Triathlon

Triathlon is an endurance sport consisting of a multi- fight the disciplines of swimming, cycling and running, which must be completed sequentially and in that order with continuous timing.

• 5.1 Men
• 5.2 Women

Requirements and training

Feature of the triathlon is the immediate succession of three different disciplines and the related conversion of muscle to the respective discipline. Especially the running after cycling being found to be the most difficult part, there must be resorted when running on the already fatigued by cycling leg muscles. Good triathletes are characterized to keep the transitions between the individual disciplines as short as possible and as quickly as possible to adjust the body to the new strain. There are special forms of training such as the coupling training, either simple or repeated sequence of two sub-disciplines (mostly biking and running ), and the changing training ( changing the utensils ).

To complete a triathlon provides for many recreational athletes a major challenge, the longer the distance triathlon, the greater the challenge. Without continuous training in all three disciplines and a goal-oriented work on the personal endurance coping of a triathlon is difficult and possibly hazardous to health. Similar to training for a marathon is precisely this training on a triathlon and then arriving at the target represents the stimulus for beginners and advanced triathletes

History

Triathlon was invented around 1920 in France. " L'Auto " reported that since 1920 an annual race called " Les Trois Sports" took place. The event took place at Joinville le Pont, in Meulan and Poissy place and consisted of a 3- mile run, 12 - km - Radwettbewerb and the crossing of the river Marne. It was also performed under the name " La Course des Débrouillards " and "La course des Touche à Tout ". But as a hobby event it remains in anonymity, although repeatedly races are known, such as Marseille ( 1927). The three disciplines were completed one after the other without a break. In 1934 there were in La Rochelle a copy of " Les Trois Sports " with a channel crossing (about 200 meters ), a 10 - km - Radwettbewerb in the port of La Rochelle and the park Laleu and a final 1200 -meter run at the stadium André- Barbeau. From this time, the license ( exhibition 1927 ) for René taque comes from Perpignan. Then it was quiet again to the modern multi-sport until he woke up again in America.

Mid-1970s, the endurance triathlon was "invented " again. The two Americans Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan organized on September 25, 1974 in San Diego, California, also known as the first triathlon. The small race with 46 participants went over 6 mile run (about 10 miles), 5 miles Cycling ( 8 km ) and 500 yards swimming ( about 0.5 miles) and was named Mission Bay Triathlon. It was named after the Nestling on San Diego Lagoon. One of the participants was later stationed in Hawaii naval officer John Collins, later one of the founders of the first Hawaii Ironman in 1978., Where today is still the most famous and spectacular competition, the Ironman Hawaii instead. For this competition you have to qualify through a fast overall time in his age group at one of the world taking place, licensed as Ironman competitions since 1988. The age group winners of the previous year and the top ten of the elite field are automatically qualified, plus there is a lottery in which 200 additional starting places will be awarded. The Hawaii Ironman is considered the world championship of the Ironman series. In parallel, writes the International Triathlon Union their own long-distance world championships on a usually somewhat shorter distance from.

In addition to the Ironman events, the short-distance has gained in recent years become more important. Since its inclusion in the Olympic program in 1994, the power density is overseen by the International Triathlon Union Triathlon World Cup has increased steadily. The ITU World Championships since 1989, writes on the short distance, the official " Olympic distance " means since the mid- 90s. From the year 2009, the World Cup like in Formula 1 in a series format ( Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series ) is discharged.

Beginning in the 1980s arose in both the Federal Republic of Germany and in the GDR ( there first endurance triathlon or A3K called ) a triathlon culture in Germany (see also German Triathlon Union). As part of the general fitness trends, the triathlon has become well established in popular sports. The number of professionally organized racing in Germany is rising, according to the DTU from year to year. There is an event organized by the German Triathlon Union Triathlon German League with the 1st Bundesliga and a split into two leagues Bundesliga 2 ( North and South). Among regional leagues are carried out in six regions and other leagues at the country level. Various City triathlons with a beginners contest over the sprint distance, a short distance and sometimes also in connection with a league or ITU Triathlon World Cup races in major cities like Hamburg, Kiel and Leipzig have starter numbers of over 1000 participants. There are also many organized at the regional level triathlon competitions. Due to the event order of the DTU to number of participants from 50 to 250 and more than 250 competitors arise.

