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experiencelifemag.com
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The Inside Tri
Indoor triathlons are the perfect preseason prep for veteran triathletes, a
great way for beginners to get started and an excuse-proof event for those who
say they can’t race.
By Kara Douglass Thom |
January-February 2009 |
How's It Different?
How It Works
After moving to a new state in 2003 and starting a family, I took a hiatus
from my longtime sport of choice, triathlon. Three years later, I felt the itch
to compete again, but I didn’t feel comfortable handling the many variables that
go into a good race day. The answer to my anxiety was an early-season indoor
triathlon. It eliminated many of the equipment-handling hassles of race day and
was based on time rather than distance: a 10-minute pool swim, 30-minute ride on
a spin bike and a 20-minute run on a treadmill, with designated time in between
for “transitions.” I knew, based on my short runs in the neighborhood and the
cycling classes I took at the gym, that finishing was well within my reach.
While indoor triathlons can help veteran triathletes like me return to the
sport or prepare for the next race season, they’re also “race bait” for
triathletes-to-be — those who are interested in the sport but still working up
the courage to toe the start line. Take Bob Baney, 46, who started his
triathlon career in 2007 with an indoor tri. His health club in Lexington,
Ky., offered one that consisted of an 800-meter swim, 20-mile bike ride and a
3-mile run. He was one of about 50 participants, half of whom were first-timers.
“The indoor tri experience was a great way to get started,” Baney says. “I think
there are a lot of everyday people out there who would love to give triathlon a
chance but are fearful of diving into a regular sprint or international-distance
event.”
How's It Different?
While the formats for indoor triathlons can vary with
each race organizer, most are developed to remove certain “barriers to
entry” that prevent aspiring triathletes from participating in outdoor events.
- You swim in a pool, not a lake or ocean. One reason many people hesitate
to sign up for a triathlon is the swim, which usually occurs in open water with
a mass start. Triathletes often describe the experience as “swimming in a
washing machine.” Indoor triathlon participants swim in a pool, sometimes in
their own lane, allowing enough space to swim at their own pace with the option
to stop and regroup if necessary.
- Transitions are less hectic. Most people define triathlons as swimming,
biking and running, but a major part of the race is the transition between
events. The clock doesn’t stop as you race to your gear, change equipment and
set yourself on the right course. In many indoor triathlons, however, the clock
does stop — for a short period — to allow you to move on to the next stage.
- You get a hassle-free bike ride. Since you’re not riding a bike on the
road, you don’t have to worry about getting a flat tire, wiping out, navigating
around other cyclists on the course, or perfecting some of the rules of
conventional triathlons, such as drafting and passing.
- Weather conditions can’t influence the race. Some outdoor triathlons have
become duathlons because of dangerous swim conditions. Severe heat can shorten
the run course. You don’t always get what you expect, and your own race results
from the same outdoor course each year can vary because of weather. Not so with
an indoor race. The conditions are always the same.
- No one gets left behind. Everyone races in the same building, in the same
area. Even if the guy on the treadmill next to you runs a mile in half the time
it takes you to get there, you won’t be left in his dust. Because of this
proximity, it’s an ideal format to race with friends and family.
Baney’s first indoor tri offered him the combination of confidence and
camaraderie he needed from fellow competitors to move on to his next race —
outdoors. He has now finished three sprint-distance tris, one
international-distance race and a half-Ironman. As a seasoned triathlete,
Baney still sees the benefits of the indoor version and would do another to help
jump-start his training. “It was so beneficial to get cooking on my workouts in
January and February,” he says. “By the time the outdoor tri season got under
way, I had a solid foundation of strength and base mileage.” And
me? Even though I managed to re-enter the world of triathlon after that first
indoor race three years ago, I have still signed up for an indoor triathlon each
year since, including last fall. Being five months pregnant, I was more
comfortable riding a spin bike indoors than cycling on the road. I knew an
indoor triathlon could accommodate my situation in terms of comfort and pace,
without having to worry if I’d be the last one out on the course. I couldn’t
come up with a good reason not to do it. Can you? Kara Douglass Thom is the
author of Becoming an Ironman: First Encounters with the Ultimate Endurance
Event (Breakaway Books, 2001) and the children’s book See Mom Run (Breakaway
Books, 2003). She blogs about balancing motherhood and fitness at http://mamasweat.blogspot.com.
How It Works
Most outdoor triathlons follow the swim-bike-run order, but not always.
While there are standard distances, often the length of a triathlon varies with
the whims of the race director or the constraints of a location. Indoor
triathlons may also vary. Some races are based on distance, like an outdoor
race, while others are based on time, with outcomes based on how far one can go
in that designated time. Generally, though, you can count on the following
features: The Swim
The number of lanes in the pool typically dictates how many
triathletes can start together. Each participant swims for the designated time,
while “counters” assigned to each lane keep track of laps. When time is up or
the swimmer has completed the distance, participants exit the pool and the next
wave of swimmers begins. The Transitions
After the swim, participants have the opportunity to go to
the locker room and change out of their wet swimsuits. (Don’t attempt this at an
outdoor triathlon — nudity is prohibited in the transition area!) After the
bike, be ready to head to the treadmill. Some indoor tris count your transition
times; others provide several “free”
minutes between events. The Bike
Bikes will be calibrated so they put forth the same resistance
for all participants. Make sure you adjust the bike seat and bars so you’re
comfortable riding. A bike computer mounted on the handlebars will allow you to
see your speed and distance. Your goal is to ride as far as you can in the
designated time period or go the distance specified for the race. The Run
After getting from the bike to the treadmill, the run begins. If
your race is based on distance, you stop when you’re finished. If your race is
based on time, you stop when that time elapses. z
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The Inside Tri
Indoor triathlons are the perfect preseason prep for veteran triathletes, a
great way for beginners to get started and an excuse-proof event for those who
say they can’t race.
