By Steven Shukor Marathon runners are two-a-penny these days. Anyone wanting to push themselves to the limit of extreme sport is doing the triathlon. Steven Shukor is one of an estimated 100,000 masochists who this year will push through the pain barrier.
By Steven Shukor Marathon runners are two-a-penny these days. Anyone wanting to push themselves to the limit of extreme sport is doing the triathlon. Steven Shukor is one of an estimated 100,000 masochists who this year will push through the pain barrier.
It starts with a swim. At the sound of a loud klaxon, hundreds of competitors in figure-hugging wetsuits, goggles and swimming caps, charge into the water and begin thrashing and flailing like sardines caught in a fish net.
It starts with a swim. At the sound of a loud klaxon, hundreds of competitors in figure-hugging wetsuits, goggles and swimming caps, charge into the water and begin thrashing and flailing like sardines caught in a fish net.
Expect to be kicked and buffeted from all directions before eventually having your head dunked by a rogue stroke. Of course, it's nothing personal.
Expect to be kicked and buffeted from all directions before eventually having your head dunked by a rogue stroke. Of course, it's nothing personal.
Then it's out of the water, a little dazed, and into the transition zone where you try to remember which bike among the hundreds racked is yours. You wrestle to remove your wetsuit (an extreme sport in itself) and it's off for the bike stage.
Then it's out of the water, a little dazed, and into the transition zone where you try to remember which bike among the hundreds racked is yours. You wrestle to remove your wetsuit (an extreme sport in itself) and it's off for the bike stage.
Once you have completed the cycle ride, it's back into the transition zone and into the run. By this point, your legs are beginning to feel like jelly.
Once you have completed the cycle ride, it's back into the transition zone and into the run. By this point, your legs are beginning to feel like jelly.
Steven Shukor in action at the Seaford TriathlonSound appealing? Perversely, maybe, for a growing number of us, the gruelling triathlon is what passes for fun these days.
Steven Shukor in action at the Seaford TriathlonSound appealing? Perversely, maybe, for a growing number of us, the gruelling triathlon is what passes for fun these days.
In recent years, triathlon promoters have endeavoured to transform the sport's image from its roots as an extreme endurance challenge to broaden its appeal.
In recent years, triathlon promoters have endeavoured to transform the sport's image from its roots as an extreme endurance challenge to broaden its appeal.
The sport's red-carpet entrance into the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the fact that the UK has 15 triathletes in the world's top 50 have also helped to raise its profile.
The sport's red-carpet entrance into the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the fact that the UK has 15 triathletes in the world's top 50 have also helped to raise its profile.
Nowadays, triathlons come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different genders, ages and abilities - from Iron Man (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run) to "classic" (1.500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run) to "sprint" (750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run).
Nowadays, triathlons come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different genders, ages and abilities - from Iron Man (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run) to "classic" (1,500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run) to "sprint" (750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run).
Need for speed
Need for speed
"When the sport started in the early 80s, it was like an extreme endurance challenge," says Norman Brook, head of British Triathlon, the sport's UK governing body.
"When the sport started in the early 80s, it was like an extreme endurance challenge," says Norman Brook, head of British Triathlon, the sport's UK governing body.
"Since then, triathlon has evolved into a shorter, faster sport and that has made it much more accessible."
"Since then, triathlon has evolved into a shorter, faster sport and that has made it much more accessible."
Briton Tim Don (left) finishes the swimming stageBritish Triathlon says it is now the UK's fastest growing sport - growing at a rate of 10% a year - and is especially popular among 35 to 50-years-olds.
Briton Tim Don (left) finishes the swimming stageBritish Triathlon says it is now the UK's fastest growing sport - growing at a rate of 10% a year - and is especially popular among 35 to 50-years-olds.
"In many cases, they are moving away from team sports for whatever reason but still want to stay physically fit and a challenge to work towards," he says. "They can do that with triathlons because they are competing in their age group."
