http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTEgLKhjIw
Triathletes can be geeks. I was a geek before I became a triathlete, but now it's chronic. We spend as much time in training as we do pouring over the data gathered from it. Miles per hour, pace, heart rate, calories burned, calories consumed, speed, tempo, cadence, gear, weather patterns, planetary alignment...then we mash it all into this weird equation that makes sense only to other athletes. Triathlon, like many sports, comes with its own vocabulary. I thought I would cover some of the basics to avoid any eyes glazing over. This is not a comprehensive list, thus "part 1."
The distances:
Sprint triathlon: 750-800 meter swim, 13-17 mile bike, 5k run. The distances depend on the event organizer and location. The Sprint tri is where most people start in this sport.
Olympic triathlon: 1500-1650 meter swim, 23-26 mile bike, 10k run. As with the Sprint, the distances depend on the organizer and location. The official Olympic distance is 1500 meter swim, 40k (25 mile) bike, and 10k run. Elite athletes, such as the Olympic competitors finish this event in under 2 hours. Sick.
Half-Ironman or 70.3 triathlon: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run (half-marathon). Sometimes referred to as "long-course," there are many of these events across the country. 70.3 refers to the total distance traveled in the race.
Ironman: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run (marathon). Also known as "Ultra-distance," or 140.6 (total distance travelled during the race). The term "Ironman" is specific to an international series branded as such. Therefore, you can have a 140.6 event that is not an Ironman event. The race time cut-off is 17 hours. The pros finish this race in under 9 hours. Discuss.
For more information about the various distances and background of triathlon (so if you really want to geek out like I do), check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon
The equipment:
Wetsuit: A warming layer designed specifically for a triathlon swim. Races that are "wetsuit legal" take place in water that is below 78 degrees. Styles range from sleeveless/shorts to full suits and in thickness from .5 to 5 millimeters. Mine makes me look like a sea lion.
Aerobars: The bike portion of triathlon is a bit different than a cycling specific race like the Tour de France. In a triathlon, the cyclist is not riding in a group to draft off of other riders. In fact, drafting is illegal in most tris. So the cyclist tries to make himself at "thin to the wind" as possible. The aerobars allow the rider to hunch over their handlebars and create less wind resistance. It makes the rider look like they are relaxing over their bike -- which is kinda why I like them. My son was watching me ride on the trainer, and he said it looks like I'm "sleep riding."
Time Trial bike: These bikes (like mine) are designed to do one thing very well...go fast in a straight line. For some reason I have trouble with both, but I don't think that's because of the bike. Experienced triathletes can use TT bikes for climbing, although some use traditional road bikes for big climbing races.
The food:
GU, ClifShots: A gel that comes in a small packet about the size of a pack of gum. These are easily carried and contain a honey-like substance. They come in a variety of flavors and are packed with carbs for endurance training. It's quick fuel while on the move. They are good, but I wouldn't butter my toast with them.
ShotBlocks, Energy Gels: These are a bit like Gummi Bears or Fruit snacks, that serve the same purpose as the gels. There are some that are really good!
Waffles: A flat, cookie-like food that serves the same purpose as the above forms of fuel. The only problem with these is that they are so good, I'd eat them just sitting on the couch. My favorite flavor for riding is Vanilla, but I want to try the chocolate...warmed up...with ice cream...hot fudge...
Miscellaneous:
M-Dot: the Official Ironman logo is a red M with a red circle above it. Many times seen in the form of a tattoo on an Ironman finisher.
Bike/Run Profile: A graph that represents the elevation changes on the bike or run course. If it looks like a roller coaster and has 4 digits of elevation gain, the course is hard. Well, for me at least.
I hope to come up with a few more as we roll through the next year. Maybe this cleared some things up?
By the way, if any of you hear me use the word "fartlek" in a sentence, slap me. Seriously.
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