As someone who competed in more than a 100 triathlon competitions at every level, Russell Sergent hopes that this type of competition will become even more popular and accessible in the near future. Triathlon’s story started in France during the early 1920’s. The competitors called their event “Les tris sports”, which translates to “three sports”. These three sports were swimming, cycling and running. When it comes to the American history of the sport, we have to go back to the mid-1970’s and the South Californian region.
The First American Triathlon Competition The first competition was held in Mission Bay, on September 25, 1974. This is also the date that is regularly celebrated as the birthday of American Triathlon. The first event required the competitors to swim 500 yards, complete a 5-mile bike ride and run 6 miles. The Ironman The Ironman competitions are the highest level in triathlon, usually restricted to professional athletes. The most prestigious Ironman event is held on Hawaii, which requires the competitors to swim 2.4 miles, to ride 112 miles, and to finish the race with a marathon run, which translates to 26.2 miles. The Official Rules Today What started out as an event without stern rules requires strict oversight today. The races are governed and sanctioned by three big organizations; the International Triathlon Union, the World Triathlon Corporation, and finally the USA Triathlon organization which is responsible for the safety of the events that are held in the United States of America. Sources: https://totaltriathlon.com/triathlon-history Russell Sergent is a professional triathlete who loves the sport and everything it represents. Triathlon can bring a large number of potential benefits to the table, making it one of the best forms of competition that inspires millions of people to test their mental resolve and physical fitness level.
Triathlon Builds Self-Confidence It’s well-known that physical competitions are great confidence builders. People usually fear these events because they are not sure if they will be able to complete them. Once they realize that they can, their self-confidence will increase tenfold. It’s Not Monotone at All Various studies have shown that people usually give up exercising because they get tired of its monotonic nature. Hobby sports are usually like that, and because of the lack of competition that would keep things interesting, people give up on these routines. Triathlon is completely different. By combining three different sports into one exciting event, this type of competition can be extremely interesting. It’s really one of the best high-variety exercising routines around and as such, it’s perfectly suited to be a long term solution. It Reveals Weaknesses Triathlon is great for several reasons, but its ability to reveal certain weaknesses probably stands out the most. These weak points can be physiological or psychological, but once triathlon revealed them, one can start to work on turning them around. Whether it is a lack of core strength or not enough willpower, the sport can be more than a diagnostic tool - it can be the solution, too. Russell Sergent is an experienced triathlete who had his fair share of tough competitions that taught him how to overcome certain obstacles in life. Sources: http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/20-great-reasons-do-triathlon Russell Sergent is a professional triathlete who successfully completed four Ironman challenges. The preparation process for such competitions can be grueling, but contrary to the popular belief, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to finish a “simple” triathlon race, especially if it’s a sprint competition. Regardless if you wish to win or just participate in a triathlon race, this event still requires immense preparation and careful planning. There Are Several Types of Races The first step is to decide what kind of triathlon race you want to compete in. There are four basic types, Sprint races, Olympic Triathlon races, Half Ironman competitions and Ironman Triathlons. The preparation process should be fairly different for all of these events, as their completion requires different levels of fitness and skills. Sprint Triathlons Sprint Triathlons are the shortest triathlons, but that doesn’t mean they are easy. There is still about half a mile of swimming, 15 miles of cycling and 3 miles of running involved. These type of events require a high level of fitness but the preparatory process should be fairly different compared to the longer events. The general rule of thumb is that you should always incorporate the imitation of these events into your training. This means swimming, cycling and running the same distances as you would in the race. Olympic Triathlon Olympic Triathlons are the most common triathlon events and they usually include 0.93 miles swimming, 24.8 miles cycling and 6.2 miles or running. Half Ironman Half Ironman competitions require you to swim 1.2 miles, to bicycle 56 miles and to run 13 miles. These events are the second most challenging Ironman races. The Ironman Triathlon The most grueling of all, the Ironman Triathlon, is a huge accomplishment to complete. With the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike ride and the 26.2-mile marathon run, this type of competition asks a lot from the competitors. Preparing for an Ironman Triathlon is often a multi-year experience. Sign Up Once you have decided to test your abilities in a specific competition, the next step is signing up. Looking into the details of a specific race is always recommended, as there could be special rules. The official website of the event is usually the place to find useful information, and also where you can sign up. If you wish to participate as a professional athlete there could be other prerequisites involved, such as medical examinations. Gear The quality of your gear is very important. The basic minimum is having a swim suit, goggles that can help you during your swim and bike ride, running shoes with quality outsoles, a bicycle (this depends on the competition), and a helmet. As an experienced triathlete who completed his fair share of competitions on all levels and in different categories, Russell Sergent hopes that more people will become interested in triathlons in the near future. Sources: http://www.wikihow.com/Train-for-a-Triathlon |
|