Triathlon During COVID-19

Can there be triathletes without triathlons?

Triathletes are defined by competition. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation or postponement of triathlons around the world. If there aren’t any triathlons, are there still triathletes? Where is triathlon at right now, and what is it going to look like in the future?

How many people do you know who run on a regular basis, but haven’t ever entered a running race? How many cyclists do you know who ride their bikes religiously, but do not have a racing licence? How many swimmers do you see slowly working their way up and down the lane at the public pool who have never been on the starting blocks for a 50m or 100m freestyle race?

If you’re like me, the answer to those questions is “a lot.”

Now turn to the triathletes you know. Is there a single one who hasn’t done a triathlon? My guess is the answer to that one is a hard “no.”

“Swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run a 26.2-mile marathon – then brag for the rest of your life,” is the way Commander John Collins, one of the founders of Ironman, described the race that he initially set out as a dare to find out who was the fittest athlete. Ever since the 14 men who took him up on that challenge started the first Ironman race in 1978, the process of completing a challenge has defined our sport.

Face it, that’s what we do. See many 10K race logos on people’s calves? So many people help Ironman market itself that when I worked at Ironman we started a regular feature on Ironman.com with photo galleries of people’s M-dot tattoos.

“The heart of triathlon is to test an individual’s limit,” said Ironman CEO Andrew Messick. “Can you do it, and can you do it by yourself?”

But the key to that test is being able to prove you achieved it. The easiest way to do that is in a race.

Ihardly need to tell you that triathlon racing got shut down around the world in March. As we go to print, Ironman 70.3 Lubbock in Texas should have just finished, but other than that, most events are on hold at least until September. Realistically, though, here in Canada, it’s hard to imagine that we’ll see any racing at all.

In B.C., for example, larger events of more than 50 people won’t be allowed until “Phase 4” of the province’s reopening plan.

“Phase 4 won’t be enacted until there is a vaccine, treatments for COVID-19 or community immunity has been achieved,” B.C. Premier John Horgan said when announcing the province’s four-phase reopening plan. “Until these things happen, B.C. will not be hosting rock concerts, conventions or any other large gatherings beyond 50 people.”

While other provinces haven’t been quite so specific, they’ve made it abundantly clear that we won’t be seeing events like triathlons taking place at least through the summer. And, even if they did allow for racing to take place, officials can’t see viable ways to put on races.

“I can totally see how to put on a race with appropriate social distance measures for 50 people,” Triathlon Ontario’s executive director Phil Dale said when asked about racing in the province in 2020. “But what race director can put on an event with that number of people?”

While triathletes across the country have been anxiously holding on to some hope that there might be some racing later this year, the stark reality is that it is not likely to happen.

So, if there are no races, are there still triathletes?

Ask many triathlon-specific stores right now, and they might say no. In April and May bike sales went through the roof in Canada – but not for tri-specific bikes.

“Many bike stores have had their best spring ever,” said Glen Innes, Ontario’s territory manager at Argon 18. “Not in the world we play in [triathlon bikes], but any bike for under $1,000 or even $1,500 is gone.”

“It’s crickets in triathlon right now,” Innes continued. “Because there are no events, no one is buying a new triathlon bike.”

“Who needs a one-piece tri suit right now if there’s no racing?” asked Dan Rishworth, the owner of Enduro Sport, one of the biggest triathlon stores in the country.

Enduro Sport, like every bike store in the country, has been swamped with service requests as people pull bikes out of sheds and basements and look to hit the trails and the roads. In March and April there was a run on smart trainers as riding enthusiasts across the globe clamoured to enhance their training on digital platforms like Zwift and Rouvy.

But sales of high-end bikes, including triathlon-specific ones, have been stagnant.

“The trend over the last three or four years has been that we’re very busy selling triathlon bikes from October to April,” said Ceepo’s Marc-Andre Perron. “With the virus striking here in February and the lockdown on March 13, we did lose a lot of sales.”

“I believe it’s going to be a difficult summer, but in September, when the sales season is coming back, we will have a good increase,” Perron continued.