Challenges

Peta R wrote:Alex, I always love these challenges however don't feel I am able to participate as I try and follow my coaches plan. Yes, I could ask my coach to include them in my program however I present him enough challenges when I ask to do mtb races in the middle of IM training. Is it possible to do a challenge that wouldn't compromise any training plans? BTW: I have no idea "what", just asking the question.

Swim - 1km = 25 pts
Bike - 1km = 1 pt
Run - 1km = 5pts

Triathlon, by its very design, is an endurance sport. In general, the capacity to go fast is inferior to the ability to last. But it needn't be this way.


And so it is I hereby propose a true sprint triathlon, the Tri-Dash. And this is what I have in mind…

First, the rules. Then the events.

The rules are essentially like any other swim-bike-run triathlon but for one primary difference: there are no transition areas or transitions. That is to say each of three events is a separate entity, occurring as its own competition. Each event is separated by a number of hours, though all three of these events are to take place in the course of a single day. The results of each event are judged not on a points system (as per decathlon, heptathlon, etc) but strictly by time standards. Athletes qualify for the final through a round of qualifying heats. There would be a women's race and a men's race, of course.

The events…

The Swim: The swim consists of a single 100-meter freestyle sprint, from the blocks. It takes place in an Olympic-regulation-size 50-meter pool and each athlete competes in his or her own lane and through qualifying heats.

The Ride: The ride consists of a 1-kilometer time-trial on an Olympic-regulation 333-meter velodrome. Tri(athletes) are to start individually from a standing start and compete on a fixed gear bike with the gearing ratios of their choice, though equipment is strictly regulated as per UCI (cycling's international governing body) standards. Aero-bars are allowed.

The Run: The run consists of a single 400-meter dash, from the starting blocks. It takes place on a 400-meter track and essentially follows the rules as that of the International Olympic Committee's track and field rules: each athlete competes in his or her own lane against seven other runners. Runners also qualify through a series of heats though qualifying standards are not based solely on run times but rather combined swim, bike and run qualifying times, so that the final is a true final among the eight fastest sprint triathletes. Runners in the finals all start at one time, despite the "standings" (i.e., time differences) going into the final. That it to say there is no "handicap" start in the final run event as per modern pentathlon.

How I see things…
Fast and fun! Any male capable of breaking 3-minutes would likely be deemed "world-class" and perhaps can consider himself one of the truly fastest triathletes in the world. Female times would likely hover within seconds of the male individual event times.

My best attempt in the Tri-Dash is as follows (as noted, I only possess any semblance of speed in the pool)...

100-meter freestyle swim (Santa Barbara, CA 1999): 57.2
1-kilometer time-trial (Colorado Springs, CO 1990!): 1:10.7
400-meter dash (Boulder, CO 1993): 58.5
Total time: 3:06.4 (though these times occurred over a nine-year period rather than in a single day, thus rendering me disqualified).