I actually am a duathlete but I think most people don’t do a duathlon because it doesn’t have the sex appeal that tri does.
Here I fortunately have race directors that put on a du along with most of their tri’s and like some have said there are only a handful of duathletes in the race compared to hundreds in the tri.
Either way as long as there is at least one other person in the duathlon its a race. 
The biggest thing for me is the both the quantity and quality of the competition is much be in triathlon. Also there is just a certain je ne sais quoi about triathlon. Maybe it’s the balanced training to perform in three different activities or the challenge to make up for a weakness with a strength or the changing dynamics of the race in each lag (i.e. great swim/bikers trying to hold off great bike/runners on the last leg) that I enjoy.
…I was going to mention that but, to my point, how many non-duathletes (or even duathletes) know about Zofingen? How many non-triathletes know about Kona?
Edit: I just checked with a friend who prefers duathlons to triathlons and she has never heard of Zofingen.
Sad isn’t it? Certainly, Powerman is inept at marketing and cannot compete with the annual Kona broadcast. But I don’t see how you can call yourself a duathlete and be unaware of Powerman Zofingen and its tribute spinoff AmZof. Back in the day, just about every Kona great did Powerman…including Mark Allen and Paula Newby-Fraser. Finishing Powerman Zofingen was equal to or greater than any of the 12 IMs I’ve done. Show her this video from 2014 (2015 promo banner) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjYXEeQ5vdg. Women get 1 hour longer than men to finish.
Knowing about events you’re not taking part in or knowing the names of elite athletes in the discipline is not what makes you a duathlete, triathlete or otherwise. If you take part in duathlons you’re a duathlete, take part in triathlon and you’re a triathlete. There’s no obligation to know or care about events or people outside your direct sphere of interest. I’m never planning to race Kona and I’m never likely to be at the pointy end of a race. It’s pretty irrelevant if I know who’s who in the pro ranks or that I even know Kona exists.
There’s a difference between doing something or being a fan of it. Often people are both but that’s not mandatory or even necessarily advantageous.
Perhaps I’m misunderstanding the tone of your text but it seems like you’re saying someone who considers themselves a duathlete is failing some criteria if they’re not aware of these events. Am I understanding you correctly?
I’m not familiar with Powerman Zofingen or AmZof.
I’ve raced in at least a dozen duathlons in the last few years. I’m not too bothered about labels and I doubt I’ve ever referred to myself as a duathlete (or triathlete) but if I’m doing a duathlon I am by definition a duathlete.
I just registered for one. Thanks for the nudge.
More power to you, but a duathlete that doesn’t know about Powerman Zofingen is like a triathlete that doesn’t know about Ironman Hawaii. It’s not a label but more the absence of one. Call it what you will - living in a bubble, woefully uninformed, or perhaps just completely uninterested in the pinnacle of the sport … whatever you want to call it. You’ve already done more duathlons in the last few years than this triathlete has in his entire life, but I knew early on that Zofingen, Switzerland was a key bucket list race that I had to race. I would hope more duathletes (and triathletes) would learn about the race, how hard it is, and then, hopefully, want to actually do it.
While I agree that the field sizes in Du is usually smaller than the Tri at most events, I find most Duathlon fields are as competitive if not more so (you get a few newbies and people who are afraid of the swim, but the rest are people who can seriously run and bike)… I’m lucky in that most events in Ontario have both Du and Tri options. I primarily race Dus, and the odd Tri as well. While I’ll admit that the swim is my weakest link, that’s primarily because with a busy schedule, I prioritized my run and cycle training. This year I have been swimming more, and did add a Tri to the race schedule (finished much higher overall in the tri than I have in a Du in a very long time…).
But one of the reasons for lack of visibility in the public, is that there are few stand alone Duathlon events, most are triathlons that offer a Du option… That leads to the conversation if you wear the race shirt “So you did a triathlon on the weekend?” “No, I just did the Du”… I have heard of Powerman Zof, and AmZof (both on the bucket list, once I get a season where I have the time to get in long course shape again)… The few standalone Du events I have done were great, and often have larger fields, since you get some triathletes crossing over to use them as training events too, when there are not local tri options around on the same weekend.