Associations

• International Triathlon Union ( ITU)
• European Triathlon Union ( ETU)
• German Triathlon Union (DTU )
• Austrian Triathlon Federation ( ÖTRV )
• Swiss Triathlon Federation (Swiss Triathlon )
• Ultra Triathlon Association ( IUTA )
• World Triathlon Corporation ( WTC)

Important racing series

Of the organizations and associations, competitions are held at national and international level

• International Triathlon Union ( ITU), World Cup
• Ironman, World Series
• Ironman 70.3, World Series
• Challenge, World Series
• TriStar, World Series
• Xterra ( triathlon), Cross Triathlon World Series
• German Triathlon League
• Grand Prix de Triathlon, the French Club Championship Series

Since 2000, the Triathlon is part of the program of the Olympic Games. The short distance is 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running graduated ( Olympic distance ). The high power density required a release of otherwise given slipstream driving ban. First Olympic champion Simon Whitfield were the Canadians and the Swiss Brigitte McMahon. The German Stephan Vuckovic from Reutlingen won in Sydney in 2000, surprisingly, the silver medal. At the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 Hamish Carter won in New Zealand and the Austrian Kate Allen. The gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing won Emma Snowsill of Australia and the German Jan Frodeno.

DTU starting pass

Basically, every triathlete can start without starting pass all German triathlon events. Once the distances 750 meters in swimming, 20 km cycling, and 5 km in the Running ( in duathlon 5 km on the run, 20 km cycling, and 2.5 km in the running) exceed, must be acquired for the start of a day license. This - variable depending on the event to a certain extent - costs are additional to the registration fee. For frequent starter on triathlon events from above distances also for financial reasons a starting pass the German Triathlon Union ( DTU) is interesting.

The DTU Startup passport was introduced from underwriting, sports law and sports for political reasons. It has the function of a license, the right to participate in triathlon competitions. Triathletes who belong to a triathlon club or a club with triathlon division, which is connected to the respective triathlon association can acquire a starting pass the DTU. The starting pass has one year validity. It must be requested through the respective association and extended - without notice - for a further year. This has the triathletes as a member of its respective association, the State Association and the DTU of belonging. This initial pass costs a fixed annual contribution. From these membership fees and triathlon events will be co-financed. Internationally, a triathlete can often participate only with a valid passport to start a triathlon - regardless of the distance.

Distances

As with many other popular sports there are also different in the triathlon race distances. These are held internationally by various organizations. National, of course, often the national or regional triathlon associations or clubs the organizers.

Since the Summer Olympics in Sydney in 2000, the short distance is enshrined in the Olympic program - with the distance 1.5 km swim, 40 km cycling and 10 km running.

The race courses are not officially measured normally and can also always be slightly different from the standard routes on the basis of local conditions.

In many distances, there are relay events for men's, women's and mixed teams in which three persons divide the disciplines.

Famous triathletes

• The Bruchsal Thomas Hellriegel is one of Germany's most successful triathletes on long distance. In eight starts in Hawaii he was six best German rider and one of them winning in 1997 and the first German world champion Ironman Triathlon.

• The Mannheim Normann Stadler won the 2004 as the second German after Thomas Hellriegel with a superior wheel power the Ironman Hawaii. This victory, he was on October 21, 2006 Repeat, making it the first German with two titles at Ironman Hawaii. In 2005 he won the Ironman Germany in Frankfurt / Main, had the Ironman Hawaii but after two margins get on the bike course. Since 2006 he holds the track record of the bike course in Hawaii.

• The Munich Faris Al-Sultan in 2000 in Kulmbach age of 22 for the first time German champion on the long distance. In 2002, Sultan al Immenstadt German champion over the middle distance, again in 2004 at the German Masters Challenge Roth on the Ironman distance and others at Ironman Hawaii. Faris al Sultan in 2005 won in a time of 8:14:17 h as the third German triathlete to Ironman Hawaii, the following year he achieved a third place. In 2011 he won the Ironman Frankfurt in 8:13:50 h

• Dirk Aschmoneit was co-initiator of the triathlon craze in Europe and a very successful triathlete in the 1980s and early 1990s. He became the first German Ironman ( New Zealand). Even then, it was the strength on the bike that won a German victory.

