I did an indoor triathlon today, a short, short one. 10 minute swim, 30 minute bike, 15 minute run. At 70, I was the oldest by far. I'm a lifelong runner, unable to run any more due to arthritis. And I've never been much of a biker with 7 month long winters in my area. That leaves one event where I can concentrate on improving. There were 27 people. I was #26 of 27 in the run (which I walked mostly). #24 of 27 in the bike. I suppose I might have been able to improve that by one place had I not dawdled in transition and started 2 minutes late. But I was #15 of 27 in the swim, despite being twice the age of most of them. I have my masters team coaches to thank since age and size did not hamper me as much as poor technique held the rest of them back.
It is my understanding that Triathlons favor bikes pretty much by accident. In Hawaii there was a swim across the bay race-2.4 mi, a bike around the island race-112 mi, and the Hawaii marathon- 26.2 mi. As I heard it, 6 guys drinking beer said" what if we do them all in one day." The rest is history, but that is how they got the ratios.
It is my understanding that Triathlons favor bikes pretty much by accident. In Hawaii there was a swim across the bay race-2.4 mi, a bike around the island race-112 mi, and the Hawaii marathon- 26.2 mi. As I heard it, 6 guys drinking beer said" what if we do them all in one day." The rest is history, but that is how they got the ratios.
