So I was chatting w/ my boy powergyoza after a swim the other night and we were noticing that there really isn’t anything “sprint” about the sprint distance - nominally 400m/20k/5k. That ain’t no sprint.
I was thinking that a REAL sprint distance tri would be more like 50m/1k/100m - now there would be a lactate-bound, hugely anaerobic test.
A race like that could start later in the day, and would require far less resources in terms of road closures, zero aid stations, and far fewer volunteers.
My initial reaction would be no, especially if I had to pay what a normal sprint race costs ($35-$70).
My guess is , with insurance, you probably could not put it on for less than $25 per person and who would want to do that for less than 5 minutes of racing?
Heck, Ironman, when viewed as cost / minute, is cheaper.
I would swim and ride in my racing flats…LOL or do the whole thing barefoot with them crazy old giant ass platform pedals that you were supposed to use wiht running shoes.
Awesome. Do it backwards. There is one that is similar to this, I think it is Hemet?
You could even line up the bikes at the end of the run (running with your helmet on) and do a flying leap into the saddle. You would need to sign an affidavit that you had never practiced this move. (this would be a great place for the photographers to gather)
If it was a freshwater venue maybe a ramp into the swim where you could do a swimming dismount and have volunteers grab the bike (again, leave the helmet on for the swim).
With the helmet on the whole time, is it too “special”. I am willing to be flexible on this.
I am already working on the t-shirt. What size does everyone want?
i like the idea of the bike/swim ramp transition. although i think style points would have to be awarded for the dismount. I also think there should be a mandatory keg stand at the start of the run
Could we do that thing where you have to spin around, bent down with your head on a basball bat 12 times during each transition; w/ Automatic 30 seconds off your time if you puke?
If there is only 100m of running, I would definitely do it w/o shoes. I’d probably do the 200m-3k-400m w/o shoes too. It would be the bike w/o shoes that would bother me more than the run. I did a very short indoor tri once (swim in pool, run to stationary bike, run a few laps on the track). For some reason they made us wear helmets on the stationary bikes, several people forgot to take their helmets off and ran 1/2mile with them on.
Anyone ever fallen off a stationary bike?(not rollers)
Back in my race director days I dreamed up this format to be the day or two before major Olympic distances races. All of the events are around 1 min in length. On the track 400m with 8 guys in a heat timed event in lanes. Run and timed by the local track club. 1 kilo TT on the road straight out, 30 sec starts, run by the local bike club. Swim 100 meters off blocks in heats, run by the local swim team.
Have the run and bike in the am with seeded finals in the pool in the evening based on the two other times.
Use the event to raise funds for the local clubs and give the athletes a chance to do two events while attending a major triathlon, Then have the Worlds Fastest Triathlete finals a few days before Ironman.
The idea is a tad dated with the specialization of sprinters not going to Ironman any more and the chance of an Olympic swimmer , cyclist, or runner sneaking a big lead for the win could be there.
Think about the possibilities. I swim pretty good and might could break a min in the freestyle, but would give up 10 plus seconds to the top guys, same on the track and the bike. Things that make you go hmmmm,
Any one can have that race if they want it. Aloha G
I can’t do a race that takes longer to get ready for than it does to race. Maybe some day when time is not at such a premium. On the other hand, if I don’t have to get up early and…if I could ride my bike there,maybe.
It could be fun to do w/o transitions, just swim the 50 meters, a little break, do 500 meters bike, a little break, run 200 meters. That would be 30 secs for each thing. Sounds nice. I have done a sprint-enduro once. 2xsprint, can’t remember the distance.
As an ex-sprinter, this would be right up my alley. I NEVER lost a field sprint on the bike (but, I wasn’t at a high level of competition, don’t want to give the wrong impression), I used to run a 10.1 100 yds., and I don’t swim that badly for 50 yds.
I’d say the biggest problem would be injury. This type of all-out effort often produces various muscle pulls, at least when compared to longer distances.
I’ve often said if we did an event that included speed golfing (you have to carry your own clubs, too), ballroom dancing, and weight lifting, I might be on a national-class level. But, we’ll never know…
I thought we all did triathlons and such because we were too slow at sprinting. I think it would be easier for me to train to finish an IM now than it would have been for me to train to run the 100 meters in less than 13 seconds at any time in my entire life.
But, if you are going to do a real sprint, why not knock it down to the 25 yard swim and the 60 yard dash?
Sounds nice. I have done a sprint-enduro once. 2xsprint, can’t remember the distance.