• The Neuss Wolfgang Dittrich dominated until the mid -90s the Ironmangeschehen, up and running. Dittrich rose always first out of the water and ran mostly the 180 km on the bike alone, as well as the memorable races of 1989. He never succeeded in a very big win, because the other athletes usually tactically drove (see Mark Allen ). He came to the triathlon, as in 1988 he failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1500 m swim. His best finish in Hawaii in 1993 was a third place.

• The Darmstadt Lothar Leder was the first man to the Ironman distance in less than eight hours mastered ( Ironman Europe in Roth: 1996 in 7:57:02 h). He could win this competition five times.

• The Vallendarer Jürgen Zäck won five times the Ironman Europe, once the Ironman Australia ( 1996) and twice the Ironman Austria. With 7:51:42 h, it is the fourth- fastest Ironman ever. His quality on the wheel often gave him a big lead before the final run, the more often he was able to win with more experience.

• The Reutlinger Stephan Vuckovic won the 2000 at the Olympic triathlon in Sydney premiere of the silver medal. After his move to the long distance and 2005 he reached his first ever Ironman in Canada in second place, the Ironman Hawaii in 2005, he finished as the second best German in tenth place. After a virus-induced exit at Ironman Hawaii 2007 Vuckovic won the Ironman Florida in November 2007.

• Daniel Unger was the first German in the World Championships 2007 in Hamburg title holder in the pros over the Olympic distance. With his victory became clear that the German Triathlon has closed on the short - or the Olympic distance the gap with the top-level sport.

• Jan Frodeno won at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the first gold medal for Germany in this sport.

• Andreas Raelert won the 2010 Ironman Germany in Frankfurt and was constructed in the same year at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii second. In 2011 he set a new world record for the Triathlon Long Distance of 7:41:33 hours at the Challenge Roth.

• Mark Allen (USA) won Hawaii 6 times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995). He started and won 10 times in the Nice triathlon and was the first world champion on the Olympic distance (1989). Allen played in his victories his running strength and his mental strength, which made ​​him unbeatable for years. Even large distances after cycling he compensated by his running strength. So he brought in 1995 a lead of 13 minutes on Hellriegel (see below) at a similar distance to Yves Cordier (F) in the final 30 - km race in Nice.

• Dave Scott ( U.S. ) is also won 6 times Hawaii (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 ). Along with Scott Molina and Scott Tinley (both USA), they were the "Big Four", which accounted for virtually every triathlon among themselves. Allen, Scott Tinley and have training literature and philosophies (Allen with Maffetone ) published that are standard literature to date. They were the first to systematically completed triathlon training.

• Luc Van Lierde (Belgium ) was in his first appearance in Hawaii victorious (1996 ) and won again in 1999. 1997 he won the fastest race ( Ironman Europe in Roth), which until then it ever was, in the until July 3 2011 existing world record of 7:50:27 h he ran the final marathon in 2:36 h he holds also in Hawaii and Malaysia, the track records.

• Marino Vanhoencker (Belgium ) won the Ironman Austria six times in a row before he under the Kärnten Ironman Austria, Klagenfurt with a time of 7:45:58 h 3 July 2011 ( 46:49 swim, 4:15:37 Cycling, 2:39:24 running) the existing world record of compatriot Luc Van Lierde undercutting at 4:29 min.

• The Australian Chris McCormack was 1997 World Champion on the Olympic distance, moved in 2002 to the Ironman distance and won 2007 and 2010 Ironman Hawaii. Previously, he has already won five times in a row from 2002 to 2006 the Foster Ironman Australia; as he won four times in a row, from 2004 to 2007, the source - Challenge Roth in Germany.

• The Canadian Simon Whitfield won the 2000 the first Olympic triathlon in Sydney in 2008 and missed the double triumph in Beijing by only 5 seconds. Whitfield is characterized by its enormous stability over all these years. Another major success was the second place in the overall World Cup in 2007.