I may do a duathlon in 2018 because A. the idea of paying money to go race in USAT tri nationals in Cleveland sounds dreadfully unappealing, B. Bend, OR is a much better destination and C. I am a terrible swimmer. But I guess I haven’t done it to date because I like the concept of swim/bike/run even though I suck at swimming.
I’m a mediocre triathlete. Tried duathlon twice, and finished 1st and 2nd. Well okay then.
It is not as bad ass as triathlon. Especially, the 140.6 distance. It’s all about 140.6 now. Like it or not, it’s the Mount Everest for a lot of people now.
More power to you, but a duathlete that doesn’t know about Powerman Zofingen is like a triathlete that doesn’t know about Ironman Hawaii. It’s not a label but more the absence of one. Call it what you will - living in a bubble, woefully uninformed, or perhaps just completely uninterested in the pinnacle of the sport … whatever you want to call it. You’ve already done more duathlons in the last few years than this triathlete has in his entire life, but I knew early on that Zofingen, Switzerland was a key bucket list race that I had to race. I would hope more duathletes (and triathletes) would learn about the race, how hard it is, and then, hopefully, want to actually do it.
There’s nothing much here that I didn’t already address in my last post. Knowing about other races doesn’t make you faster. It doesn’t make you a better athlete. It’s just knowing about the existence of a given event. Your triathlon comparison is exactly the same. Plenty triathletes couldn’t care less about Hawaii. The sport isn’t primarily about history, prestige or bucket lists, it’s about doing the sport. While the rest makes for amusing conversation it’s not fundamental to being an athlete. I think however, your view may be shared by many on ST. Perhaps it’s a cultural US thing. Or maybe it’s influenced by our presence on ST.
I still don’t see why anyone should be labelled as woefully uninformed because they’re not aware of a given event, even if it is considered the most prestigious in a sport. It’s not relevant to competing unless it’s the event you’re doing or you’re looking for such an event.
We’ll have to agree to disagree.
I did one because the water was not ok to swim in. The whole Tri turned in to a Du. It was fun and I enjoyed it.
Aquabike and Dus are available at almost every event I go to. They aren’t largely utilized but they’re there.
It’s good to have options!
I am old because I think Desert Princess.
Easy, most folks cannot run!! And Du’s are way harder than Tri’s.
Luckily here in Northern Calif, we have a number of USAT Du races with a decent amount of folks, and very high quality athletes.
I had never done until last year since they were so hard. But now I have done a number, been to Du Nationals Twice, and in 3 weeks will be at worlds competing on TeamUSA for Du in Penticton. Have a spot for Denmark in 2018. Competition is going to be real tough. The guy who beat me, 63, goes out on the first run 6:15 pace, just sick.
I am old because I think Desert Princess. I’m old too, and although I was not into multisport back in its heyday, I am well aware of the history.
More power to you, but a duathlete that doesn’t know about Powerman Zofingen is like a triathlete that doesn’t know about Ironman Hawaii. It’s not a label but more the absence of one. Call it what you will - living in a bubble, woefully uninformed, or perhaps just completely uninterested in the pinnacle of the sport … whatever you want to call it. You’ve already done more duathlons in the last few years than this triathlete has in his entire life, but I knew early on that Zofingen, Switzerland was a key bucket list race that I had to race. I would hope more duathletes (and triathletes) would learn about the race, how hard it is, and then, hopefully, want to actually do it.
There’s nothing much here that I didn’t already address in my last post.** Knowing about other races doesn’t make you faster**. It doesn’t make you a better athlete. It’s just knowing about the existence of a given event. Your triathlon comparison is exactly the same. Plenty triathletes couldn’t care less about Hawaii. The sport isn’t primarily about history, prestige or bucket lists, it’s about doing the sport. While the rest makes for amusing conversation it’s not fundamental to being an athlete. I think however, your view may be shared by many on ST. Perhaps it’s a cultural US thing. Or maybe it’s influenced by our presence on ST.
I still don’t see why anyone should be labelled as woefully uninformed because they’re not aware of a given event, even if it is considered the most prestigious in a sport. It’s not relevant to competing unless it’s the event you’re doing or you’re looking for such an event.
