Did you ever wonder what it takes to compete in a triathlon?

 

                        By David McClelland

 

                        Did you ever wonder what it takes to compete in a triathlon?

 

Well, there are triathlons of various types and distances and there are Iron

Man Triathons. They are the real challenge. But to work up to them, one must do considerable strength training and shorter distance preparation.

 

Some locations have events for kids of various ages beginning with swims of ¼ mile, bike rides of 6.2 miles and runs of 2 miles. Even those distances are challenging for the beginner, regardless of age. Gradually, as one continues to train nearly every day, one can handle longer distances. Then, really dedicated older teens and adults progress until they can compete in and complete the Iron Man Triathlons.

 

The Iron Man Triathlon consists of three separate, but consecutive events; i.e., back-to-back, all on one day: The 2.4 mile swim, the 112 mile bike ride and the marathon run (26 miles, 385 yards). Then, just to make it more challenging, some swim events are in the ocean, some bike rides are in the mountains and some marathons are in the dessert. Fortunately for the competitors, not all of these greatest challenges are in the same event.

 

How about the record time for this Iron Man event? There are many incredible times, but the shortest I could find was in 2006, when Norman Stadler of Germany completed all three events in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 56 seconds. Wow! Talk about an Iron Man!!!

 

Can you imagine the dedication that it takes for any human to be able to train for and then to finish a triathlon? Remember, most of there athletes are able to hold down a job or to go to school as well as train. Incredible!!!