Editing Triathlon (section)

==Triathlon and fitness==
[[File:Triathlon swim montage.jpg|thumb|upright|Triathletes competing in the swim component of race. Wetsuits are common but not universal]]
Participants in triathlon often use the sport to improve or maintain their [[physical fitness]].<ref name="MensHealth">{{cite web|url=http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/20-great-reasons-do-triathlon|title=20 Great Reasons to do a Triathlon|access-date= 2 June 2011|date=6 July 2005|publisher=Men's Health|last=Harr|first=Eric}}</ref><ref name="Dallam">{{Cite book|last=Dallam|first=George M.|title=Championship Triathlon Training|year=2008|page=286|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-8154-2}}</ref> With each sport being an endurance event, training for a triathlon provides [[cardiovascular]] [[Aerobic exercise|exercise]] benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livestrong.com/article/254575-cardio-exercise-ideas/|title=Cardio Exercise Ideas|access-date=2 June 2011|publisher=Livestrong.com}}</ref> Additionally, triathletes encounter fewer injuries than those who only use running as part of their exercise routine due to the incorporation of low impact swim and bike training.<ref name="StewSmith">{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/military-fitness/running/triathlon-training|title=Triathlon Training|last=Smith|first=Stew|access-date=2 June 2011|publisher=Military.com}}</ref>

Triathletes spend many hours training for competitions, like other endurance event participants.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Finch|first=Michael|title=Triathlon Training|page=[https://archive.org/details/triathlontrainin0000finc/page/71 71]|year=2004|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-5444-7|url=https://archive.org/details/triathlontrainin0000finc/page/71}}</ref> There are three components that have been researched to improve endurance sports performance; aerobic capacity, lactate threshold, and economy.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Friel|first=Joe|title=Your Best Triathlon|page=15|year=2010}}</ref> Injuries that are incurred from long hours of a single activity are not as common in triathlon as they are in single sport events. The [[cross-training]] effect that athletes achieve from training for one sport by doing a second activity applies to triathlon training.<ref name="StewSmith"/> Additional activities that triathletes perform for cross-training benefits are yoga, pilates, and weight training.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandolfo|first=Christina|title=The Woman Triathlete|pages=[https://archive.org/details/womantriathlete00chri/page/200 200–201]|year=2005|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-5430-0|url=https://archive.org/details/womantriathlete00chri/page/200}}</ref>

===Swimming===
{{see also|Swimming (sport)}}
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Triathletes will often use their legs less vigorously and more carefully than other swimmers, conserving their leg muscles for the cycle and run to follow. Many triathletes use altered swim strokes to compensate for turbulent, aerated water and to conserve energy for a long swim. In addition, the majority of triathlons involve open-water (outdoor) swim stages, rather than pools with lane markers. As a result, triathletes in the swim stage must jockey for position, and can gain some advantage by [[Drafting (aerodynamics)|drafting]], following a competitor closely to swim in their [[slipstream]]. Triathletes will often use "[[Dolphin dive|dolphin kicking]]" and diving to make headway against waves, and [[body surfing]] to use a wave's energy for a bit of speed at the end of the swim stage. Also, open-water swims necessitate "sighting": raising the head to look for landmarks or buoys that mark the course. A modified stroke allows the triathlete to lift the head above water to sight without interrupting the swim or wasting energy.

Because open water swim areas are often cold and because wearing a wetsuit provides a competitive advantage, specialized [[Triathlon equipment#Triathlon-specific swim equipment|triathlon wetsuits]] have been developed in a variety of styles to match the conditions of the water. For example, wetsuits that are sleeveless and cut above the knee are designed for warmer waters, while still providing buoyancy. Wetsuits are legal in sanctioned events at which the surface water temperature is {{convert|26|C|F}} or less.<ref name="USAT Rules"/>  In non-sanctioned events or in "age group" classes where most racers are simply participating for the enjoyment of the sport instead of vying for official triathlon placing, wetsuits can often be used at other temperatures. Race directors will sometimes discourage or ban wetsuits if the water temperature is above {{convert|29|C|F}} due to overheating that can occur while wearing a wetsuit.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://triathlonwetsuitstore.com/at-what-temps-can-you-use-a-wetsuit| title = At what temps can you use a wetsuit?| publisher = TriathlonWetsuitStore.com| access-date=17 March 2011}}</ref> Other rules have been implemented by race organizers regarding both wetsuit thickness as well as the use of "swim skins;" which need to be considered by those participating in future triathlons. Some triathlon sanctioning bodies have placed limits on the thickness of the wetsuit material. Under World Triathlon and some national governing bodies' rules no wetsuit may have a thickness of more than {{convert|5|mm|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://triathlon.competitor.com/2010/06/news/usa-triathlon-adopts-new-wetsuit-regulation-starting-in-2013_10173|title=USA Triathlon Adopts New Wetsuit Regulation Starting In 2013|access-date=June 4, 2013|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=21 June 2010}}</ref>