• Joey Kelly was the first man, who finished all Ironman competitions (then eight) in a year. Since in the meantime new annual Ironman will be held and held some of the events on the same day, it is this copy until further no more. He received a wildcard for Hawaii, because he was not qualified.

• Marcel Heinig world champion in the 10-fold cross- Triathlon 2008 Overall World Cup winner in 2008 of the ultra- triathletes and world record holder in the 10-day triathlon with a total of 75 km of swimming, cycling 2000 km and 500 km running.

• The Swiss Ronnie Schildknecht is a five-time winner of the Ironman Switzerland in a row and finished fourth at Ironman Hawaii 2008.

Women

• Paula Newby - Fraser of Zimbabwe is the most successful woman in long distance triathlon. She won the race in Hawaii eight times (1986, 1988, 1989, 1991-1994, 1996). They also held with 8:50:53 hours, erected in 1994 at Ironman Europe in Roth, until 12 July 2008, the world record for women over the long distance. On 13 July, however, the Dutch Yvonne van Vlerken presented at the 7th Quelle Challenge Roth with 8:45:48 h to a new world record and beat the long-standing record of Newby - Fraser by more than five minutes.

• Julie Moss ( USA) like no other person influenced the development of triathlon. IRONMAN HAWAII in February 1982 they had in the lead due to dehydration to the finish to cover the last few hundred meters creeping. The winner Kathleen McCartney withdrew at the last moment over to Julie Moss and became world champion. This drama was broadcast live across the U.S. on ABC and also motivated Mark Allen, her future husband, to start triathlon training.

• The Swiss Natascha was the Hawaii Ironman six times so far to decide for himself (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).

• Chrissie Wellington ( Great Britain) won the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in course record time (2009), and 2008 Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt am Main. In 2010 she achieved a new world record in Roth on long distance, which could improve it again a year later in 2011 by one minute on now 8:18:13 hours.

• The Austrian Kate Allen won at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens gold in the women's competition. In addition to several top rankings in the ITU World Cup series, the Australian-born won three European Championships silver. As one of the few athletes Kate Allen scored at the same time both in Ironman races as well as on the Olympic short distance to the world's best. Your personal best Ironman athletes applies with 8:54:01 h ( Ironman Austria 2003) as the third fastest in history. Kate Allen was fifth at Ironman Hawaii twice (2005, 2006).

Regulations

The three race courses be completed in uninterrupted succession. The change from swimming to cycling and from cycling to running part of the race. At low water temperatures to swim in cold protective neoprene suits can be completed. The rule-compliant material for cycling is less strictly regulated than in the classical cycling, and hence special triathlon bikes were developed in the 1980s, including with smaller, 26 -inch wheels and handlebars essays that contribute to an aerodynamically favorable seating position. Since the late 90s, however, this trend is declining and there is a convergence between the wheel material of triathletes and the UCI -compliant time trial bikes.

Mention must continue the strict helmet law and the prohibition of the slipstream driving while cycling. For Championships and international races over the Olympic distance the slipstream prohibition is suspended. The lifting of the ban has been discussed and in the German area in the late 1990s, in 2004 violent. In one of Kai Baumgartner, Dirk Kant Lehner and Holger mirror initiated online petition from 2004 made ​​by the National Federation rule changes ( quasi -lifting of the slipstream prohibition for the grassroots by shortening the Windschattenbox to 5x2 meters) were tilted to pressure from the athletic base.

Material

By the young and new character of the sport showed from the start an open-minded handling of innovations in material development:

• Swimming: The supported initially for reasons of cold protection wetsuit was increasingly becoming a performance positive influence of sports equipment. Especially elasticity, buoyancy and reduce water resistance today have top priority in the development. Just something weaker swimmers benefit from support through the material.
• Cycling: By prohibiting the slipstream driving, the competition part on the bike special demands on the material. The bikes are designed similar to the UCI -compliant time trial bikes of road cycling. Aerodynamics and ergonomics for a for cycle routes up to 180 km on the other hand, will play the decisive role. Carbon frame with aerodynamic tubing and custom geometries, spokes reduced high profile rims, sometimes combined with disc rear, deck handlebars, special water bottle holder and other details: Today ie. Combined with time trial helmets is trying to work on the aerodynamic optimum, thereby saving time gains compared to classic material from several minutes depending on the length of the route, are possible. The first time, driven by Greg LeMond at the Tour de France aerobars came from the triathlon scene.
• Running: To start when running with a minimal bias of the calf muscles, use triathletes such as Paula Newby - Fraser cycling shoes, whose circulation is on the pedals further back to the ankle. This will conserve more cycling of the legs, the thighs, however, more heavily loaded.

