Frazz by Jef Mallett for March 08, 2023

Inspired?

Swim, bike, run…sounds like a recipe for chafing.

Wait until the bones start grinding together.

The original Greek marathoner had the good sense to die.

Once going around town, back from a long bike ride in full spandex kit, I had to stop at a corner (in order not to unlawfully take a motorist’s right of way away). An old guy (older than me) looked at me, shook his head and said: " Do you realize what you look like?". I smiled at him and rode home. You can’t make that up.

People have? And you don’t let their opinions interfere with your joy? That’s some joy!

Train like nobody’s watching.

You look healthier than most.

Was he looking you in the eye? (cough-cough)

Golly, people have remarked to you on a topic that you yourself never shut up about? Who woulda guessed?

A shark can swim faster than me, but I can run faster than a shark. So in a triathalon it would come down to the cycling.

I wanted to laugh at first but as a dedicated runner, I thought about the last panel and felt like Frazz (Jef) could also be expressing the way you feel when people make negative comments/attitudes about your dedication or commitment to an activity. Not sure of the emotion; shamed, piqued, embarrassed…. Comments like, “Running will ruin your knees”, “If you see me running you better start running too”, “Have fun with that”, “Why would you run if no one is chasing you?”, “Must be nice being able to eat whatever you want” or “Must be nice to be thin”.