I did the USAT Long Course Duathlon Nationals race on Saturday.
The field itself was less than 200 but the mens 60-64 age group (the one
I’m in) had about 20 entrants.
I don’t enter many duathlons so I don’t know but the lady handing out
the timing chips told me that…“young people don’t generally do these, only
you old guys”. It appears that she is right.
Wow, I am in trouble since I was planning to do a few Duathlons this year for the first time.
No way do I see duathlons for the old guys. Most cannot run. Aquabike maybe, but, …
What does Bernie have to do with it, because he is really old? One of his campaign stops will attract many times the number of people at any given triathlon.
Wow, I am in trouble since I was planning to do a few Duathlons this year for the first time.
No way do I see duathlons for the old guys. Most cannot run. Aquabike maybe, but, …
I didn’t think that either. However when I saw the entrant’s list the day before and
it had 20 in the 60-64 age group I just assumed that it would be a huge event with
about 1,000 duathletes. However as it turned out the 60-64s were fully 10% of the
entire field. I have never seen that in a tri.
Maybe USAT needs to work on recruiting younger people to duathlon.
I’ve never understood it myself. Swims are already short relative to the other sports, now we have downstream swims that give iron distance splits in the 39 minute range. Sprint tris with 300 and 400 yard swims etc.
But a duathlon, no one shows up to race.
It seems like duathlon is the logical extension of everyone’s dislike of swimming and lack of preparation, but it isn’t.
I started off in duathlons for a few years because I was terrified of the water. After many painful (enjoyable?) duathlon races, I have learned to swim because of the lack of duathlon races/interest.
Still, I never understand why it’s not more popular with all the people who do not enjoy the swim. Especially with Powerman stepping up this past year, I expected better turn out. All of their cancelled events just continues to show the lack of duathlon interest in the US.
I can’t understand it either. I think Duathlons are much harder than a Tri. And I say that as a very poor swimmer.
It should be much easier for an elite runner of the second tier to take up cycling only instead of bike and swim and vice verca. But I really don’t know why that doesn’t happen all too often. Maybe lack of prestige. But then again, they could change it with blistering performance.
I still do duathlons, they are a great way to back the season last longer. I can do duathlons in Ohio a lot earlier in the year. Most RD do not offer triathlons up here until late May. I can do duathlons as early as March and do them until November where triathlons stop normally first weekend of October.
Here is my thinking on why duathlons are not any more popular than
they are, partly anyway:
Not many people have doing a duathlon on their bucket list. On the other hand
triathlons simply because they include a swim are viewed by many as being a more
“complete” test of endurance.
Never mind that the swim might be a 300 yard pool swim in 3.5 feet deep water,
it’s still a triathlon and will get plenty of respect on Monday around the water cooler
at work.
If you stand around the water cooler and mention that you did a duathlon over the
weekend most of your co-workers will register a blank stare.
If you stand around the water cooler and mention that you did a duathlon over the
weekend most of your co-workers will register a blank stare.
They’ll be more impressed if you show them your duathlon rifle.
.
If you stand around the water cooler and mention that you did a duathlon over the
weekend most of your co-workers will register a blank stare.
They’ll be more impressed if you show them your duathlon rifle.
I remember when someone tried to apply the term “cyruthon” to run/bike/run events
before we were handed the du.
I did the Feb version (2/16/2) of that same race this year. Maybe 150 people total. Overall podium was all masters in age. Honestly, most that run and bike just do triathlons. Those that can’t or won’t learn to swim, do those races. The crossover occurs early or late in the year when swimming (or triathlons) are not an option.
Here is my thinking on why duathlons are not any more popular than
they are, partly anyway:
Not many people have doing a duathlon on their bucket list. On the other hand
triathlons simply because they include a swim are viewed by many as being a more
“complete” test of endurance.
Never mind that the swim might be a 300 yard pool swim in 3.5 feet deep water,
it’s still a triathlon and will get plenty of respect on Monday around the water cooler
at work.
If you stand around the water cooler and mention that you did a duathlon over the
weekend most of your co-workers will register a blank stare.
Mostly true but when you’re over 50 you also realize (or should) that no one really cares what you did over the weekend. If they ask, they are just being polite. At our age, “I got outside and got some exercise” seems to suffice.
Dang, I should’ve thought to post up on here if anyone else was racing.
The course left quite a bit to be desired in terms of variety and the bike ride was pretty much a leapfrog fest midway through the second lap.
I was wearing a black and yellow short sleeved kit.
Are you going to Zofingen?
Dang, I should’ve thought to post up on here if anyone else was racing.
The course left quite a bit to be desired in terms of variety and the bike ride was pretty much a leapfrog fest midway through the second lap.
I was wearing a black and yellow short sleeved kit.
Are you going to Zofingen?
Yeah, I didn’t really like the 5 lap bike course at all. I guess it’s a good thing
there were not 1,000 entrants, that would have been a real mess.
I won’t be going to Zofingen. Good luck to you if you’re going.
Here is my thinking on why duathlons are not any more popular than
they are, partly anyway:
Not many people have doing a duathlon on their bucket list. On the other hand
triathlons simply because they include a swim are viewed by many as being a more
“complete” test of endurance.
Never mind that the swim might be a 300 yard pool swim in 3.5 feet deep water,
it’s still a triathlon and will get plenty of respect on Monday around the water cooler
at work.
If you stand around the water cooler and mention that you did a duathlon over the
weekend most of your co-workers will register a blank stare.
Mostly true but when you’re over 50 you also realize (or should) that no one really cares what you did over the weekend. If they ask, they are just being polite. At our age, “I got outside and got some exercise” seems to suffice.
that’s true for anyone over 50. I’m talking about why I think the masses don’t
enter duathlons. With half marathons and marathons at least you can post selfies
while you “race”, you can’t even do that with duathlons. Maybe that too
is a deal breaker.
It sure is for me. I got into tri a few years ago because all my running buddies were doing it. Hated swimming. Kept being told that if I stuck with it, I would get better and learn to like it. That never happened. After 3 years, I still hated swimming and still never got faster than a 1:37 for 2.4 (I considered that the swim of my life, too). I wandered away from multisport and back to just running races and the occasional cycling race.
With duathlon nationals coming to Bend, OR next year, I am making next season all about Duathlon. I miss multisport racing, love to run and like to ride, and have always wanted to do one - they just aren’t around. I have had the option to drive 3 hours to compete in races against 80 people, but that has never been much of a draw for me. With me making next season a Du focus year, I will have to accept that I will be traveling long distances to race tiny races, but we will see if it sticks as a life long pursuit. Without large “magnet” races, people don’t know about them and they don’t think about them.
And yes, I have been asked when talking about my Du plans, if that “is the ski and shoot thing”.
This race was my first duathlon. I was surprised at the low turnout. I am an abysmal swimmer (and don’t enjoy it either), so a duathlon seemed like a logical choice to me. Besides the lack of glamour/prestige, I’m not sure why more people don’t venture into duathlons.
On the bright side, everyone (except for possibly two in your age group - top 18, rolling down to 25) qualified for Zofingen. Not too many other sports that I can think of where you can show up, walk the course, and still qualify to represent Team USA at the “World Championship.”
That is certainly on my mind as I make plans to head to Bend for Nationals next summer.
The Bernie Sanders?
Like, when someone else runs for you, bikes for you, and then lets you run a little at the end so you can get a finisher’s medal just like everyone else?