just that the economics tends to discourage it.  And the niche market of tri, and the lack of role models that kids actually know, all play into it.  The same thing is seen with bicycle racing, a slightly less niche market.  If the next winner of TdF was an african american kid, I think we'd see more african american kids riding bikes, in the same way the Tiger affected golf.

That sort of raises an interesting side thread, as to mentoring of younger kids to encourage them to tri. I'll start a new discussion thread.

I think it's a whole host of things. From non-exposure, monies, cultural, straight down to the swimming.

I'm black and while my friends and family have much respect for what I do and what I'm trying to do, only a few handful of them are active. So, when I say swim, bike and run 3 miles they are like "what the hell" if they aren't active. But my mom, uncle and aunts who are all active thought it was the coolest thing ever and want to do one with me.

I think it's a variety of things. But trust, I did notice how many black folks were around at my first tri. I was pretty impressed, but I'm also in atl so there....

Could it be more? yes. But I DO believe a large part of it is exposure and the "being active" part. Not so much money. A lot of us just aren't as active and into our health as we should be and like the other cultures. And if we are just getting into it a triathlon sounds just crazy! Oh, and black folks have money - even when they are broke they have money. We sometimes spend it on what we want instead of what we need. Trust, if they wanted to participate and get the nice stuff, they'd make a way and be patient with it. Most do for everything else. It's a choice.

But I've always been the black chic who hung around every cultural circle. Hell, my high school alone had 66 countries in it. So I'm used to being around lots of different people and doing totally differet things from my peers.

This might explain it...

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/26/27-marathons/

Race does not matter when it comes to doing a tri.  Sweat all looks the same and heart rates have no color bias! Good for you for following your heart and reaching for the stars. Cheers from New England!