By Kara Douglass Thom | Full Speed Department,
January-February 2009 |
How's It Different?
How It Works
After moving to a new state in 2003 and starting a family, I took a hiatus
from my longtime sport of choice, triathlon. Three years later, I felt the itch
to compete again, but I didn’t feel comfortable handling the many variables that
go into a good race day. The answer to my anxiety was an early-season indoor
triathlon. It eliminated many of the equipment-handling hassles of race day and
was based on time rather than distance: a 10-minute pool swim, 30-minute ride on
a spin bike and a 20-minute run on a treadmill, with designated time in between
for “transitions.” I knew, based on my short runs in the neighborhood and the
cycling classes I took at the gym, that finishing was well within my reach.
While indoor triathlons can help veteran triathletes like me return to the
sport or prepare for the next race season, they’re also “race bait” for
triathletes-to-be — those who are interested in the sport but still working up
the courage to toe the start line. Take Bob Baney, 46, who started his
triathlon career in 2007 with an indoor tri. His health club in Lexington,
Ky., offered one that consisted of an 800-meter swim, 20-mile bike ride and a
3-mile run. He was one of about 50 participants, half of whom were first-timers.
“The indoor tri experience was a great way to get started,” Baney says. “I think
there are a lot of everyday people out there who would love to give triathlon a
chance but are fearful of diving into a regular sprint or international-distance
event.”
How's It Different? (Back to Top)
While the formats for indoor triathlons can vary with
each race organizer, most are developed to remove certain “barriers to
entry” that prevent aspiring triathletes from participating in outdoor events.
- You swim in a pool, not a lake or ocean. One reason many people hesitate
to sign up for a triathlon is the swim, which usually occurs in open water with
a mass start. Triathletes often describe the experience as “swimming in a
washing machine.” Indoor triathlon participants swim in a pool, sometimes in
their own lane, allowing enough space to swim at their own pace with the option
to stop and regroup if necessary.
- Transitions are less hectic. Most people define triathlons as swimming,
biking and running, but a major part of the race is the transition between
events. The clock doesn’t stop as you race to your gear, change equipment and
set yourself on the right course. In many indoor triathlons, however, the clock
does stop — for a short period — to allow you to move on to the next stage.
- You get a hassle-free bike ride. Since you’re not riding a bike on the
road, you don’t have to worry about getting a flat tire, wiping out, navigating
around other cyclists on the course, or perfecting some of the rules of
conventional triathlons, such as drafting and passing.
- Weather conditions can’t influence the race. Some outdoor triathlons have
become duathlons because of dangerous swim conditions. Severe heat can shorten
the run course. You don’t always get what you expect, and your own race results
from the same outdoor course each year can vary because of weather. Not so with
an indoor race. The conditions are always the same.
- No one gets left behind. Everyone races in the same building, in the same
area. Even if the guy on the treadmill next to you runs a mile in half the time
it takes you to get there, you won’t be left in his dust. Because of this
proximity, it’s an ideal format to race with friends and family.
Baney’s first indoor tri offered him the combination of confidence and
camaraderie he needed from fellow competitors to move on to his next race —
outdoors. He has now finished three sprint-distance tris, one
international-distance race and a half-Ironman. As a seasoned triathlete,
Baney still sees the benefits of the indoor version and would do another to help
jump-start his training. “It was so beneficial to get cooking on my workouts in
January and February,” he says. “By the time the outdoor tri season got under
way, I had a solid foundation of strength and base mileage.” And
me? Even though I managed to re-enter the world of triathlon after that first
indoor race three years ago, I have still signed up for an indoor triathlon each
year since, including last fall. Being five months pregnant, I was more
comfortable riding a spin bike indoors than cycling on the road. I knew an
indoor triathlon could accommodate my situation in terms of comfort and pace,
without having to worry if I’d be the last one out on the course. I couldn’t
come up with a good reason not to do it. Can you? Kara Douglass Thom is the
author of Becoming an Ironman: First Encounters with the Ultimate Endurance
Event (Breakaway Books, 2001) and the children’s book See Mom Run (Breakaway
Books, 2003). She blogs about balancing motherhood and fitness at http://mamasweat.blogspot.com.
How It Works (Back to Top)
Most outdoor triathlons follow the swim-bike-run order, but not always.
While there are standard distances, often the length of a triathlon varies with
the whims of the race director or the constraints of a location. Indoor
triathlons may also vary. Some races are based on distance, like an outdoor
race, while others are based on time, with outcomes based on how far one can go
in that designated time. Generally, though, you can count on the following
features: The Swim
The number of lanes in the pool typically dictates how many
triathletes can start together. Each participant swims for the designated time,
while “counters” assigned to each lane keep track of laps. When time is up or
the swimmer has completed the distance, participants exit the pool and the next
wave of swimmers begins. The Transitions
After the swim, participants have the opportunity to go to
the locker room and change out of their wet swimsuits. (Don’t attempt this at an
outdoor triathlon — nudity is prohibited in the transition area!) After the
bike, be ready to head to the treadmill. Some indoor tris count your transition
times; others provide several “free”
minutes between events. The Bike
Bikes will be calibrated so they put forth the same resistance
for all participants. Make sure you adjust the bike seat and bars so you’re
comfortable riding. A bike computer mounted on the handlebars will allow you to
see your speed and distance. Your goal is to ride as far as you can in the
designated time period or go the distance specified for the race. The Run
After getting from the bike to the treadmill, the run begins. If
your race is based on distance, you stop when you’re finished. If your race is
based on time, you stop when that time elapses. z
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