Silliest triathlon 'info' ever!

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from a website that gives free training tips, as well as promo for their paid stuff. The email starts:

Are you 'Skinny-Fat?'

You are probably asking yourself right now, 'What is Skinny-Fat?'

Unfortunately, it is probably the typical triathlete body that you are walking around with now. Have you seen it? Tiny arms, a thin and weak neck and a stick-like midsection, with a little bit of fat in the belly and waist.

It's the "skinny-fat" look.

If that doesn't describe you, perhaps you're the opposite: you look like you should be playing rugby instead of riding a bicycle and running- meaning you have relatively dense muscle, covered with evenly distributed fat in the back, stomach, hips and thighs.

The "fit but fat" look.

Are you kidding me?! The article gives two possible body types and both include the word "fat"! I'm sure not "skinny-fat" but I'm not about to ditch triathlon and take up rugby or weightlifting any time soon.

Having the 'right' body type is no guarantee of sporting success. I could compare two local guys in our run club. One has an ideal body shape for distance running, natural athletic ability and a great stride. He also has zero free time to train. Another guy has a very different body shape. He's shorter with solid, muscular legs. However, he has prioritised running into his weekly schedule. He runs whether he feels great or whether he feels tired. He is determined. And his times are rapidly improving.

It's not that having a slim, strong, can't body part of the motivation to exercise. But I'm not buying into the negativity or being driven by a certain 'look'. Far more important are other goals such as: enjoying life by exercising regularly, training for a specific race, traveling to different cities & countries to race, setting myself the challenge of completing a new long-distance event or trying to break a previous PB for that distance and, finally, meeting people who also like a healthy, active lifestyle (and the post-race beer).

"Skinny-fat" or "fit-but-fat" talk is irrelevant. To quote another source I respect much more highly than this triathlon trash: 'A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.' (Proverbs 14:30.)