Triathlon

SWIM	BIKE	RUN

TASC is now affiliated to Triathlon Scotland. This means that as well as taking part in swimming competitions TASC members can also score points in ranking events throughout Scotland.

Triathlon is not difficult especially for a swimmer. TASC members have an immediate advantage over other competitors as they will be good at what is the most technical of the three disciplines. The best way to try out triathlon is to have a go at one of the shorter pool based triathlons, such as the Wick Mini.

 To get a taster you do not need to have all the fancy equipment which triathletes love so much. A normal pair of swimming trunks or costume for the pool is fine. Your mountain bike or shopper will be fine for the bike part but make sure it is road worthy, a helmet is also required. For the run all you need is a reasonable pair of trainers.

 I am often asked about the change over between events or transitions as they are known. Keen triathletes will dash out of the pool, put their helmet on while pushing the bike, leaping on to it and put their feet into the shoes already clipped to the bike peddles. This takes seconds. Others walk out of the pool, dry themselves off, put on a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, shoes before pushing their bike to the edge of the transition area and getting on. This takes minutes, but for a first triathlon it is better to tend to this then the fast change over.

 The second change over from bike to run can be a lot worse. Legs wobbly after a hard cycle do not want to go in the direction that the runner intends and often cramp occurs. Take it easier on the cycle and this will not happen.

If you find that you enjoy triathlon then you may wish to improve your kit over time. Over six years I have acquired a decent road bike, a tri-suit, bike shoes, wetsuit for outdoor events. All of which have helped improve my times.

So how will doing triathlons affect your swimming? It will improve it! Multi-discipline training is very effective for improving fitness, especially if you find that your performance has reached a plateau. I found that swimming improved my running immensely when I first started in Masters. Likewise when I started training for the London Marathon my Swimming improved.

 
David Spencer

Training in the other disciplines

 For cycling it is worth while turning up to the Caithness Cycling Club 10 mile time trial held during the summer months on a Tuesday or the Wick Cycle club time trial on a Thursday. Don’t worry about having a flash bike, you are competing against yourself.

For running have a look at the CAAC website and Yahoo group.

 Another possibility is to arrange runs / cycles with other members of TASC to make it more interesting or email David Spencer at …triathlon@thursoasc.org.uk

Local Triathlon

Event	Date	Swim distance		Cycle distance		Run distance
Wick Mini	4th May 2008	400m		10km		3km
Orkney Mini	11th May 2008	400m		10km		3km
Orkney Standard	25th May 2008	1500m		40km		10km
Orkney Sprint	13th July 2008	750m		20km		5km
Wick Sprint	10th August 2008	750m		20km		5km
Orkney Middle distance	30th August 2008	1900m (Sea)		90km		21km

Triathlon News
Open the links below for reports and photos of Triathlon events as well as relevant triathlon articles.

Thurso article in Triathlon Scotland Newsletter

Orkney Middle Distance Triathlon 8th September 2007


External Triathlon Links

triathlon@thursoasc.org.uk - Thurso Amateur Swimming Club

http://www.tri-scotland.org/index.php - Triathlon Scotland

http://www.wicktriathlon.co.uk/ - Wick Triathlon Club

http://www.orkneytriathlon.co.uk/ - Orkney Triathlon Club

http://caithnesscc.co.uk/ - Caithness Cycling Club

http://www.ebigh.com/caac/default.asp - Caithness Amateur Athletics Club

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/run_caithness/ - Informal group of runners

http://britishtriathlon.org/events/ - British Triathlon

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