by D.C. Lucchesi
In “Frazz,” Jef Mallett chronicles in cartoons the balance his main character strives to strike between his work as a school custodian, his relationship with third-grade teacher Miss Plainwell, and the training and racing schedule of a mid-pack triathlete. In the book “Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete,” Mallett takes a shot at explaining why multisport types do what they do, drawing on (pun intended) his own experience as a gainfully employed, happily married, former-bike-racer-turned-triathlete.
“Trizophrenia,” pronounced like “schizophrenia,” explores what it takes physically, financially and mentally to commit to the sport. Fans of “Frazz” will immediately recognize the smart, witty writing and even more so the innumerable footnotes that reflect the three-panels-to-punchline medium of Mallet’s daily work and at first give the book an air of researched authority. A closer look takes up a parallel dialogue that reveals as much about the reference point as it does the thought process behind it, or another punchline. (Text: “And triathlon is, at its heart, a perseverance contest.” Footnote: “In the longer events, it’s also an eating contest, but not at its heart. Closer to the duodenum.”)
Part psychology, part history and part semi-autobiography – but all good – “Trizphrenia” is encouraging, funny and revealing, and endurance athletes of any cloth will surely see themselves in some or even many of these pages. Newbies will appreciate the scouting report, veterans will nod in agreement at the “Me, too!” moments, but the audience who may have the most to gain is the spouse/significant other who wonders why the alarm goes off at 4:15 a.m., or why you’ve spent New Year’s Eve in front of a computer screen to register for a race that’s six months out.
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