Why is duathlon not as popular as triathlon? This is something that I’ve been thinking about lately. You’d think duathlon would be more popular, everyone can bike and run, it is the swim that usually puts people off triathlon – so why don’t they try a duathlon?
Is it because triathlon is more widely publicised (that’s where the funding/money is with it being an Olympic sport) or because triathlon has become the new “marathon” (the new endurance challenge for weekend warriors) or something else?
For a newbie, I would have thought that a duathlon would be a great introduction to multi-sport. There’s no worrying about the swim leg for one thing, and not even just the swim part of the race, what about all that swim training you need to do? And what if it is an open water event? You need a wetsuit and have you seen the start of an open water event? Brutal!
For me, the duathlon event is great for a number of reasons. Even for a triathlete, in a duathlon event you get to practise transitions – twice! In duathlons your transitions have to be on point, I think they are even more crucial than in triathlons where the swim tends to open up the pack a bit more.
Physically, duathlons are hard! In my eyes, they are harder than triathlons. If you think the run section of a triathlon is hard, try it after already running hard, followed up by a tough bike leg. But I don’t think it is the physical demands of duathlon that puts people off, so what’s the answer? To be honest, I’m not sure. Maybe if the money was pumped into duathlon, it would create a buzz and maybe TV and the media would pick up on it. My advice, go do a du!!!
5 comments:
Because they ****ing hurt!
My adventures into tri started with duathlons when a certain Mr Stephenson asked me to have a go at duathlon, a few weeks after my first one he said I should start swimming, the rest as they say is history, i plan to do some duathlons this season, great training races.
Yes, they do hurt T-Man! :-)
Indeed Daz, great training (brick) sessions, but why do you think duathlons aren't as popular as triathlons?
I had this one explained to me by a board member of the BTF a few years ago.
The reasons that Duathlon are not as popular include:
Timing of the year, most people are still getting into new routines and miss the early part of the season events after Christmas. It is also cold between the months of Nov and April when the majorty of the events are on...except the Worlds!
There has never been any television coverage of the elite races to boost popularity and there may not unless it becomes a majority sport and joins the Olympic movement.
Its a sport with a running backgroumd, whilst tri aims to bring all 3 elements into play and appeal to the wider audience.
And finally....
As was previously mentioned they hurt. People generally do not like running from cold starts but they, sorry we refuse to do a correct warm up.
The same could be asked of Aquathlon...why does it not have its own world championship outside of the ITU WC.
I believe it is really down to advertising space. The Olympics is the big one and hopefully we should see Winter Triathlon at the 2014/18 event. Who knows we may even get aquathlon, duathlon events soon...
But what do we drop? Good Question Frank
But why don't race organisers put on duathlons or aquathlons all year round? Surely there would be a market for it?
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