I was needing some information on planning an indoor triathlon for one of the local fitness clubs here in Kentucky.
Distances?
Order of Events?
How do you do transitions?
Total distance or timed?
Cost?
If you have any suggestions from the racer standpoint or race director standpoint that would be great.
Thanks,
Kevin
Build a velodrome, with a swimming pool in the middle and a running track between the cycling track and the swimming pool.
Pretty easy, really.
KY - I am trying to forward you some information but your e-mail isnt working.
I pm you my other email.
Thanks alot,
Kevin
See this thread for sample rules and critique:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=240629;search_string=indoor;#240629
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Most places I have seen it done have it informal, mostly due to the lack of a lot of stationary bikes and treadmills.
Set out distances - sprint distance is best so more people can join in the fun and it isn’t a bunch of “tri-heads”
Simplest: Have each person record their times for each individual event (swim, bike, run). The events do not need to be in a particular order and there is no transition times. So in theory they can bike one day, swim the next, and run the 3rd day. Add up the times for all three and you have your results.
Harder: Have people sign up for particular times to show up and start - similar to “wave starts” in a normal triathlon. Your number of stationary bikes and/or treadmills will be the deciding factor on how many people can be in each wave. Time the waves so that you have plenty of time in-between to ensure faster swimmers don’t stand around waiting for a bike. If you do it this way, you can include transition times. You’ll have to figure out how to reserve all the bikes and treadmills so non-participants don’t get on them.
Not sure if this is what you are after, but this is how I’ve seen it done.
Most indoor triathlons do each event on a timed basis rather than a distance. Most indoor cycles (not the typical spin bikes but the ones found in the aerobic section of most workout facilities) have a distance meter on them. The participants will cycle, run and swim for a specific length of time, typically 20 minute swim, 20 minute bike and 15 minute run. At the end of the timed period they will note their completed distance. For swimming, usually only a completed lap will be counted and not a partial lap. These times are meant to allow those to try the event without fear of collapsing. Usually the participants will so enjoy the indoor event that they will be willing to try an outdoor sprint (or longer) triathlon.
Several years ago there was an indoor triathlon that was run as an interesting off-season “race”. They did 10 minutes on each of a rowing ergometer, a stationary bike set up on a computrainer, and a treadmill set at 5% grade. Then there was 5 minute “transitions” between each. So you have only one of each machine, and the 5 minutes T1 was to get the bike set up (seat height only – use a quick release binder). The people sign up and get a start time, in 15 minute increments. Then the person with the longest combined distances is the winner, and so on down the list. Ran pretty smoothly and was a fun, different kind of event. I say go for it!
KYROCKET (My Man!),
Good luck with the planning. I’ve done a few up here in the D.C./Richmond area. Here are links to a couple that I’ve done:
http://www.set-upinc.com/rp5/3sprtri/3sprtri.shtml
In the for-whatever-its-worth dept., I actually liked both races. The April time for the Cure Autism Now race is a good one around here; you can do a shakedown on your equipment in a race environment before bigger races (such as the local Columbia tri) come along on the schedule. It also has the distinction of being the only triathlon in the D.C. area that is inside the Beltway (although that probably says more about the difficulty of road closings than anything else).
Of the two, the CAN race has the better swim set-up, but they have the luxury of using 3 (count 'em) pools at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase “Y”. Obviously, having 3 pools is unique. The 2 outdoor pools are also heated. So, they can basically let you swim your 500 in a half lane alongside someone else. This is better than the “snake” course format used by the Richmond race, but they only have one pool. Seeding the swimmers if you have to use a “snake” format is the hardest part, I think, since all it takes is for one person to put the wrong time in and you’ve got folks stacked up behind trying to pass safely (if that is possible) with people coming back down the lane on the other side.
I like the swim distance at CAN (500 yds) and the bike/run distances at 3Sports (20K bike and 5k run). That bike distance is about half the usual Oly bike, which sounds about right, but I know is shorter than some other sprints around. Do it swim/bike/run. These were both timed races, vs. total distance.
At each race, they staged the transition area in a portion of the parking lot, so you would move from the pool out to the lot, put on your bike gear and ride, then come back, rack your bike, and head out for the run.
I haven’t done these other races, but here are a couple of others I have heard of, one of which was staged out of a health club. But notice, they went in each case with a “real” bike/run course vs. something indoors on trainers …
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1216876
http://www.triitnow.com/manassas_mini_tri.htm (very short on the bike/run distances, sort of geared toward the novice/first-timer)
http://www.triitnow.com/summersupersprint.htm (likewise)
Hope some of that helps.
i’ve helped in varying capacities at a couple.
most i’ve done use either 15 or 20 minute segments, or staggered with a reduced time element for the swim.
format i prefer is 20 minute swim, 5 minute T1, 20 minute bike, 5 minute T2, then 20 minute run.
i think you will get the best response from allowing only one person per lane in the pool. you need bikes that record distance and preferably will adjust distance based on resistance setting, and then a track run. treadmills work but i think you lose a bit of the essence compared to a track run. normal heats will be 5-7 total which is very manageable. another area event does a couple heats on Friday night, and then a full set of heats on Saturday, and then a few more on Sunday to allow more to do it. you’ve got to be ready to have things run like clockwork and have plenty of signs and directional folks to point the way to the starting area for each discipline.
might i suggest also having a bike similar to what will be used for the event set up around the registration area so participants can size up ahead of time. and if you have bikes that allow clipless, note the particulars in your registration form so folks know what to expect.
i have an Excel program which calculates cums and makes point keeping very manageable. we use it at the indoor tri at the club where i teach.
ideally have one person per lane to help keep track of lengths, which you might consider splitting to be a bit more precise. you should also have one counter per participant for the track, and consider splitting the track into 1/4’s for more accurate distance calculations.
PM me if you want that program or additional stuff.
good luck.
I’ve done a few. One had set time increments and recorded how much distance was covered. They then gave a point system similiar to XC where 1 for the furthest. Lowest score won. The other just added all the distances together and furthest total won. The third had the run outside around a parking lot but the Swim and Bike were inside. The majority had three to fiv minute transitions. One race let you choose what event you wanted to do first ( also the race that did XC style scoring), which involved strategy such as do you lead with your strength or finish with your strongest leg?
All in all great tune ups and a nice break from the rigors of training.
You did not ask for this advice but I’ll give it to you anyway. I have stayed away from indoor tris because I weigh 135 pounds and I give up way too much distance on the stationary bike to heavier guys. There is nothing I know that you can do about this other than have the reverse of a Clydesdale division (maybe a “Bike-lite division”).