By Scott Bailey


In triathlon, competitors complete multiple-stage competitions in a continuous and consecutive manner. It is an endurance sport testing how fast one can move while enduring the hardship involved in the races. Running, biking, and swimming are the three activities that make up the competition. Time spent while transitioning from one activity to another is also counted towards the final time taken. The root of the term is in the Greek language. When the term is translated to English, it means three sports which is a consistent definition with the sport.

Athletes are provided with a transition area for them to change their gear between the various events. Transition areas provide an area for transitioning from swim to bike and bike to run. Athletes keep their bikes and performance apparel among other accessories in the transition area. Triathlon training is usually very intensive and endurance-oriented in order to prepare athletes better for the race.

The first transition involves transitioning from swim to bike. This transition is called T1. The second transition involves transitioning from bike to run, and is referred to as T2. The overall time for the competitors include the time they spend in both T1 and T2. Since the number of participants can vary widely, transition areas vary in size a lot. Also, these areas are used as social headquarters before races begin.

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.

The International Triathlon Union, ITU was created in 1989 as the global body for governing the sport. At that time, the main goal was to ensure triathlon was accepted into the Olympic Games. ITU wound later become the sanctioning and organizing body for World Cup and World Triathlon Series races yearly. Participants can compete at various levels include elite pro-triathletes, age-group athletes, and junior pro-athletes.

Participants must register and sign up for any event they intend to participate in days before the event happens. Those who register are given race numbers, timing bands, and colored swim caps. Timing bands are only used if the race is to be timed electronically. Participants usually have information regarding the course, applicable rules, and possible problems they need to be on the lookout for communicated to them way in advance.

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.

Wave start events entail athletes beginning the race in smaller groups. A start signal is made after every few minutes. Short races tend to favor wave starts than long ones.




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