ORLANDO, Fla. — Warning to weekend warriors: Swim-bike-run triathlons pose at least twice the risk of sudden death as marathons do, the first study of these competitions has found.
The risk is mostly from heart problems during the swimming part. And while that risk is low — about 15 out of a million participants — it’s not inconsequential, the study’s author says.
Triathlons are soaring in popularity, especially as charity fundraisers. They are drawing many people who are not used to such demanding exercise. Each year, about 1,000 of these events are held and several hundred thousand Americans try one.
I get so tired of these retarded studies probably done by a whopper eating, 300lb, “Doctor” who has more of a chance of choking on his Twinkie than I have of having a heart attack during a triathlon. I don’t know about anybody else but I would rather go that way than stuck in a hospital fighting health problems brought on by obesity.
The comparison seems flawed. Weekend warriors don’t run marathons, you have to train properly so you’d more likely identify a problem during training. I would think they should compare marathon statistics to 70.3 or OLY statistics. People train for these. Some people don’t train much for a sprint since they can be any distance the RD wants.
The comparison seems flawed. Weekend warriors don’t run marathons, you have to train properly so you’d more likely identify a problem during training. I would think they should compare marathon statistics to 70.3 or OLY statistics. People train for these. Some people don’t train much for a sprint since they can be any distance the RD wants.
Yeah they walk and jog them the same as people who walk and jog a sprint. except they have swim and bike before the run.
2tri-thanks for sharing this information but before anyone gives up the sport, just like anything presented in this forum or anywhere else, it needs to be critically reviewed and evaluated (as is being done in part by forum readers.) This may be harsh but I have the impression that Fox would rather present the sensational rather than the informative. So, read it, think about it, research it, and if it makes sense to you, apply it to your life and training. If not, discard it.
actually if you look at the article, one of the authors is a triathlete and the commentator is a triathlete. they give some reasonable advice.
I think it should be obvious that while having a heart attack running is a bad thing, having the same heart attack swimming is going to turn out even worse because of the danger of drowning subsequent to the cardio vascular event. Also I think Foxs niche in programming is sensation oriented, but the apparent facts are if you have a heart attack swimming you are going to be more likely to die of it then having a heart attack running. Tim
“ORLANDO, Fla. — Warning to weekend warriors: Swim-bike-run triathlons pose at least twice the risk of sudden death as marathons do, the first study of these competitions has found.”
Yea from their wives killing them from all the training hours.
By the way, over 42,000 people were killed in car accidents in 2005.
I’ll take the odds on doing a tri.
Yea from their wives killing them from all the training hours.
I like the way you think. But if you kill 'em you don’t get the insurance money. Better to let them run themselves to death. 
I just read your response to my wife and she agrees with you. I better watch my back!
“Don’t you want to go for a run tonight honey?” Uh, not tonight dear…lol
Are you guys coming up to Triple T this year?
I believe it. The sport is inherently dangerous. I had a stroke while training that required heart surgery to repair. The list of other injuries I’ve had is so unbelievable I’ll spare you, but suffice it to say, stuff happens. My best friend died being hit by a car on the way home from my shop.
The bottom line for me is this: Do you want live like you’re going to die, or die while you are really living?
What the article stats seems reasonable.
I get so tired of these retarded studies probably done by a whopper eating, 300lb, “Doctor” who has more of a chance of choking on his Twinkie than I have of having a heart attack during a triathlon. I don’t know about anybody else but I would rather go that way than stuck in a hospital fighting health problems brought on by obesity.
Did you even read the article? They are tallking about people who do not train properly for the event! The alternative is not to stop exercising, but don’t go to a race without proper training. Sounds pretty sensible to me. I would would rather not “go” at all right now.
i wonder what the sudden death number is for couch potatoes of the same age who get up to quickly to get another beer…
I have done a study of the worlds news sites and those on skyTV.
Fox news on skyTV is funny but I can only watch about 5mins of it at a time as it is light entertainment. No one would seriously get there news from them would they? They usually have a semi o.k looking woman with a couple of big smiley guys but they way they talk it is like a ‘spoof’ show.
Cnn and BBc are quality and I flip between the two all night long on the net or when i have access to sky. They seem to have the same/identical news though.
As with any sport you need to be fit before you take part to avoid any injuries. Talking about sudden death is more relevant for middle aged men with unhealthy lifestyles. To do triathlons like anything you need to build up the fitness slowly overtime.
The alternative to loosing weight through a healthy lifestyle is to get the stomach stapled. Our previous prime minister got that done and many others are having it done now also. That way you can pass the cost onto all the tax payers in your country, but hopefully you will live a bit longer and be productive.
G.
I think it’s strange that people are interpreting this study as saying the folks dying are ‘unfit.’ Yes, the found heart abnormalities in some of them, but who is to say what the rate of heart abnormalities in the general population if everyone were checked out?
This is a very preliminary study. It is much too soon to articulate causation for these deaths.
Since the swim is the most dangerous part of the race, they should do a study comparing the death rate in open water swim races vs. marathons.