Triathlon
Triathlon combines the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running into one. In Australia, competition typically starts around late October and continues through until April. While race distances can vary greatly, these can usually be classified into:
-
Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
-
Olympic distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
-
Half Ironman or 70.3 (1.9 km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run)
-
Ironman races (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2 km run)
Training for three separate disciplines can take up a lot of time and can put a large strain on an athlete's energy reserves. As most triathletes train five to seven days a week, often twice a day, it is important that they adopt eating strategies that promote recovery and maximise energy stores between training sessions.
What's fuelling you? Download the Triathlon fact sheet for tips on hydration, fuelling, recovery and other tips to get you across the line!
Authors: Gregory Cox, Sports Dietitian (Australian Institute of Sport) & Stephen Gurr, SDA Member (Aspire)