We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Who said that knowing about a sport makes you faster? Wasn’t me. Who said it makes you better? Wasn’t me? Sure, lots of folks could not care less about Hawaii but that doesn’t change the fact that Kona is the most prestigious and most competitive long course triathlon in the world…same with Powerman Zofingen for long course duathlon. A well known championship that athletes aspire to is essential to any sport. Powerman needs better marketing and the fact that many duathletes have no knowledge that there is a world championship at a very high caliber is perhaps one of the reason why duathlon continues to struggle…i.e., not many people ‘doing the sport’. What’s so controversial about that?
We’ve got a Duathlon circuit over here in Switzerland with very interesting events. Some of them similar to Superleague Triathlon minus the swim.
The sport is a bit more popular here than elsewhere but still a very small brother to Triathlon.
Apart from my running I only do Duathlon as I am a terrible swimmer. But man are those Duathlons here competitive. Most of the guys either have a run or bike background and are serious about racing.
I think it is something like this:
The guys that can swim bike and run on a high level will obviously do Tris. Some who are not so strong swimmers still see it as a challenge and can make up time on the bike and run.
Those who just want an experience and accomplish something special do Tris as well. Of course most of them are not strong swimmers and in fact often fear it. But they are usually also not really top end runners or cyclists so it doesn’t matter when they lose time on the swim. And Triathlon is a greater experience then Duathlon. (And Du is much harder).
Then you have the Duathletes. They are good bikers and runnerd but can’t swim. So Triathlon makes no sense. They lose too much time and it is very frustrating when your bike and run splits are top but you come in down the field. So they do Duathlons. And not s lot of other people do.
Triathlon is just percieved as more sexy.
no one does duathlons because no one does duathlons.
Duathlon = no crowds = no opportunity to brag = doing a sport just for fun = no interest.
Powerman has really only recently started to push things stateside… And in Europe, Zof is much better known, and a championship people aspire to (and unlike Kona, it also often doubles as the ITU LD Du worlds…). People in north america are still catching up to that…
And I agree, knowing about it doesn’t make people faster, maybe just nerdier… I consider myself the student of any sport that I do, and learn the history and key events, and study how to improve at it, but not everyone approaches sport that way, and that’s fine. I wouldn’t consider someone not a duathlete because they didn’t know about Powerman Zof or AmZof… (I’d expect them to know that the standard distance in 10-40-5 not vice versa, if they had been in the sport for a few seasons…).
I do a lot of both. 9/10 times I’ll race the DU if both options are offered.
We are pretty lucky here in the North East. We have 3 GREAT stand-alone ones (Fly-by-Night, AZ DU, West Point) and a bunch of good ones and some others as well as a bunch of Tri’s that also offer du’s.
I’ve found that the stand-alone ones get some very good (great) talent and are usually well run. Sadly, this year the weather was terrible for a few of them. They also tend to have “better” courses as you are not forced to be near water.
As for when there is a tri and du:
Talent - It seems the winner of the DU would usually not win the Tri.
“Value” - Some RD’s are awesome at valuing the tri and du equally: i.e. same awards, same announcements etc.
However, Some RD’s treat the du as “extra cash”
2 examples:
One du I did, the shirt mentions the tri and not the du (I don’t care, but some might - probably the ones that the sport needs to “hook”),
Another one this spring the 1’st person across the finish line was a duathlete. As he approached the finish line, the announcer said “Here is your winner, o-wait, never mind, he did the duathlon”
Slowman has asked us this question a few times, so I thought I would give my perspective as a BOP swimmer. There aren’t many around me, and those that are don’t have many participants. I have seen a couple of tris in the area have du options, but sometimes fewer than half a dozen people will line up for it. I saw one last year where the total du participants consisted of two men and one woman. I did a duathlon that had about 20 participants and enjoyed it, but I didn’t feel like we were part of the main event. It was like we were at the kid’s table. It felt like the real athletes were doing the triathlon. So around here anyway, no one does duathlons because no one does duathlons.
I will let the rest of you speak for yourselves.
I don’t know if you saw/read my post in the other thread… but to answer your question I hate running. I do it once during a triathlon, why the hell would I want to do it twice in a duathlon?