Intro to Triathlon and Transitions

Triathlon is, of course, a multi-sport event consisting of three disciplines: swimming, biking and running.  However, there are usually five recorded time components to a triathlon.  These include the three sports plus the two transitions between each sport.  Whenever I race, I aim to have the fastest transition times over all competitors; not just within my age group.  A fast transition doesn’t make up for my poor running or mediocre biking.  However, it does help me get closer to the podium than a slow transition.

So… what’s the difference between 6th place and 5th place?  After all, you still need binoculars to see the podium!  The difference is one place and the satisfaction of knowing that I did the best that I could.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still put quite a bit of effort into training for the swim, bike and run.  And if I place in the top 3, it’s only because my overall time was good.  On the other hand, I feel there’s no need to get complacent about the transition.  It is a race, right?

This week’s video was difficult for me.  There are so many little things I do to make the transitions fast.  To cover all of them would take an hour or more.  Maybe I’ll do that and put it on a DVD later this year.  But for today, I just put up the very basics of setting up my transition area.

Maybe in a couple of days I’ll put up a gag reel of bloopers and outtakes.  Notice I didn’t say comedy reel.  But I hope it will be funny.