What To Know About Triathlon Training

By Scott Bailey


Triathlon refers to a multi-stage competition that involves competitors completing three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines. Generally, triathlon involves running, cycling, and swimming, with the three activities completed in immediate succession over varying distances. The people who compete in this sport are called triathletes, and they compete for the fastest overall course completion time. Transition from one activity to another is also timed. The term triathlon has its origin in the Greek language where it translates to three sports.

Athletes change their gears in a transition region, which is provided to them in advance before race starts. In the transition area, athletes transition from swim to bike or bike to run. All the supplies and accessories the athlete needs such as bikes and sports gear are held in the transition area. Triathlon training is done intensively and vigorously to boost the endurance of the athlete in preparation for the race.

The first transition entails moving to biking from swimming and it labeled T1. The second transition, which is labeled T2 involves transitioning to running from biking. Athletes spend some time in transition and it is added to their final time. The number of participants is a huge variable, so the size of transitions areas also varies a lot. Transition areas serve as social headquarters before the beginning of races.

The origin of triathlon lies somewhere in the 20s. However, the celebrated version as it is known began in 1974 in San Diego. The event was organized by two people called Johnstone and Shanahan. These two were associated with Track Club of San Diego. The first event incorporated running, biking, and swimming, but in a different order.

In 1989, a worldwide regulatory body was founded to take on the government of the sport. The body is named as the International Triathlon Union, abbreviated as ITU. Its goal has changed from what it was at the beginning. Initially, the goal was to make triathlon an Olympic game and that was achieved. Competition levels in this sport are three, that is, junior pro-athletes, age-group athletes, and elite pro-triathletes.

Several days in advance are given for people who intend to participate in an event to sign up. After signing up, participants are given colored swim caps, timing bands, and race numbers. Timing bands are for use in electronically timed races only. Any applicable information that participants may need to know such as applicable rules and the course to follow is communicated beforehand.

If the event is a major one, athletes are needed to check-in their bikes one or two days in advance. Once checked-in, the bikes are kept under guard at all times. Races may be started in any of the various methods of starting races. In a mass start, a single start signal is given and all athletes enter the water and start competing.

If an event is wave started, athletes are released in small bunches at predetermined intervals. A start signal is given at the lapse of the predetermined time intervals. This method is less commonly used in long races than in short ones.




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