i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
Pretty simple really, most triathletes are terrible swimmers and they avoid what they are bad at.
I picked run purely because of injuries, it’s the only sport that seems to cause any problem with me, although i do enjoy running.
swimming;
drive time to pool
chlorine health wise not good
lake and river water quality not good
.
I only swim because the race starts in the water. If I stopped doing tri’s, I would still bike and run, but definitely not swim.
I couldn’t quite answer the poll. I am definitely riding on the ROAD less and especially less solo riding. But I am riding the MTB more and still riding the trainer. For me it is the cars that keep me from riding like I used to.
I can agree with TriguyBlue that I am a poor swimmer, but I persist. In large part because of my friends at Masters year round and the fact that when it is 90% humidity in July, swimming is more enjoyable.
I am a below BOP swimmer and am happy to not swim. I am more than happy to race duathlons.
It’s not pool time - my employer has a gorgeous 6x25y pool that is never full.
I commented to the wife this morning on the way to the pool that swimming takes so much for effort to train for compared to bike and run.
Even though swimming is the only sport left when one gets older, I swim with a guy 85, when I hit the off season and the pool is closed, I sure
do not miss it.
I enjoy Tri for the challenge, the community, etc.
My real love is on the bike, and I used to love running and now I just ‘like’ it. I tolerate swimming. I know I should just race on the bike, but I enjoy the suffering I guess. When I do stop Tri and just cycle… I absolutely won’t miss swimming (or the thing I do in the water that looks like a wounded seal).
i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
Agree! I know for a fact that when father time beats me, it will be in an order reverse to tri: run-bike-swim
I’ll put it this way. If it’s a nice sunny day, I’d much rather go for a ride or run and enjoy the varied terrain and great scenery (mountains, lakes, rivers, and wildlife) rather than go back and forth at the pool staring at a black line and listening to myself breathe. I could swim in the lake, but still doesn’t give me the same endorphin rush and enjoyment as being on an open road
Plus, swimming doesn’t have Strava segments (pink…kinda)
Swimming is just so freaking inconvenient. Pool fees, pool hours, driving to the pool, need for coaching/masters.
Plus, which would you rather do on a lovely perfect spring/summer day - stare at a black line for 1-2 hours, or enjoy the wilderness trails or backcountry roads for riding?
No contest here.
Run for me… I’m just getting back into tris recently because of injury … I will probably never do anything longer then oly ever again
Well, I’ve already jettisoned the bike and run, for the most part.
Running takes too long to recover, and cycling takes too long.
With swimming, if I decide that I’ve had enough that day, then I just have to swim somewhere between 1 and 50 m to get back out of the pool.
Conversely, if I want to add more, it’s easy and I don’t have to figure out another route to do.
i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
Doesn’t surprise me at all. As I see people leaving triathlon, even temporarily, for new challenges, it’s for cycling and running events (trail running, gravel grinder, etc.), not for swimming. I think running and cycling events appear more “fun” for them than anything swim is offering. Plus, let’s face it, in SoCal right now, people are over-reacting to all the shark sightings and are not excited to go swim in the ocean. Ask them to give one up, and swimming seems to be the natural choice.
Dan, this is a community right by me and I have friends who know the folks. This is another reason why to your question
http://fox40.com/2017/07/30/young-boy-hospitalized-after-swim-in-nevada-county-lake/
I chose cycling. Because of the time it takes to be proficient at cycling. And the fatigue from a hard 4 hour ride is much greater than a hard 5-6k swim. But the payoff for each workout is pretty similar.
Swim prep time is variable based on location. Wouldn’t you say pool availability is the least flexible part of planning for triathlon training?
i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
Doesn’t surprise me at all. As I see people leaving triathlon, even temporarily, for new challenges, it’s for cycling and running events (trail running, gravel grinder, etc.), not for swimming. I think running and cycling events appear more “fun” for them than anything swim is offering. Plus, let’s face it, in SoCal right now, people are over-reacting to all the shark sightings and are not excited to go swim in the ocean. Ask them to give one up, and swimming seems to be the natural choice.
Good point. The lack of organization of events for amateur swimmers, wether it is open water swims or meets at local clubs, make swimming the #1. I’m shocked but not shocked at the same time since people gravitate to something where they can race and there aren’t too many swimming only races out there
To be perfectly honest I haven’t run in over 8 months due to persistent Achilles and ankle issues so I’m not racing. When I’m not racing I rarely swim.
Not because I hate swimming but rather it’s much more inconvenient.
Reason # 83 why swimming sucks: 2 lanes available inside for lap swim at my rec center with 2 old guys doing breaststroke in each lane. 1 Lane available outside for lap swimming with 3 people already lollygagging along. Ask the lifeguard if there are going to be any lessons in the first two open lanes and he says no. Get all my gear on, slip into the water and the swim instructor tells me lessons start in 10 min…
Plan B- try again later when my daughter is in tennis lessons at another rec center.
i thought FOR SURE that either cycling (time, expense, safety concerns) would be in a dead heat with running (injuries, knees) as the first sport to go. instead it’s swimming, by so much that it’s equal to cycling and running combined.
it’s not injuries. and it’s not expense. why is this the most likely sport of the 3 for you to jettison?
I would think for most folks swimming is the least enjoyable. Running and cycling I can go out in the world and enjoy myself and the scenery and even chat with people if I were inclined. Swimming in a pool is flipping boring
It looks to me like more people want to keep all 3 disciplines than want to remove one of them. Which probably explains why triathlon is far more popular than duathlon, aquabike, and aquarun combined.