Mixed Feelings.

So, wow. I have mixed feelings about this cover. Obviously, so do a lot of others On the one hand, I'm appalled at the prudishness of people who can't handle talk of sex, who want to pretend that its not a major part of the human experience, who want to imagine that "serious" athletes or Christians or feminists or philosophers don't think about, talk about, dream about "it" all the time. Or at least often. I, at least, admit to participating in this sport partly because I feel an athletic body is sexier - I want to feel sexy and training and the aesthetic benefits of such helps in that regard. There are many, many other reasons I do this as well, but I'd be in denial if I didn't admit that lookin' hawt was not up there in the top ten. Unfortunately, like one of the folks in the discussion mentions, I have found that when I expend all my energy on training, I don't always have the energy to perform the very activity I'm trying to make myself more appealing for. I can't imagine I'm alone on that. So, sex is an issue for triathletes - and moms and dads and businessmen and clergy (just read the news!) and everyone. And, like it or not, most of us are very interested in it - even if we're only interested in criticizing people who admit being interested. Confused yet?

On the other hand . . . I'm appalled at the fact that Inside Triathlon served up Desiree Ficker like just another piece of scantily clad eye candy. As if the woman was nothing else. And it's gross the way some people (male and female) begin speaking of her as a non-person the minute her shirt's off. Can't a woman be an athlete, a person and a sex symbol? When does she become just an object? And can any of us pretend that we don't sometimes enjoy being objects? While at the same time we're creeped out by it.

See - Confusing. I'd be fascinated to hear your responses on this one - classless smut or intriguing and useful information? You decide.

******** After note - okay, so being the stereotypically ditzy blonde, I didn't realize until just now that this issue is a month old - which really shows how successful their attempt at "Scandal Sells" was - it took me a month to hear about it. hmmm. Anyway, I still think its a relevant topic. So there. Talk amongst yourselves.