I've been a member of the USAT for a few years, now. I initially joined in the summer of 2007, my second year of triathlons. That was also the year in which the race day insurance fees ($10) would have exceeded the $30 annual fee. I've maintained my membership for a variety of other reasons.
Obviously, as a participant in the sport, it makes sense to at least be a member of the key governing body. In addition to staying aware of that governance, there are minor benefits, such as Inside Triathlete, partner discounts, and the afforementioned race day insurance savings. And then there are the less tangible benefits.
You'll have to stick with me, here, for a moment.
In December, my family got together at a local pizzerria for dinner. As it was snowing heavily, that night, I carried presents and other things to the car ahead of the family. When my wife got to the car, she started it up with her keys.
I opened my door, realized the car was already running, and threw my keys into my pocket.
Or so I thought.
The next morning, no keys. My first thought was that the keys must be somewhere in the house as I had managed to drive home the night before. Then I remembered I had used my wife's keys. Mine were nowhere to be found.
I went to the pizza place, checked their lost and found, and wandered through the newly plowed parking lot. I went so far as taking a shovel and digging through the snow piles resulting from that plowing. No keys.
Fast forward three months to today. Mrs. Pol just called to let me know she had received a call from the owner of the trophy shop right next to where those snow piles had been until very recently. He left a message on our machine. "I don't know if this is the right Tom, but if you lost your car keys, I have them."
I asked my wife how he knew they were my keys.
Then it dawned on me. I have one thing on my keychain that has my name on it.
My USAT membership card. Get yours, today!
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