But how did it all started with the Ironman Triathlon?--- The story of the world first Triathlon in history --- Do you know how the Ironman Triathlon was born? It was in 1977. During a nightly drink of the "Waikiki Swim Club" in Honolulu, Hawaii, some of the members of this swim club philosophed about which of the 3 important competitions that took place on this island on a regular basis was the hardest: 1. The "Waikiki Rough Water Swim" about the distance of 2.4 miles (3,86 km) in the Pacific Ocean. 2. The "Around-Ohahu Bicycle Race". A bicycle racing about the enormous distance of 112 miles (180,2 km). 3. The "Honolulu Marathon" about the usual marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42,195 km). In this round it was the soldier John Collins who first raised the question if it wasn't possible to complete all the 3 endurance competitions at once as a single event. On 18th February 1978 finally the first Triathlon in history took place. Of those only 15 starters it was Gordon Haller who first finished the Ironman after 11 hours and 45 minutes. Already one year later the first women attended the Ironman event. Since then this competition took place every year on Hawaii and attracted more and more intrigued fans. With increasing popularity the distance was cut into halves, quarters, eight pieces... the olympic distance was formed... but it was also doubled, tripled, heck even decupled! That means that all disciplines are increased tenfold... Each spring athletes join for the "Decatriathlon" in Mexico. 26 miles (38 km) of swimming, 1,120 miles (1.800 km) of cycling and finally 262 miles (420 km) of running. Each person with a passion for sports can choose the distance from this "buffet" that is the most appropriate for him or her depending on appetite, training condition or grade of mental disturbance. You don't have to bother with the Ironman. |