Triathlon: The Gateway Exercise

August 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

For those training for their first triathlons, take this as your fair warning; triathlons are the gateway drug of endurance sports. If it seems silly to compare something good for you (like exercise) to something bad for you (like drugs), then you haven’t been doing triathlons long enough.

There are two surprises that await you at the finish line of your first triathlon. The first is an overwhelming surge in emotions. Perhaps you don’t realize it as you spend months and months training, but by the time you are 100 yards away from the finish line, it all floods back to you at once. Flashbacks pop into the mind, reminding you of how far you’ve come. You’ll see the first time you went for a run, the first time you struggled in the pool, the first time you thought you couldn’t do it and about a dozen other memories. This internal highlight film eventually gives way to the overwhelming excitement and energy that is present at the finish line. As strangers cheer for you as you cross the finish line, and as you sit back and take stock in how far you’ve come, it’s hard not to feel just a tiny surge in emotions.

The second surprise is the feeling that immediately follows the finish line. Instead of focusing on how tired or sweaty or bruised or sore you are, most often the very first though that pops into the brain is “when can I do it again?” This is not normal behavior. It is the behavior and thought patterns of somebody who has just developed an addiction to endurance sports, and chances are good it won’t end with just triathlons.

Duathlons, 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, 100-mile bike races and open water relay races are just some of the endurance sports that await the newly crowned triathlete. Since triathlon is a combination of swimming, cycling and running, those who compete in them are treating themselves to the “sampler platter” of endurance sports. Often times it is not long before they find themselves signing up for a main course in any of the individual disciplines.

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Filed Under: Fitness, Tips, Training, Workout Tagged With: , , ,

The Benefits of Wet Suits in Triathlons

July 24, 2010 by Leave a Comment
classic shorty wetsuit by O'Neill (around 1995)
Image via Wikipedia

There are many beginning triathletes who aren’t sure as to whether or not a wet suit is right for them. After all, a wet suit represents an investment of hundreds of dollars, and often is not the most important piece of equipment needed when compared to a bicycle or running shoes. However for those serious about continuing their participation in triathlons, a wet suit is one of the best investments that can be made.

The first benefit that wet suits provide are thermal regulation. More often than not, the open water is much colder than the pools used for training, and therefore is much more difficult to enter voluntarily. A wetsuit, however, provides the user with a shield from the wind and a thin layer of water that remains close to the body which is warmed relatively quickly using body heat. This allows swimmers to focus on the race instead of how cold they are.

Another benefit wet suits provide, particularly for those who race competitively, is greatly increased aerodynamics. By putting on wetsuits, swimmers are greatly increasing the amount of surface area ideal for repelling water. When this happens, the swimmers are able to slice through the water more quickly, saving precious seconds and putting them in a better position to win their race.

The final benefit to incorporating a wetsuit into the routine is increased buoyancy. Although floatation devices are strictly prohibited in USAT sanctioned races, a wetsuit provides only a minimal amount of flotation assistance, well under the predetermined limits. While not something to rely upon in the event of a water emergency, the slight added bouyancy is more than enough to give those racing with a wet suit the advantage over those who aren’t.

Although expensive, wet suits can be a lasting investment for any triathlete looking to get serious about their craft. Added buoyancy, aerodynamics and increased thermal regulation are just some of the many benefits to adding a wetsuit to the arsenal.

Filed Under: Sports, Swimming Tagged With: , , ,

Why Triathletes Deserve a Raise

July 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Tom Brady
Image via Wikipedia

Tom Brady makes roughly $30,000 every time he completes a pass. Carlos Zambrano makes roughly $6,000 every time he throws a pitch. Kobe Bryant averages around $10,000 per point scored. And yet all of these single activities burn less than 100 calories. The act of throwing a football, baseball, or basketball is not nearly as remarkable as running a marathon after a 100-mile bike ride which was completed after a 2 1/2 mile open water ocean swim, and yet the pay does not reflect this fact. The Ironman Championship (the World Series of the sport) awards $100,000 to the winner, with only $500,000 designated in total prize money and only the top 10 finishers seeing a payout. These physical activities and paychecks are not proportional.

The average professional triathlete lives a life similar to that of a starving artist or independent musician. Most of their summers are spent traveling from city to city, competing in whichever USAT sanctioned events are being held that week. Although some of the lucky ones are able to supplement their income with endorsement deals, the vast majority of these athletes are literally running for their next paychecks. They work and train harder than any other professional athletes in the world. So why are they so underpaid?

The unfortunate truth is the fact that triathlons are, and have never been, a large spectator sport. Seeing as how they take place on sprawling courses, both on land and at sea, there is no convenient way to cheer on your favorite triathlete. What’s more is the fact that the sport is relatively young (upwards of only 40 years). While it is currently enjoying the height of its popularity, it is still relatively obscure by the standards of most other professional sports.

Although they are only getting paid a fraction of their less-strained professional counterparts, triathletes can take solace in knowing that there are no athletes in any professional sport who work harder for their money or deserve more money than they do.

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Filed Under: Swim Tagged With: ,

Tips for Maximizing Your Swim Split in a Triathlon

June 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Tri Gear
Image by Mat Honan via Flickr

For triathletes, so much of the race is determined by the end of the first event. Not only is a good time in the water a great way to start a race, but efficiency here can also bode well for the rest of the race. For any beginners out there, there are a few simple ways to help maximize your time within and getting out of the swim that should give you a much-needed advantage in your first race.

First of all, make sure you’re well trained. It is positively shocking to hear stories about first time triathletes who don’t spend a single minute training in the open water before race day. Those who follow this practice are setting themselves up for epic failure. Make sure you spend plenty of time in the open water getting accustomed to every aspect of it. That way you can focus on swimming on race day instead of focusing on how new and different the open water is.

Another chronic time-waster for first-time triathletes is the time spent between getting out of the water and getting into the transition area. Some beginners walk there, catching their breath from the swim they just complete. Others stash their running shoes or flip flops near the exit and spend time hunting those down before they can move onto the transition. Both of these practices are awful. When you get out of the water, run to the transition. You will feel like jelly and hate it, but by the time you get there you will be recovered and ready to ride.

Once you get into the transition, move quickly. Do not worry about how you look or catching your breath. You can breathe at the finish line. Time spent in transition counts towards your overall time, which is why it is imperative that it not be wasted.

By moving quickly even when you don’t have to, you can ensure that you don’t waste any time that should be yours for the taking.

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