Related sports, Extreme variants

• A version without the discipline of swimming is the Duathlon - discharged on long, medium and short distances in the order of running, cycling and a concluding running.
• There is also the variation of the Crossduathlon where swimming through cross -country skiing and cycling is replaced by mountain biking in the area.
• Cross - Triathlon: It also contests the classical disciplines are represented, where cycling is wholly or partially denied by mountain bike.
• In winter triathlon swimming is replaced by cross country skiing. 2014 to be tested as a winter triathlon event for the first time the three disciplines snowshoeing, speed skating and cross country skiing.
• Competitions, in which the running directly adjoins the swimming distance, hot Ambathlon, Swim & Run or Aquathlon.
• If you add a fourth discipline (such as kayaking and rollerblading ), these contests are called Quadrathlon.
• When composed of five disciplines Swiss Gigathlon daily distances of an average of 4 km swimming, 100 km road bike, 50km mountain bike, 25km inline skating and 20 km run to be completed over several days. The duration varied in recent years, two to seven days.

The search for boundaries, it is probably that leads to increasingly drastic variations of the triathlon. To double the distance of the Ironman or triple (so-called ultra triathlons ) was only the beginning of this proliferation. The longest so far was a triathlon in Mexico been registered, so-called Double - Deca - ie a contest over twenty times Hawaii Distance: 76 km swimming, 3600 km cycling, 840 km running.

The distances are continuously completed in the original order - possibly interrupted by short breaks - but the timing is not stopped. Exceptional achievements and world records in this extreme range recorded the Bergisch- Gladbacherin Astrid Benöhr that over the 3 - and 10 - times Ironman World Champion -, 4 -, 5.

The ten-day triathlon with 10 triathlons in 10 days, had its premiere in 2006. Goal is to complete every day within 24 hours of the same distance triathlon. In its first year, the participants completed the Ironman daily with 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km running. Marcel Heinig, also participants from 2006, 2009 improved the existing world record of 2006 by 7.5 km daily swam alone, drove 200 km cycling and 50 km running or a total of 50 Olympic triathlon distances graduated.

Risks

As a 2009 study shows the risk of a cardiac arrest for beginners in triathlon is twice as high as the marathon. Only the data of 922 810 persons were examined in the period from 2006 to 2008. The main reasons lie in the unfamiliar strain and body position while swimming. Notably, cold water temperatures and the stress of competition can provide for circumstances that promote cardiac events in untrained contestants. On a acclimatize before starting the water should be already noted not only by the organizers in advance.

Training, Clubs & portals

Triathlon clubs exist in many cities and towns. There is trained in swimming, cycling and running groups. Often so-called exchange training is performed. Here is trained " fourth discipline ", ie the change in competition from swimming to the wheel or the change from bike to run. Club teams can compete in different leagues against each other.

Since triathlon is a very intense workout sport which is also dominated by individualists, the individual training appointment comes at a much greater role. The major portals Triathlon.de ( took over in the spring of 2010 the portal 3athlon.de ), tri - mag.de, triathlon - szene.de, tri2b.com or in Austria trinews.at with their forums play a significant role.

For the individual triathlon training, a training plan can be used. Training plans that can be downloaded from the Internet, are general training plans and can serve as a starting point for training. Such training plans are more and more semi-professional and amateur athletes offered. For an individual and optimal training this should always be adapted to the own possibilities, expectations and needs.

Important part of the training plan is also the sports medicine preparation. The current and historical state of training will be discussed here and the sports medicine performance diagnostics serves as the basis for a serious training routine.

Training camps can offer a useful addition and variety in triathlon training.