Has triathlon lost it's "cool"? (Page 3)

hobbyjogging 100 miles is now more "cooler" than swim/bike/hobbyjogging 140.6 miles. 

QZ - I'm not tracking you.  Youth/Jr. triathlon is the largest growth segment in triathlon.  There are plenty of colleges that have club triathlon teams.....and plenty of big colleges....just look at the teams in the collegiate national championships.  Colorado, Arizona, and on and on.  Colleges are now starting to ramp up for women's triathlon as an NCAA Championship sport.

At best triathlon is always going to be a participant-oriented niche sport. 

Most sports go through natural popularity cycles. I'm old enough to remember golf, tennis, cycling, running, etc., going through multiple boom & bust periods.  Not to mention the four-year cycles that the Olympic sports like swimming, track & field, and gymnastics go through.  I wouldn't expect triathlon to be any different.  Just look at the downturn that golf is going through now for comparison.

If anything we've reached a saturation point with races here in FL.  I can find a race within easy driving distance just about every weekend from May through October.  Too many for the core population of triathletes to support, which is resulting in dwindling numbers at some of the events.  St. Anthony's used to be a huge event, but in recent years, not so much (even when factoring in the problems they've had with the swim). 

My observation is that the numbers in triathlon have also been artificially bloated by the "one & done" crowd.  I've said before that I'd like to have a dollar for every newbie here on BT who says they're 40lbs overweight with no athletic background but expect to get off the couch and complete an IM within a year.  They post two or three times and then you never hear from them again once they realize there's not much instant gratification when starting out in endurance sports. 

But again, that's really not any different from a lot of other sports.  How many guys drop huge bucks on a set of golf clubs ands then eventually give up the game when they realize they can't drive like Rory McIlroy after a couple of visits to the driving range?  (A friend of mine has both a $4K Trek and a $1K set of Titleist clubs rusting away in his garage.)

Mark

That's not true for much of the world.......look at the crowds in Europe as an example.  I think your comment will not hold up in the coming generations here.  Granted, I spend a lot of times with kids.....but you need to know that they don't look at it the same as we do/did.  They have fantasy leagues, follow triathlon closely, and are BIG fans of the sport.  It's not the same vibe with them.....there are no "bucket listers".....these kids are players.

Not even sure of the definition of "cool". I suppose I would go with something like....."did the champion go to the White House to meet the President" or did the "winner appear on Letterman" the following week. Or at least gimme a Wheaties box.  

I think the sport can be REALLY cool....but it's got to involve speed, and actual racing, and crashing, and be able to be watched by people without them having to run all over the place spilling their beer. 

Sounds like NASCAR.  Which also happens to be on the decline in the current economy...

Mark

I agree with the crossfit observation.  Gyms are popping up all over the place here drawing a lot people.  Maybe mostly the people wanting to get fit vs compete.

C'mon....when were we not?  I've said it before....we are nothing more than Wed. night beer league softball folks.  I have no idea where the idea came from that doing a triathlon somehow made us "athletes".  We are athletes about the same way that the beer league guys/gal are ballplayers  Of course we are posers.....except for maybe the top .05%....but most of us can never hope to get there.   If anything,most people who don't participate think it's dumb....they sure as hell don't think it's cool.  The only people who ever thought it was cool was us.....something along the lines of "holy cow, I can actually do this, COOL!!"....but once we spent enough time telling other people that we could "actually do this" they started running the other direction because we wouldn't shut up about it. Now it's getting tiresome to them.

I think the sport can be REALLY cool....but it's got to involve speed, and actual racing, and crashing, and be able to be watched by people without them having to run all over the place spilling their beer.  It's coming........and people will think it's cool.....but most all of us won't be able to play.  That's a good thing to me, it'll grow the sport....and beer leagues are fun!

C'mon....when were we not?  I've said it before....we are nothing more than Wed. night beer league softball folks.  I have no idea where the idea came from that doing a triathlon somehow made us "athletes".  We are athletes about the same way that the beer league guys/gal are ballplayers  Of course we are posers.....except for maybe the top .05%....but most of us can never hope to get there.   If anything,most people who don't participate think it's dumb....they sure as hell don't think it's cool.  The only people who ever thought it was cool was us.....something along the lines of "holy cow, I can actually do this, COOL!!"....but once we spent enough time telling other people that we could "actually do this" they started running the other direction because we wouldn't shut up about it. Now it's getting tiresome to them.

I think the sport can be REALLY cool....but it's got to involve speed, and actual racing, and crashing, and be able to be watched by people without them having to run all over the place spilling their beer.  It's coming........and people will think it's cool.....but most all of us won't be able to play.  That's a good thing to me, it'll grow the sport....and beer leagues are fun!

For the record, I was being a bit facetious when I said "cool".  That's why I put it in quotes.

I wasn't asking if the sport, or the people in it were like rock stars or only the trendy people were doing them - the new fad.  I get it, people are not doing it to look "cool" like wearing the latest trends or hanging out with celebs.

I simply meant, has triathlon declined in popularity in main stream culture the last several years?...  I'm a bit surprised I have to clarify that to some.  Maybe poor choice to use "cool" since there seems to be a hang-up on that or the definition.