Trizophrenia: An Affliction that Saves

Below is a book review I ran in NEM News for the January/Feburary issue about my friend Jef's book, Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete. I loved the book, and I hope you'll enjoy the review. Check out the book- it sure doesn't disappoint!


In the several months that have passed since Frazz cartoonist and avid triathlete Jef Mallett’s swimming and triathlon accomplishments were first featured in this newsletter, (“Not Frazzled by Competition,” March 2009) he has been busy writing and drawing to produce his newest literary offering: Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete.

The word “trizophrenia” (fanaticism for threes) may be a mouthful, but it’s a fairly common phenomenon among triathletes. And there’s a similar affliction rampant among swimmers, especially open water swimmers— that one where you get crazed by your sport and devote every waking moment to either preparing for a big event, eating, or plotting the next one. You know how it goes: How many times have you told a non-athlete coworker or friend that you’re planning to do a big open water race or an Ironman? Now think about how many times you’ve probably been told in response, “You’re crazy!”

For the triathletes among us, Trizophrenia may just be the best way to tell these non-believers that it’s a good kind of insanity that sure beats the alternative. The book breaks down the sometimes enigmatic ritual of triathlon into its most basic parts— not just the swimming, biking, and running parts— but also the discipline, the preparation, and the investment of both time and money that practitioners will inevitably make once hooked by the sport.

In his engaging style, Mallett tells the story of triathlon, from how it started and how it’s grown to where it’s going next. He even explains why triathlon begins with the swim, something that I always thought seemed strange, but in fact makes perfect, practical sense: “Swimming presents an exhausted athlete with the greatest potential for tragedy, so it’s good to get it out of the way while everyone’s fresh. A broad expanse of water is difficult for lifeguards and officials to patrol, so it’s best to conduct that part of the race before the pack has a chance to stretch out.” Eating and drinking is another factor and it’s also a lot faster to peel off a wetsuit than it is to try to wriggle into one once you’re already sweaty.

Scattered throughout the book are cartoons that relate directly to the text. Mallett’s style and personality shine through in both the narrative and the art, and before you realize it, he has told you the story of how he first met and fell in love with triathlon and how and why he continues with the sport today. And if you’re not careful, he’ll persuade you to take the plunge and do your first triathlon, too.

At its core, Trizophrenia is a love letter to triathlon and the happy, healthy individuals that endurance sports of any stripe allow us to become. It’s an earnest edict to embrace life itself and a guide to living the best life you can through sport... make that three sports.— Elaine Howley, NEM News Editor

Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathle by Jef Mallett is available at Amazon.com. You can read more about him on his blog or see him in the funny papers.