Essay

Date: 13 November 2018

Abstract

This paper discusses the benefits of triathlon sports namely, running, swimming, and cycling. Studies and researches have revealed that well-structured and organized triathlon sports provide lots of benefits to an individual. Any of its on-going physical activities have been associated with positive experiences, especially among the young person's life. When encouraged to participate in these three sequential sports, youths can be able to enhance their physical exercise which in return is good for their body, mind, and spirit. Besides, such team sports help teach adolescents to achieve key elements and aspects of life such as dedication, accountability, leadership among many other skills. It should also be understood that irrespective of these sports having pros such as improving happiness, triggering endorphins, and mental health of the participants, there are cons associated with them as well. Some of them include occasional deaths among the participants and lack of enough funding, aspects which in return paralyze its sporting participation and management. This essay will give the reasons why triathlon (swimming, cycling, and running) has tremendous benefits to not only the participants and their overall development in sports.

The Benefits of the Triathlon

First of all, it is important to understand the meaning of triathlon as a group of sporting activities. A triathlon is a Greek word entailing a multisport race of three endurance, sequential and continuous races in the world. These three include cycling, swimming, and running with over timed transitions and various distances between the three races (Vance, 2016). Apart from competing for fastest overall course completion, triathletes are provided with a transition area where they can change gears for different race segments. For instance, they can switch from cycling to running and swimming to cycling. In addition, these particular areas have performance apparel, stores of bicycles, and other accessories which are required for the next stage of the race. The transition between run and bike is referred to as T2 while that between swim and bike is called T1. To calculate the overall time spent by an athlete, a difference between T1 and T2 is calculated (Stewart, 2012). And because transition areas vary in size depending on the number of those participating, these particular areas act as social headquarters where triathlon as a sporting activity is focusing on periodized and persistent training in all the three disciplines. So what are the benefits of triathlon? Let us take a look.

As per what (Vance, 2016) says in his book, triathlon training promotes cardiovascular health. As far as we are concerned, a good working cardiovascular system especially that of arteries working properly is fundamental to our health. So with the substantial amount of triathlon training, not only atherosclerosis will be prevented but plague build-up will be reversed. Deposited fats known as low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in arterial walls will be gotten rid off the cells through the training and participation in triathlon thus, maintaining our arteries and ensuring proper flow of blood to organs such as brain and heart.

Another benefit of triathlon and as per what (Stewart, 2012) indicates in his book is promoting brain health. While good arterial health is maintained through this sporting activity, the brain health as well will be maintained. Triathlon increases the blood flow to the brain thus, contributing to positive functional and structural changes. Since the training involves aerobic respiration, an increase in the number of brain cells will be witnessed. In return, the ability of thinking will improve. Besides, triathlon improves the white matter integrity that is responsible for coordination, speed, and connections between various parts of the brain and the rest of the body. This means that triathletes cannot be easily faced with brain-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's and sclerosis because the structure of the brain is improved (Stewart, 2012).

A third way is that triathlon help build strong and healthy bones. Triathlon has been associated with the prevention of low-bone density and fractures. And because it is a combination of three sporting activities, stress fracture on bones occurs because a participant will increase the volume of biking or swimming while decreasing the volume of running. Apart from this sport keeping an athlete engaged, triathlon improves the bone density when compared to participation in other sports because it reduces risk to bone injury. As a result of having strong and healthy bones, other aspects such as losing weight will follow (Vance, 2016).

In addition, triathlon training is one of the most important and well-known sports that improve both individual's level of productivity and sharpen focus. It implies that making a commitment to training in triathlon equals increased productivity more so when it is connected to another healthy lifestyle such as sleeping and eating well (Kleanthous, 2012). As a result, triathlon imparts more energy and focus to an individual throughout the day, making it productive, active and positive as well. Plus, triathlon training and sport enhances feelings of refreshment, an aspect that ensures daily duties are tackled with renewed zest. This feel-good factor, in the end, sparks the release of invigoration sense and endorphin in the brain. Both the two will see into it that mood is undoubtedly prospered. Consequently, when training and participating in the triathlon, one can have a proper supply of oxygen which in the end fosters lungs functionality, overall body fitness, and feelings of goodness (Kleanthous, 2012).

According to (Vance, 2016), training and finishing triathlon blasts future barriers of success. What does this mean? It means that continuous training will help us overcome self-imposing psychological and physical barriers and guiltiness through gain traction. Out potential will not be affected in any way because triathlon will ensure that we tackle these barriers head-on. In the end, renewed realization full of focus and determination will be our daily norm in future because of our extended training and participation in triathlon. In this regards, triathlon is an important sporting activity that equals individual's accomplishment. It boosts our memories to continue doing and aspiring to do more.

Moreover, triathlon ensures that an individual's maximum motivation is utilized. By having three disciplines; running, swimming, and cycling, a participant will overcome burnout and curses of boredom and replace them with positive motivation. And because the three also depends on individuals volunteering to participate in any of them, choice of whether one can run or cycle or go for an open-water swim depends on an individual. Having this particular training plan is a key for many triathlon athletes. It allows flexibility, an element that will, in the end, maintains motivation. On the same note, triathlon fosters self-confidence (Vance, 2016).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that triathlon has a lot of benefits. These benefits as it has been illustrated in the paper have tremendous positive effects participant’s life. Among key benefits include reduced cardiovascular diseases, increased fitness, weight loss, boosting self-confidence and motivation among others. In overall, there are a lot of physical, psychological, cognitive benefits of becoming a triathlete. By embracing triathlon from a personal challenge or for a quest, finishing it is a great example resulting into feelings of self-confidence and accomplishment. It is one of the best sporting ways that ensure we endure good health in our lives apart from replenishing our bodies of the drained energies thus, encouraged to give it a try and take part in it.

References

Harr, E. (2015). Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week. Workman Publishing.

Hagerman, P. S. (n.d.). STRENGTH TRAINING FOR TRIATHLETES; THE COMPLETE PROGRAM TO BUILD TRIATHLON POWER, SPEED, AND MUSCULAR ENDURANCE. Place of publication not identified: VELOPRESS.

Kleanthous, M. (2012). The complete book of triathlon training: Learn physical & mental training, equipment, race preparation, safety, diet & nutrition and more; construct a training routine; approach a competition; the encyclopedia of triathlon. Maidenhead: Meyer & Meyer Sport.

Stewart, B. (2012). 7 weeks to a triathlon: The complete day-by-day program to train for your first race or improve your fastest time.

Vance, J. (2016). Run with power: The complete guide to power meters for running.