1. The Birth of the Triathlon
The San Diego Track Club is widely credited with inventing the triathlon in 1970 as a way to encourage participation and bring awareness to their organization. The International Triathlon Union, or ITU, began in Avignon, France, in 1989 and created a standard for the sport using distances set for Olympic competition. The sport made its Olympic debut in 2000, in Sydney, Australia.
2. Go the Distance of Your Choice
Since the triathlon consists of three parts, it seems fitting that there are three sets of sanctioned distances. A sprint is the shortest of the three: it's made up of a 0.46-mile swim, followed by a 13.75-mile bike race and a 3.12-mile run. The middle-distance triathlon is the competition featured in the Olympics. It consists of a 0.93-mile swim, a 25-mile-long bike race and a 6.25-mile run. The furthest and most difficult triathlon is known as the Ironman, in which a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bike ride are topped off with refreshing marathon run. Many training clubs host different length events as preparation for longer races, including a Half Ironman.
3. Making the Team
Athletes who want to run the triathlon in the Olympics must qualify for a position on their national team. In the United States, there are several events that will qualify winner for nomination to the Olympic team. Some of these include the World Cup Competition and the ITU Continental Cup. Olympians may also be chosen on the basis of a system that awards points to athletes who compete in triathlon events held throughout the year.
4. Gear up and go
Depending upon how competitive you want to be, you can get by with the basics for your first several triathlon events. Get a swimsuit or wetsuit to protect yourself against cold water, a high-gear bike and a good pair of running shoes. Later on, you'll want to invest in better triathlon equipment as it will impact your speed. You might buy paddles for your hands to help you move in water, or padded swimming shorts so you can leave the water and jump right on your bike. As with any sport, start slow and build up your skills, then your triathlon gear.
5. Triathlon Training Wheels
Maybe you want to compete in a triathlon but you've no idea what to next. The first step is to visit your doctor and make sure you're physically healthy before you start training. After that's out of the way, there are any number of running, biking or swimming clubs that you can join, any of which will help you train for your first triathlon. Begin with strength training and biking to build your endurance. Add full-body stretches to elongate your muscles and promote circulation. As you grow stronger, add sprints and swimming to your workout. Gradually increase your training under the guidance of a coach, working as directed and resting as directed.
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