Cycling, running and swimming are three individual sporting events. But when combined and performed in immediate succession over various distances, they make up the sport called triathlon.

Triathletes compete in a single race that entails them to beat the time by swimming, biking, and running in a dash.

The sport, said to have originated in France in the 1920s-1930s, has already gained a strong global following.

“Triathlon is the fastest growing sport in the world, bar none,” Coach Rick Reyes of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) told abs-cbnNEWS.com in a phone interview.

In fact, an increasing number of Filipino urban adults and even children are getting into the sport.

“We have seen the growth of triathlon in the country in recent years,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco, Jr., in a report posted on SportsNews.ph.

Reyes, also TRAP’s executive director, revealed that adults comprise the bulk of the country’s triathletes. Adults are called Age groupers, while Juniors are the triathletes aged 16 to 19. Those who are 15 years old and younger fall under the Youth.

TRAP is working to sustain the interest in triathlon as it is the “legal entity that is supposed to undertake the development of triathlon and duathlon in the country,” Reyes said.

He said that while the national team is also TRAP’s responsibility, sports development must “deal with the majority of triathletes.”

With this, TRAP formed the SuperTriKids, a grassroots developmental program on its fourth year, to “start building a mass base” or else “talent flow could stop abruptly.”

Reyes said that Juniors and Youth triathletes are given shorter races. He added that while triathlon is an endurance sport, the young ones’ training is focused on honing them in speed and teaching them correct technique.

With the booming interest in triathlon, numerous events for triathletes have been lined up for the year, including the “Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines” beginning August 23. The event, to be held in Camarines Sur, is the inaugural Ironman race in the Philippines.

Triathlon community

Triathletes compete for the fastest overall course completion time, including timed “transitions” between the swim, bike, and run components, stated Wikipedia.org.

Transition areas are positioned between the swim and bike segments, and bike and run segments. The areas are used to store bicycles, performance apparel, and other things needed for preparing for the next race stage.

“These areas provide a social headquarters prior to the race, and are an integral part of triathlete culture,” added Wikipedia.org.

“It's an individual sport but you get full support from the group,” said 29-year-old software engineer Jon Coronel. He got into triathlon in college and then tried it out again last year.

“People cheer you on and say ‘Kaya mo ‘yan!’ I think they know na mahirap yung race,” he related.

“The triathlon community is very friendly. You can feel their very positive aura just by being around them,” added Coronel’s friend, Lester Castillo, a 29-year-old MILO Sports Events and PR executive.

Lifestyle sport

In triathlon, Reyes said that one “strives to be the best swimmer, best cyclist and best runner that one can be.”

Therefore, he noted that it is necessary for triathletes to take the sport very seriously by incorporating the training into their lifestyle.

“Those who do not either fail or they do not reach their potential.”

He called triathlon a “lifestyle sport” because training for three sports takes up so much of one’s time, resources and energy.

Typical triathlete

Coronel agreed with the “lifestyle sport” tag. “It is true because once you commit, your whole lifestyle changes. I have to wake up early to swim, run after work, and bike on weekends.”

He shared that he swims and runs one hour each per day, thrice a week. He bikes for a whole day once a week.

He spent more than P50,000 on his bike and around P4,000 on his shoes. He also pays registration fees amounting to P1,000 to P2,500, depending on the distance.

For the half Ironman in August, he cashed out P7,500. He also spends on transportation and lodging since he joins races in Subic, Bataan and Camarines Sur.

His friend, Jano Eustaquio, trains an average of three hours every other day. Eustaquio, 30, is an architect. He said he got into triathlon “to support my eating lifestyle.” He added that he sleeps very early and does not go out as often anymore.

Castillo, for his part, said he spent a total of P50,000 to P70,000 since getting into the multi-sport in April 2005. He trains as much as he could, whenever he feels it. He estimated his training time at 10 hours per week.

Reyes noted that a typical triathlete is a college graduate who is computer literate, owns a house and car, and has disposable income. Coronel, Eustaquio and Castillo fit the criteria. In addition, they are all single.

Man vs himself

Coronel said his primary reason for joining triathlon is that he is a "masochist". He said what is fun about being a triathlete is “finishing something many people consider impossible—the distances in triathlon.”

For sprint, it's one kilometer swim, 30 kilometers bike and 7 kilometers run. But for a full Ironman you have to do 3.9 – 180 – 42.”

For Castillo, he said “It makes me feel I’m doing something extraordinary, makes me standout from the rest of the pack, makes me feel I’m being ‘different.’”

Meanwhile, Eustaquio mentioned that a triathlete’s challenges include multi-tasking and keeping focus. Castillo said it’s the challenge of man going against himself.

Coronel shared that his main challenge is how to balance his training and “bisyo lifestyle.”

“I can't give up my bisyo lifestyle,” he reasoned. “I still go out on Saturday nights then train Sunday early morning. Bawas na lang sa inom.”

Bigger arena

The three triathlon friends plan to stay in the sport for as long as they can. Coronel disclosed that wants to race even if he is past 50 years old while Eustaquio’s goal is to finish the Ironman.

“I just want to enjoy my physical wellness at my age. There will come a time when old age will be a hurdle in joining such events,” said Castillo.

They also encourage other people to try the sport. Coronel remarked, “Just TRI!”

Castillo expounded, “Getting into triathlon can help one learn the many values of sports—time management, discipline, self-confidence, motivation, etc.”

“Sports help athletes compete in a much bigger arena called ‘life,’” he added.