Triathlon is a multi-event endurance sport that has been an Olympic event since 2000. The triathlon provides a great fitness challenge for athletic and non-athletic participants alike and is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. The sport of triathlon started in 1974 when Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan organized the first Mission Bay Triathlon. In 1978, the first ironman triathlon took place in Hawaii. Early triathlons were attended by a very small number of competitors: the first ironman saw only 12 finishers. Modern events often see competitors number in the thousands and there are races and triathlon clubs in most major cities around the world.
Triathlon Disciplines
The sport of triathlon involves three disciplines performed back-to-back: swimming, cycling and running. The disciplines are normally performed in this order and the aim of a triathlon is to complete all three as fast as possible. Once you commence swimming and the timer starts, it does not stop until you complete the run. The time you take between disciplines, called transitions, also counts toward your final result. This means that as well as training for swimming, cycling and running, triathletes often spend time perfecting their transitions so that they do not lose time moving from one discipline to another.
Standard Race Distances
A triathlon can be held over any distance but there are a number of competition standards that must be used for International Triathlon Union ranking events. The shortest standardized event in triathlon is the Olympic distance of 1,500 m swimming, 25 km cycling and 10 km running. Distances normally are listed using the metric system. The longest standardized event is the ironman, with a 12.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and 26.2-mile run. These unusual distances originate from that first triathlon in Hawaii. Regardless of the distance, the field of competitors will include athletes who just want to finish the course and those who want to complete the course in the shortest possible time.
Equipment
The sport of triathlon requires an array of equipment. For the swim, triathletes usually wear goggles and a brightly colored swim cap to aid identification and you also are allowed to wear a wetsuit if the water is sufficiently cold. Swim fins and buoyancy aids are not allowed but can be used in training. For the cycling section of the race, you need a lightweight sports bike, compulsory crash helmet, cycling shoes and sunglasses. In the run, you will swap your cycling shoes for running shoes. In longer events, competitors often change from cycling shorts and jerseys into running shorts and singlets, whereas in short events competitors tend to wear the same clothes for the duration to save precious time.
Training for Triathlon
Success in triathlon requires a high degree of aerobic fitness. To develop conditioning for racing, triathletes swim, cycle and run multiple times per week. Twice-a-day training is not uncommon for serious triathletes, although not essential for novices and intermediate competitors. Much of a triathlete's training will include "brick" sessions in which disciplines are done back-to-back, such as cycling after swimming or running after cycling. This helps to prepare you for the challenge of transitions and provides an opportunity to practice your routine. Many triathletes will perform "over distance" training, meaning swimming, cycling or running farther than the distance of the race. This builds confidence and fitness. Despite the high volume and frequency of training, it is important to take periodic days off to allow for recovery and prevent burnout.
References
- "Your First Triathlon"; Joe Friel; 2006
- "Triathlete Magazine's Complete Triathlon Book: The Training, Diet, Health, Equipment, and Safety Tips You Need to Do Your Best"; Matt Fitzgerald; 2003
- "Triathlon 101 - 2nd Edition"; John Mora; 2009
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