Triathlon Focuses on Three Sports A triathlon is an athletic event that includes swimming, running, and cycling. The triathlete therefore must focus his or her training on all three parts. There are actually five different lengths of triathlons; they range from short and doable to crazy-long. Training requirements increase as the triathlete works his or her way up the food chain. A sprint version requires the triathlete to swim mile, bike 12.4 miles and run 3.1 miles. As they improve their ability, some triathletes move from a sprint event to an Olympic event (also known as international or standard), on to a half-Ironman, through a long distance one, and finally reaching the pinnacle of all races, the Ironman (also known as the ultra). To compete in this event, triathletes must swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and then run a marathon (26.2 miles)! Swimming, running, and cycling - all together! Its hard to believe that anybody would have energy left after swimming and biking to run 26.2 miles. But they do. In October 2004, over 1,700 Iron men and Iron women started the World Championship in Hawaii. But how many triathletes finished, is another story. If you like running, swimming, and bicycling, consider entering into a sprint event yourself. Or, if youve run in a marathon before and want to challenge yourself again, here is the perfect opportunity. There are Ironmans Triathlons held around the world. |
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