Since your typical tri swimmer takes at least 30 min to swim a mile, vs around 3 min to ride a mile, vs say 8 min to run a mile, adding the three distance together just has absolutely no meaning. I fully understand it is just a marketing gimmick and that they are prob just imitating the 13.1 and 26.2 but at least 13.1 and 26.2 are all one type of miles. Maybe I’m just overly analytical but the whole 70.3/140.6 thing just seems completely absurd. There should be a law against BS like this.
i think you need to get some training in today to avoid been this bored. do you want me to write you something 
Hmmm let’s grade this a 2/10.
Bingo. It has no reason or rhyme. It’s just tradition.
The ITU long course makeup of 4K swim, 120K bike, 20K run is much better.
Since your typical tri swimmer takes at least 30 min to swim a mile, vs around 3 min to ride a mile, vs say 8 min to run a mile, adding the three distance together just has absolutely no meaning. I fully understand it is just a marketing gimmick and that they are prob just imitating the 13.1 and 26.2 but at least 13.1 and 26.2 are all one type of miles. Maybe I’m just overly analytical but the whole 70.3/140.6 thing just seems completely absurd. There should be a law against BS like this.
Would you prefer it being called 8 - 17 hours?
As others have said, just a matter of tradition. I don’t think the Marathon went to 26.2 until the Olympics in London (1908)
Let me guess though, you want the swim to be longer at IM?
Maurice
But those round bumper stickers are too small to fit “2.4/112/26.2.”
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Dude, too much time in the pool, you’re breathing too many chemicals.
He’s not commenting on the distances, just the fact that you add the distances all together
to come up with a total.
I’ve always thought that. What if the bike is off one tenth of a mile in your next half IM? Who is going to be in
charge of changing the “3” to a “2” with a Sharpie? That’s a lot of writing.
perhaps the decathlon would be more to your liking?
He’s not commenting on the distances, just the fact that you add the distances all together
to come up with a total.
I’ve always thought that. What if the bike is off one tenth of a mile in your next half IM? Who is going to be in
charge of changing the “3” to a “2” with a Sharpie? That’s a lot of writing.
Speaking of this, Muskoka Half IM has the bike course officially 4K longer, yet they still call it Muskoka 70.3 …
.
He’s not commenting on the distances, just the fact that you add the distances all together
to come up with a total.
I’ve always thought that. What if the bike is off one tenth of a mile in your next half IM? Who is going to be in
charge of changing the “3” to a “2” with a Sharpie? That’s a lot of writing.
Speaking of this, Muskoka Half IM has the bike course officially 4K longer, yet they still call it Muskoka 70.3 …
Oh my, that’s really messed up. Aside from that shouldn’t they be using the metric system?
You can do better
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Instead of telling my wife, “I did the dishes,” I report, "I washed 70 eating utensils,’ because it sounds more impressive.
Are you suggesting I shouldn’t weight silverware the same as fry pans?
Is today Friday? This post has a Friday-like feeling.
Don’t forget that tri is the only sport that cares about how long you take to get dressed.
Sure, it’s a little silly. But not as silly as the bike course at the London Olympics not being OLY distance.
No.
Is today Friday? This post has a Friday-like feeling.
I agree, except that we need an actual villain as a foil to our protaganist. Plus a confrontation to heighten the drama. A subplot of unrequited love would be even better.