===Cycling===
{{see also|Bicycle racing}}
[[File:Triathlete on bike.jpg|thumb|upright|Triathlete in the cycling portion of the event]]
Triathlon cycling can differ from most professional bicycle racing depending on whether [[Drafting (aerodynamics)|drafting]] is allowed during competition. In some competitions, like those governed by USA Triathlon and the World Triathlon Corporation, drafting is not allowed,<ref name="USAT Rules" /> and thus the cycling portion more closely resembles [[individual time trial]] racing. In other races, such as those in the [[World Triathlon Series]] and [[World Triathlon Cup]] racing, drafting and the formation of [[peloton]]s are legal.<ref name="Garrett"/><ref name="ITU Rules" /> This places an emphasis on running performance as several athletes will enter the bike to run transition at the same time due to drafting.<ref name="Friel">{{cite book|last=Friel|first=Joe|title=The Triathlete's Training Bible|year=2004|publisher=VeloPress|isbn=978-1-931382-42-7|url=https://archive.org/details/triathletestrain00joef_0}}</ref>

Triathlon bicycles are generally optimized for aerodynamics, having special handlebars called [[Triathlon bars|aero-bars or tri-bars]], [[Disc wheels|aerodynamic wheels]], and other components. Triathlon bikes use a specialized geometry, including a steep [[Bicycle frame#Seat tube|seat-tube]] angle both to improve aerodynamics and to spare muscle groups needed for running. At the end of the bike segment, triathletes also often cycle with a higher [[cadence (cycling)|cadence]] (revolutions per minute), which serves in part to keep the muscles loose and flexible for running.

===Running===
{{see also|Running}}
[[File:Jonas Deichmann in Mexico doing world's longest triathlon (around 26'500 km combined).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jonas Deichmann]] during world record-breaking 26,000 km triathlon]]
[[File:WheelChairBoiseTriathalon70point3.jpg|thumb|upright|An athlete competes in a [[wheelchair]] amongst runners at Ironman 70.3 on the [[Boise Greenbelt]].]]
The primary distinguishing feature of running in a triathlon is that it occurs after the athlete has already been exercising in two other disciplines for an extended period of time, so many muscles are already tired. The effect of switching from cycling to running can be profound; first-time triathletes are often astonished at their [[muscle weakness]], which may be caused by lactate accumulation and the bizarre, sometimes painful sensation in their thighs a few hundred yards into the run, and discover that they run at a much slower pace than they are accustomed to in training. Triathletes train for this phenomenon through transition workouts known as "bricks": back-to-back workouts involving two disciplines, most commonly cycling and running.

===Transition===
The change over from sport to sport takes place in a designated transition area. The transition provides a staging area where bicycles, running shoes, hydration and other gear is set up ready to be used during the course of the event. The first transition, known as ''T1'', is between the swimming and bicycle segments of the race. The second transition,  ''T2'', is between the bicycle and running segments. Most events have one common transition area for both T1 and T2, while some point to point events have two separate transition areas. The time spent in transition is a timed segment and contributes towards the overall finishing time of the event. Races can hinge on transition skills, either by gaining or losing time in transition itself, or because of time penalties taken for faulty changeovers. As such, transition is commonly described during races as the 'fourth discipline.'<ref>{{cite web | last=Triathlon | first=Grand Rapids | title=Advice for Handling the Fourth Discipline of a Tri | website=Grand Rapids Triathlon | date=2014-04-17 | url=https://grandrapidstri.com/2014/04/17/advice-for-handling-the-fourth-discipline-of-a-tri-transition/ | access-date=2023-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Transition, the 4th Discipline in Triathlon | website=Asian Triathlon Online Magazine| date=2021-08-07 | url=https://www.asiatri.com/2021/08/transition-the-4th-discipline-in-triathlon/ | access-date=2023-12-14}}</ref>