A multisport competition is a group of athletic competitions in which athletes race in a continuous series of stages, rapidly switching from one athletic discipline to another, in order to achieve the best overall time. Most multisport events are endurance races, consisting of aerobic exercise activities such as cycling, running, swimming and cross-country skiing. With all multisport competition the time starts at the start of the race, and finishes when the finishing line is crossed. The transition time, which is the time it takes to switch from one sport to another, is also taken into account for the overall time. All multisport competitions cover a range of distance categories to appeal to all levels of fitness and ability.
Multisports are associated with prolonged physical exercise both during training and competition. Many multisport endurance athletes maintain their fitness out of competition season by training and racing another sport. That sport might be running focused (5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon), cycling focused (bike tours, centuries, time trials) or multisport (cyclocross, duathlon, aquathlon) focused. Athletes in colder climates are showing more interest in winter triathlon.
General Participation
Multisport participation has seen a modest overall annual growth rate of about 5 per cent over the last five years. There are now more than 13,000 official multisport events held globally each year. Sprint triathlon and duathlons remain the most popular; the longer the distance is, the more the difference is between men and women participation. As the chart shows, duathlon and triathlon standard distance are more unpopular with women.
A recent survey reports that respondents not only expect to continue their multisport participation but most will increase the number of races in which they compete. The age groups 35-39 and 40-44 have seen the greatest growth and this is likely to continue as those in these age groups look for new outlets of participation and fitness.
Duathlon
A duathlon is a multisport competition consisting of running and biking which can be contested on almost any terrain, although it usually takes place on tarmac. The usual format is run-bike-run, starting with a run, then transition to the bike, then transition back to running again. The first run is usually longer than the second. A duathlon is a real test of strength and cardiovascular fitness. The cycling section is non-impact, thus giving the joints a rest, but cycling still requires similar levels of cardiovascular fitness and leg strength to running.
This sport is also often used by athletes during the triathlon off-season to improve their run speed and bike power. Events tend to be held in the spring or autumn so as not to clash with summer triathlon races. The sprint distance (5km run, 10km cycle, 2.5km run) is ideal for novice athletes who are not particularly fit. Athletes who exercise five times a week with a mixture of cardiovascular and strength work should test their stamina with the standard distance (10km run, 40km cycle, 5km run).
Triathlon
Competitors new to multisport are advised to start with a super-sprint triathlon (400m swim, 10km bike, 5km run). A more challenging race is sprint or middle distance race which include a swim of up to 1km, a bicycle ride of up to 25km, and a run of up to 5km. Championship distance is a 1.5km swim, followed by a 40km cycle, rounded off with a 10km run. The top men typically finish in about 1 hour 50 minutes and the women in just over 2 hours. The one-day triathlon that covers the longest distance is the Full Ironman which covers a total of 140 miles from start to finish and takes serious dedication and training. There is a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a 42.195km mile run. Competitors have up to 17 hours to complete all three elements but top performers finish in less than 9 hours.
Aquathlon
Aquathlon is one of the simplest and most accessible forms of multisport. It consists of a continuous, two-stage race involving swimming and running, or three legs with a swim sandwiched between two run segments. The order is not rigid, although it is a lot easier to swim first and then run. It is an excellent way for novice athletes to enter multisport competition, and for experienced triathletes to add something different to their training routines. Both running and swimming are also very healthy methods of exercise which can be tailored to a range of physical conditions, so competing in an aquathlon can also be a way to have fun while getting fit.
Triathlon is an endurance contest that begins with swimming, followed by cycling, and ending with running. Few things are more physically exerting than a triathlon which puts almost every part of the body under immense pressure. The main triathlon season runs from May until September. Many clubs offer taster sessions for people interested in taking up the sport.
Competitions take place all year round and have become very popular among athletes at a wide range of experience levels. It is not uncommon to see a range of distances in one race to cater for various levels of fitness and experience. Standard warm water distances are 2.5km run, 1000m swim, 2.5km run. If the water temperature is below 22°C then it becomes a wetsuit-mandatory 1000m swim and a single 5km run. Long course distances are 2000m swim and 10km of running. Where the water temperature is low (around 16°C) the course may be shortened or possibly cancelled. The running stage may take place on trails, beaches, or tracks, while the swim stage is competed in open water environments or swimming pools.
Winter Triathlon
Winter triathlon is a multisport event involving running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing (also known as langlauf). The disciplines are all performed on snow as much as possible. Course distances depend on the snow conditions and are set on the day of the event to achieve a winning time of around 80–90 minutes.
The running is contested on hard-packed snow courses with distances ranging from 5-9k. Racers typically wear normal running shoes or cross-country spikes. The mountain bike leg is held on packed ski trails for a distance of 10-15k. Competitors ride standard racing mountain bikes, often equipped with relatively wide tyres run at low pressures. Tyres with spikes are legal but most competitors shun their use because of the additional weight. The final event of winter triathlon is cross-country skiing. Courses are usually 8-12k in length and are contested on groomed Nordic ski trails. Classic or freestyle skating techniques are allowed with most serious competitors using freestyle technique as it is faster. Most race courses involve multiple laps of each stage to enhance the spectator experience.
Winter triathlon World Championship races have been held since 1997 and it is hoped that it will become an Olympic sport in the future. However there are concerns over future venues for winter sporting events. Global warming has created:
warmer winter temperatures
reduced snowfall
thinner lake ice
shorter snow seasons
increased risk of natural hazards
more extreme events such as avalanche and landslides.
Greenhouse gases emitted since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution have so far warmed the world by about 1ºC on average. This effect has been more pronounced in the Alps, the mountain range most visited for winter sports, which has warmed by about 2ºC. This is starting to affect the snow and ice in winter which will have profound consequences for the winter sports industry. In terms of hosting winter sporting events, even if emissions are cut to meet the target of the Paris climate agreement of 2015, only 13 of 21 former hosts would be cold enough to hold winter sports in 2050. This number would drop to just 8 by 2080. The future of winter sports for most regions is under threat this century unless timely action is taken to reduce global warming.