"In many cases, they are moving away from team sports for whatever reason but still want to stay physically fit and a challenge to work towards," he says. "They can do that with triathlons because they are competing in their age group."
And it doesn't have to be expensive. You don't need a £1,000 race bike or a £200 wetsuit to take part. Many use mountain bikes or hybrids, some equipped with shopping baskets, and, if required, hire a wetsuit on the day of the event.
And it doesn't have to be expensive. You don't need a £1,000 race bike or a £200 wetsuit to take part. Many use mountain bikes or hybrids, some equipped with shopping baskets, and, if required, hire a wetsuit on the day of the event.
But why this appetite for such a gruelling challenge?
But why this appetite for such a gruelling challenge?
Sociologist Frank Furedi says triathlon, just like rock climbing or bungee jumping, is a natural response to the monotony and homogenisation of daily life.
Sociologist Frank Furedi says triathlon, just like rock climbing or bungee jumping, is a natural response to the monotony and homogenisation of daily life.
"The appetite for risk-taking comes from a very human aspiration to test ourselves - and gain the buzz that comes with going beyond previous limits," he says.
"The appetite for risk-taking comes from a very human aspiration to test ourselves - and gain the buzz that comes with going beyond previous limits," he says.
"People's desire to do something that stretches them in order to break out of their routine is drawing them to experiences like extreme sports."
"People's desire to do something that stretches them in order to break out of their routine is drawing them to experiences like extreme sports."
All-round fitness
All-round fitness
Some competitors at last weekend's annual Seaford Triathlon near Brighton, East Sussex, have more prosaic reasons for what gave them the bug.
Some competitors at last weekend's annual Seaford Triathlon near Brighton, East Sussex, have more prosaic reasons for what gave them the bug.
Marketing expert Ailsa Weir, 28, from Milton Keynes, who was doing her second triathlon, finds a three-event race more interesting than say a bike race or a half-marathon.
Marketing expert Ailsa Weir, 28, from Milton Keynes, who was doing her second triathlon, finds a three-event race more interesting than say a bike race or a half-marathon.
Marathon? Pah! Who HASN'T done one of those..."I got sucked into it by my friends," she says. "We train together, compete together and after the race, we drink together so it's a great way to socialise."
Marathon? Pah! Who HASN'T done one of those..."I got sucked into it by my friends," she says. "We train together, compete together and after the race, we drink together so it's a great way to socialise."
The hope of bettering his girlfriend drew tax consultant Samuel Wallis, 27, from south London, to the sport. But after several attempts, he hasn't even come close.
The hope of bettering his girlfriend drew tax consultant Samuel Wallis, 27, from south London, to the sport. But after several attempts, he hasn't even come close.
"I like the idea of swimming outdoors," he says. "It's much better than a hot pool of chlorine. I get an adrenalin buzz from competing. The swim especially can be a real scrap.
"I like the idea of swimming outdoors," he says. "It's much better than a hot pool of chlorine. I get an adrenalin buzz from competing. The swim especially can be a real scrap.
"Despite its hard-core image, it's not as intensive as training for something like a marathon. It's a full body work-out. You get better all-round fitness."
"Despite its hard-core image, it's not as intensive as training for something like a marathon. It's a full body work-out. You get better all-round fitness."
But not everyone has lost their sanity.
But not everyone has lost their sanity.
Marketing account director Charlie Hutchinson, from Putney, south-west London, has watched from the sidelines - with her high heels firmly dug in - as her friends have succumbed "one by one to triathlonitis".
Marketing account director Charlie Hutchinson, from Putney, south-west London, has watched from the sidelines - with her high heels firmly dug in - as her friends have succumbed "one by one to triathlonitis".
She says she has no urge whatsoever for "tight-fitting rubber, metal spikes, stripping down in large groups and swimming in sewage infested waters".
She says she has no urge whatsoever for "tight-fitting rubber, metal spikes, stripping down in large groups and swimming in sewage infested waters".
