Over the past decade, triathlon has been growing in popularity, and especially among women. Female memberships with the USAT have been climbing at a rate of 1% per year since 2000, and as of 2008, they accounted for 40% of total memberships. This year, our country will host 30 female-only triathlon races, thanks to groups such as Iron Girl, SheRox, the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series, and the Trek Women Triathlon Series—proving that women will continue to gain share as one of the sport’s biggest enthusiasts. (That's not bad when you consider that it was just a little over 40 years ago when the U.S. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Women's Committee increased the legal running distance for women to 5 miles!)
Running is responsible for the birth of many new triathletes, as people look for new challenges beyond 5Ks, 10ks, half marathons and full marathons. People have become comfortable with road races, as evidenced by the seemingly ubiquitous "13.1" and "26.2" ovals plastered on a good majority of motor vehicles (I've been counting them during my daily commute to and from work, and average about 5 per day!)
People of all shapes and sizes are running races, fueled by the challenge of covering distance for personal fitness, to raise money for charity, to support a cause, or simply because it's fun. Triathlon offers the same opportunities, just through three sports instead of one. USAT, the governing body for the sport of triathlon, suggests that growth in triathlon can be attributed to the society's interest in fitness and living a healthy lifestyle, along with increased resources and information on how to participate in the sport.
In 2004, triathlon was added as an official event in the Summer Olympics. Just two years ago, Jennifer Lopez completed the Nautica Triathlon bringing more buzz to the sport.
Chances are, you know someone who trains for triathlons.
You know your runner friends? Keep checking the back of their car to see if that "26.2" has been replaced with a "70.3" or "140.6" sticker (that's the number which refers to the total miles covered in a half- or full-Ironman race).
Next time you're in your local sporting goods store, take a peek around and see if any new products are creeping into the mix. Most cycling or running specialty shops now carry items that cater to multi-sport athletes.
Triathlon has come down to the community level, and you don’t have to be a professional athlete or a star to reap the benefits of the multisport lifestyle. The truth is—triathlon offers a workout that promises to make your water bottle feel like a fountain of youth, thanks to the sport’s anchor in the basics of childhood fun—swimming, biking and running. By focusing on three disciplines at once, cross training is inherent in triathlon, thereby offering more benefits than training for a single sport. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, cross training provides a “total body tune-up,” something you won’t get if you concentrate on just one type of activity.
Who's doing triathlon? Everyday people just like you.
Sprint triathlons are the new 5K--home to a variety of characters who toe the line for reasons ranging from fun to fitness and everything in between. And while the whole scene can seem daunting at first (wetsuits, bikes, transitions, and what's going on with the markers and the thighs?), it's really just your local 5K amped up with more fun.
This is a blog for you - the Everyday Triathlete. I'm here to make sure YOU can get in on the multisport action, and to squash the myth that you have to be in excellent shape, make lots of money and have lots of time to get into triathlon and enjoy it.
Think about the "Real Men of Genius" commercials from Bud Light. Now imagine that cheesy song playing in the background, and read the following lines with can-do attitude:
Today I salute you, Everday Triathlete. Orange Cheetos-stained fingers around that beer you didn't need, but cracked open anyway. Body poised perfectly atop that used bike you found on Ebay. (Cue back-up singer: "Old piece of craaaap") Smiling like you own the world because you just had a really great swim, bike or run (Cue back-up singer: "Really, really awesome workout") Who's in the house? An athlete's in the house (You're a starrrrr!). So crack open a new browser--because this blog's for you!
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