Very true. Plus, they care about winning... not finishing. For them to get pulled off the course... and if they have no hope of winning... well, I don't think they mind quitting when they know they are losing.
Better to risk it all and pass out trying to win.
Totally different mind set from the rest of us... eh?
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"
The Boy and I just watched this on tivo the other night. Wow! I was really emotional watching all those girls pass out. I don't know why, I just got really choked up and it felt horrible to watch that. If I was someone who was thinking about getting into Tris that would probably turn me off. As is the case having done one, I just really really was impressed, but not in a way that I'd want to do the same to myself. We were kind of confused about the bike drafting-legal thing. I did see one of the girls (the young canadian who passed out during the run) take in some gels, but most of the women looked like they were just pushing too hard (of course, it's a race so I guess one could argue that there is no such thing as pushing too hard, especially when it comes out to a 200k prize).
The Hummer thing made me laugh. I would be tempted to turn it down, but of course it being a big sponser of the event you couldn't. Could you even sell one of those things now? I guess there's always people in the market for a status-symbol gas-hog.
I did enjoy that they only showed the highlights of the men's race (though they didn't show any of the men pass out....)
All in all wondering if we're going to start seeing more tri's on the teev since it's so popular now (heck, it beats watching golf!!)
K.