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You may have seen these men race across your TV screen. You may be a budding enthusiast, who has participated in similar events in the past. But exactly how much do you know about the Ironman 70.3 Singapore triathlon?
The first of its kind in the whole of Asia, the 2007 Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon comprises a gruelling 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and a 21km run – totaling a staggering 70.3 miles. This distance hence gives the race its name. Should one be interested enough to try, this race is open to both the able-bodied as well as the disabled.
Wait. The disabled? Why, yes! According to Dr Chua Harn Wei, co-founder of triathlon club ‘TriZEN’, the Ironman 70.3 means something more than the mandatory run, cycle and swim. “The 70.3 represents a group of tri-athletes and individuals who are motivated to start something new,” he says. This group can comprise of anyone, including challenged individuals. And it is with that spirit that TriZEN has volunteered to help train interested disabled athletes for triathlons - the 70.3 and beyond.
At a preliminary briefing held on 12 February, Dr Chua and his TriZEN team gave a presentation about the 70.3 and their role in the triathlon to a packed room of interested athletes and professionals. TriZEN’s team of five instructors would be split to train would-be athletes in various legs of the race, be it swimming, cycling/hand-cycling, or wheeling. Experienced and knowledgeable about the techniques of triathlons, the instructors showed much enthusiasm to share their skills and showed, most importantly, extreme determination towards the goal of engaging disabled athletes to complete all three legs of the race.
Their dedication showed in their game plan to train athletes in the months leading up to September, which is when the race would be held. In compliance with TriZEN’s training principles of safety, progressive training and communication, the training schedule builds up in pace and intensity, ranging from strength building in the early months to mock triathlons nearing August. TriZEN has even factored in collaborative goal-setting to help motivate athletes reach the finish line together.
Completing the race will definitely not be a bed of roses for the disabled athletes. Already, possible complications have been brought up, ranging from communication concerns for the hearing-impaired to safety of the route for wheelchair-users. But the dedication of the organizers as well as the athletes to overcome these concerns is commendable. Plans have already been made to contact other agencies such as the Challenged Athlete Foundation in United States for advice on making the race disabled-friendly.
Besides being the first triathlon in Singapore to actively reach out to the disabled group, eyes are on the Ironman 70.3 Singapore race for another reason. Competitive participants in the Ironman 70.3 Singapore triathlon will be vying for one of the 75 slots for the Ford 70.3 World Championships in Florida, which will be held in November 2007. This is one of the 20 qualifiers available. Already, more than 150 entries have poured in within hours of opening the registration in December 2006, and 800 participants are expected when registration closes in August 2007.
But if competing in a triathlon is not your cup of tea, why not volunteer in one instead? Volunteer at http://www.ironman703singapore.com/default.asp?PageID=5476 and cheer those athletes on!