TriHards Freak O Meter

Here at the TriHards, we’re constantly amazed at the fitness level of some groups who enter into the various events we do. If you look at the results, particularly of the AROC races, as a histogram (no, we are not geeks!) you’ll see that the results never have the standard bell curve style of distribution. Rather, there is a small lump at the front, then a more normal looking bell curve. These people at the front are those we affectionately call freaks.

Super Freak

• Runs a 10km event like the Canberra Times fun run in under 30 minutes, before jogging back to their bike at the start and riding home (via, say, Goulburn to make the ride worthwhile.)
• Thinks the AROC Paddy Pallin races are a nice warm up for something more challenging later in the day.
• Will ride past Goulburn and chase cows down in a paddock to milk them, because simply buying milk isn’t enough of a challenge.
• Completes an event like the Wild Endurance non-stop.
• Wears lycra, and actually looks good in it.
• Border collies see them putting on their running shoes and hide under the bed, being smart enough to know it’s too much for them.
• Eats enough food to feed a small African nation, yet jockeys envy their weight.
• Hasn’t seen a tv since childhood.

Freak

• Runs a 10km event like the Canberra Times Fun Run in less than 45 minutes, has a coffee at the end then jogs back to the start to ride home.
• The AROC Paddy Pallin races actually are a sprint for them, they complete the course in time to qualify for the advanced leg, which they finish before most of the teams have even finished the standard course.
• Will ride to the Goulburn shops for milk, because just going down the road doesn’t even raise a sweat.
• Completes the Wild Endurance in under 18 hours, without blisters.
• Going for a “run” means jogging from the front door to some point about 10km or more from the house, then coming back.
• Carries their border collie for the rest of the run when it falls down exhausted about half way through.
• Owns lycra, wears it openly in some events, and doesn’t make people gasp in horror.
• Eats enough food to feed an African township, yet doesn’t have an ounce of fat.
• Hasn’t seen the Nutrigrain commercial as they do a quick 5km run during ad breaks on tv.

Freak Wannabe

• Runs a 10km event like the Canberra times in under an hour, tries the coffee at the end, and still has the energy to mow the lawn when they get home.
• Considers the AROC Paddy Pallin series a fun event, and sometimes even qualify for the advanced legs.
• Rides to the nearest town centre to buy milk, and rides to work every day.
• Does regular training runs, rides and paddles with distances comparable to major events.
• A border collie will eagerly join an active person for a run, and sometimes even consider a ride.
• Wears lycra or skins in some events, but doesn’t look particularly good and always ensures it’s covered up!
• Eats pasta leading into a major event, and a good brekky on the day, carries gels, sports drinks during an event.
• Sees the Nutrigrain iron-man ad on tv and thinks it looks like great fun

Healthy

• Enters the Canberra Times Fun Run, walking some of the way, to finish in around 1:30, spends the rest of the day on the couch.
• Can complete an AROC Paddy Pallin series race before the cutoff time, and that’s after training for a few weeks. Wouldn’t ever consider doing the advanced leg.
• Rides to work sometimes, will ride to the local shops to do shopping. Doesn’t consider riding for “fun”.
• Does a training run/ride/paddle once a week, which is happily called off due to miserable weather.
• A border collie will come for a run, walk or ride, and want to play fetch afterwards to burn off that little bit of extra energy.
• Wouldn’t consider wearing lycra.
• Sees the Nutrigrain iron man ads on tv and thinks it's great CGI.

Normal

• Enters the Canberra Times Fun Walk, and enjoys a pleasant walk in Canberra if it’s a nice day - won’t even consider doing it in the rain. Ensures there is a car at the finish to take them home.
• Might consider the Paddy Pallin Novice course, if they could stop for coffee halfway through.
• Might walk to the shops for milk, if it’s only five minutes. Would consider riding to work if there were no hills, and the bike had a really comfortable seat.
• Might go for a walk if it’s a nice day.
• A border collie would happily walk with them, but regularly run off just to get that bit of extra exercise, and tear the backyard up when they get home because it’s bored and has too much energy.
• Wouldn’t consider buying lycra.
• Sees Nutrigrain iron man ads on tv, but is still thinking about saving the poor rug shop which is going out of business. Again.

Couch Potato

• Would get annoyed at not being able to drive on Adelaide Avenue during the Canberra Times Fun Run, but hasn’t been up that early on a Sunday to notice. Ever.
• Paddy who?
• Hasn’t ridden a bike since they got their licence, and would never consider riding to work. That may cause a sweat!
• Thinks runs are something that happens to people who eat the wrong food whilst on overseas holidays.
• Had a border collie, which managed to dig three tunnels out of the yard to escape. Now just likes cats.
• Eats Nutrigrain. At night. On the couch.