Who Competes in Aquathlons? Aquathlons are suitable for any age and are a great start to becoming involved in multisport. As skill level increases, USA Triathlon offers the Aquathlon National Championship which is held yearly. Additionally, the ITU Aquathlon World Championships (the highest level of competition for elite athletes), in which eligibility is granted to many standout pro triathletes, under-23 athletes and junior athletes. On a national level, aquathlons are gaining popularity among athletes who want to challenge themselves athletically and improve their endurance but are not interested in the biking leg of triathlons. Whether you are afraid to ride without training wheels, cannot afford a bicycle or are sick of the saddle sores and road rash that come along with hours of cycling training, aquathlon offers solutions to all these problems.
Possibly some of the most attractive aspects of this sport are that the race distances are short so less training time is required, equipment needs are minimal and has a reasonably low entry level cost.
Aquathlons are also quite appealing to race directors because it not only reduces the logistics by removing one of the legs from a triathlon, but it also reduces the amount of space needed to hold a race. As a result, competitors can race in a smaller, more manageable environment.
Getting Started As mentioned earlier, very little equipment is needed to compete in an aquathlon – athletes will need a swim suit, goggles, swim cap, running shoes, motivation to train and compete and a positive attitude.
Common Youth Aquathlon Distances RACE AGE**
SWIM Youth 7-8 Youth 9-10 Youth 11-12 Youth 13-15 Junior 16-19 50-100 meters 100 meters 200 meters 200-375 meters 400-750 meters
RUN 1k
1-1.5k 2k 2-3k 5k
Triathlon race directors across the nation are beginning to respond to the demand of athletes interested in the run/swim combination by offering aquathlons in conjunction with the triathlons they are putting on. It is not uncommon to find a triathlon that also has an option for duathlon or aquathlon.
History The official start date of aquathlon is unknown, although running and swimming origins are ancient. Arguably, the first aquathlon event in the USA was held in 1971, three years before the inaugural Mission Bay Triathlon and seven years before the first Ironman when the Dave Pain Birthday Biathlon consisting of a run and swim were held in San Diego (USA Triathlon Life, 2006).
Distances vary depending on location and water temperature. For example, in 2004 at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Queenstown, New Zealand, the swim took place in a lake that was fed by glaciers causing the water to be very cool. Because of this, racers were permitted to wear wetsuits. However, because it is extremely difficult to make a fast transition when you have to put a wetsuit on directly after completing a 5k run, the first run was omitted – altering the race to a 1000-meter swim followed by a 5k run.
USA TRIATHLON YOUTH GUIDE
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