Sports

The Triathlete -

Unshorn Hair, Beard And All!

PARVIN SINGH PANESAR

I carry my Sikh identity everywhere I go. In a way, it tells the world that Sikhs are in every sphere of life and are here to serve.



Yes, there is still a large population out there who are not informed about Sikhs, and that is why I proudly prefix ‘Sikh’ to whatever I do. I am proud of my heritage and have never ever thought that Sikhi has held me back from anything.



If I ever find that there is anything holding me back, then I know it is what I need to do more vis-à-vis discipline and structure in my daily life.



I write this post to clear the air about any suggestion that Sikhi may be in any manner disadvantageous in sport, especially in what is my personal favourite, the Triathlon.



For over a year, there has been a documentary kicking around titled ‘The Odd Couple - A Story of Two Triathletes’ in various movie festivals and seminars. The film depicts a journey of a Sikh guy who loves to be active outdoors, but the movie is falsely promoting that being a Sikh may be challenging in the sport of triathlon or that Sikhi is in some way holds back the guy shown in the movie.



And that guy is me!



Triathlon is a sport where you first swim, then bike, and then run, and all three are done one after the other. In challenging distances. Hence the name … Triathlon.



There are varied distances to the sport, depending on the age and training level, the most popular being what is known as the ‘Ironman’ distance: “a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.”



In order to be very efficient in all the three stages -- because it is the totality of the competition that counts -- one needs to save every possible minute and second. For example, if any of you follow the sport of swimming or cycling, you’ll have noticed the muscular quads and clean shaved faces.



Now why is that? It is because body hair causes air draft, and at the elite level shaving your legs can add to air efficiency and cut as much as 4-5 minutes in time. Nobody likes to shave their legs, but the elites or the pro’s do it, because that is the easiest and cheapest way to save money and yet gain speed.



Sikhs keep unshorn hair. It is one of the articles of Sikh faith. Generally speaking, Sikhs have always been quite athletic and adventurous. Our ancestors were great swimmers who, for example, during battles with the Mughals used to topple their boats when crossing rivers.



Sports and physical activity have been, and remain an integral part of Sikh way of life.



My intention here is to clear the air about myself, as portrayed by the movie and the movie banner. While the director overall did a great job with the movie, there are scenes in the movie which have been edited so as to exaggerate things to make and stretch a point which is not entirely correct.



There were scenes shot, to cite but one example, where I was asked to fiddle and adjust with my bike helmet on my head, even though I never have to in my real life. To falsely give the impression that my joorrah may in some way pose a hindrance.



I never have an issue with the helmet just as women who have long hair never do either.



People get into the sport of triathlon for various reasons, some personal, some emotional and some have ambitions to be pro-athletes. My reason, addition to others, was to definitely encourage Sikh representation in the sport, and connect with others to tell them about my faith. And all this without holding a seminar or distributing pamphlets or holding up placards.



A number of my colleagues from work have seen me in the men’s room tying a turban and dressing my long beard after a shower, and this has only initiated some kind of talk about my appearance.



How did it affect me? There is always one or two who learn a bit more about Sikhs and Sikhi by talking to me.



I agreed to become a part of the movie based on the initial idea of inspiring Sikhs, but the finished product -- beyond my control and out of my hands -- gave it a twist and turn which I did not agree with or endorse.



I have always been clear of one thing, that Sikhism teaches discipline and it teaches it in a very unique way. Keeping unshorn and clean hair and tying a turban is one of those ways. I am part of a faith that already teaches to be disciplined and learn time management, and that is exactly what the sport of triathlon demands.



One needs to manage time, and be disciplined in training, eating habits, time around the family and time towards gurbani. How can this kind of a faith be ‘inherently disadvantageous’, as suggested by the film?



Yes, there are challenges, but how can you compare Sikhi being a challenge with a genuine challenge of someone who is a one-leg amputee -- the case of the other star of the film with whom I was compared by the filmmaker?



Coming out of the swim, the head is not covered; hence, first putting on a bandana to cover the head and then a cycling helmet takes precious moments, but over the years, I have been able to perfect it into an art and save time.



Then, my beard. It protects me from those ice chills in the ocean water, and the wet beard cools me off when I’m on the run. And I just love it.



Shaving my legs -- yes, it is a challenge, and not worth the choice between the triathlon and my Sikh faith. I turned to being innovative to reduce the air drag, which would mean either get more powerful on the legs, or buy some expensive tights to cover the legs as well.



Whether this will get me into the elite list or not, I do not care.



Sikhism has never been disadvantageous no matter which sphere of life I enter. It has helped me build a unique circle of active people around me, some of whom never knew about Sikhs before they met me. It has helped me to be strong in my healthy habits.



If any one thinks that being a Sikh puts hurdles in your way in any activity, all I can say is that one is then having difficulty in understanding Sikhi, not in tackling the triathlon.



A real challenge is a physical challenge (well, it also has a mental aspect to it), which my triathlete friend Jeff Schmidt is dealing with (as a one-leg amputee). He was inspirational to me, no doubt, and I certainly cannot compare his challenges with mine, definitely not with the issue around covering my head during the transition between one activity and the next.



I am thankful to Jeff for mentoring me initially when I was new to the sport. Funny thing is that when I get into the water or put on my bike helmet, I never get the feeling that ‘Oh! I have a beard and head bun’. I am too focused on the task and not on my appearance.



If those who have watched the documentary, ‘The Odd Couple – A Story Of Two Triathletes,’ and have got the impression that Sikhi is disadvantageous to an athlete or a triathlete, they have been misled, unwittingly or otherwise.



The challenge of the triathlete is in the mind, not in false assumptions or imagined limitations.





March 5, 2017



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