Is swimming that much more stressful than running or biking? Geezer has no answers, just a tragic report of three deaths this year that happened to occur during the swimming leg of three triathlons. The Boston Globe is the messenger here, reporting that the death of a 38-year-old man
at the inaugural Cohasset Triathlon on Sunday was the third death in
the nation this year at an event sanctioned by USA
Triathlon. Triathlon services director Kathy Matejka told the Globe that one participant died in Tampa in April, and another died three
weeks ago in Missouri. Both occurred on the swim course, as did Sunday’s fatality in
Cohasset. Matejka said two deaths occurred in 2006, also on the swim
course.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Three things need to happen:
(1) they need to start the swimmers in waves. It is not easy, even for an experienced swimmer, to swim in a group of 2000 people.
(2) the people in the event also need to know, that only a few are good enough to finish first, and that finishing is the key and give some people some space. I have entered several events and have been swum over, kicked, and had my goggles ripped off. Now, I stay to the outside until the throng dies down, usually about halfway through the race. I still was able to post an 1:05 for the 2.4mile leg.
(3) you also need to know your own limits. I have friends that wait until the mass has left then take-off. You are not going to win or lose a triathlon because of the swim. The majority of the competitors want to have fun and compete.
Lance’s first point is excellent. Even a group of 100 can get a bit rough at the start! Even a 15-second break between waves can smooth things out significantly.
His second point is also excellent … for the vast majority of triathletes who are racing against themselves rather than to be #1. For these good folk, it’s the experience that counts.
His third point is less “excellent”. The person who wins the swim race is likely to finish (barring accident) in the top 1% of the contestants. Someone – usually a different someone – will win each leg of the race. The event winner is the one who places high up in each leg. You don’t win if you don’t compete in each leg. But, yes … you need to know your limits. And you can come closer to achieving great results (for you) if you don’t have to FIGHT the other swimmers for swimming room those first hundred(s?) yards.
Starting in waves lets seeded racers go first, then the fun-run crowd. Good for everyone, bad only for the time-keeper.
DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod-Cast
Anal Cock
Post Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject: Nikki Cox