"I'm one of the last to withstand it and I'm beginning to feel like a lone survivor. It has turned my best mates from 'late night party types' to 'go to bed without alcohol sports nuts in wetsuits'."
"I'm one of the last to withstand it and I'm beginning to feel like a lone survivor. It has turned my best mates from 'late night party types' to 'go to bed without alcohol sports nuts in wetsuits'."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
I would gladly compete in the swimming part of the "classic" event if it only involves swimming the length of a bath tub!Dave, Chester
Hurrah for Triathlons. I'm doing my third at the end of this month. Bit obsessed with them now, but I can think of far worse things to be obsessed with.Though I balance them out, train hard for 6 weeks or so, then have two weeks drinking, going out and being bad. Then find the next one to do and get one with it.Matt Boyles, London, UK
This article is just want i DIDN'T need ! I'm training for my first marathon which I will run in 5 weeks time and if anyone thinks running 26.2 miles is 'easy' then think again!!Colin , Caerffili, Wales, UK
With a decent level of fitness coming from a from a cycling background, triathlon was a great step up for me and excellent fun. For me getting the swimming up to standard has been the hardest thing, but I got there eventually and did my first olympic distance race last month in Salford. It was great; I am now hooked and Iron Man here I come....Andy, Leeds, Uk
If this is "a natural response to the monotony and homogenisation of daily life" then all of a sudden my life became MUCH more intersting.QJ, Stafford, UK
I'm intrigued as to what the "metal spikes" are for, I don't have any in my kit box. Perhaps they're to make it a bit more "gruelling". PS. Ironman is one word.ickle_nick, TT
I think its great, hearing about people actually staying fit instead of the usual news of obesity, smoking, ill health that this country usually gets. This makes it sound like a bad thing but if it makes the nation that little bit fitter than americans and more motivated towards goals i cant see a problem.Alex,, Bristol
To quote Emo Philips :I did a triathlon the other day - that's where you swim for a few miles, cycle for a hundred or so, then run a marathon.So I'm doing the swim and I thought this is silly, I'm getting the bike all rusty......Kev, Amsterdam, Netherlands
...Not to mention "jelly body" as you try and haul yourself out of the water and the fear that you're bleeding through you eyeballs on the run.All excellent stuff.Elise Jenkins, Cardiff
Along with two colleagues from work I have competed in two triathlons this year - the first was Windsor in June and last month in the London Triathlon. We absolutely love it and we're doing our third one in Brighton in a few weeks. The training is great for all over fitness and because it's more varied you don't get bored as you would training for a marathon. Next year we're going to progress from the sprint distance to the classic/olympic distance, then maybe a half ironman!Richard, Harpenden, Herts, UK
I have care and feeding of my own Ironman - he trains by cycling to work and runs or swims in his lunch hour so family life is not really disturbed (other than his ridiculously high calorie intake when he's training hard!). He can also enjoy a beer and eat in the manner to which he has become accoustomed without outgrowing his trousers. It's fine by me!Ruth, Basingstoke
Strange comment to end on - in today's need for all of us to take positive steps in promotive health. No, do not have to go to extremes, there are yet more variations on the triathlon - gyms have took to replacing the swim with a rowing machine, there is lso the anerobic/aerobic circuit type race. What is important is the need to GET OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING! Currently in Khartoum working, I can assure anyone I welcome the opportunity to enjoy a run but will leave the swim to the crocodiles - get active and would appreciate the Beeb finishing with a positive message to all of us who, as a Nation, are suffering from diseases set in sedantary ways.Paul Crook, Khartoum
Despite the authors insistence that the triathlon is where it's at I'd disagree - it's growing in popularity but only because it's easier. Having done the lot, marathons and long hauls on the bike are still where it's at (with the exception of the iron man which is only for the select few). And running a marathon is the cheapest money wise, of all to participate in. The hardest part of a regular triathlon is the swim, because the water is so poluted!Noel Hennessy, egham/uk
