Indoor triathlon: Just in time

“You cannot do something new by doing old things. If you want your life to change, you have to change your life. So go ahead. It’s safe. And it’s also...about time.”  – Neale Donald Walsch

One of the country’s fastest-growing sports has gone indoors, perfect for the unpredictable and early arrival of the rain, and the unavoidable congestion of traffic. Earlier this week at the sprawling Fitness First Platinum Aura Premier multi-sport zone, the internationally known gym chain launched the Philippines’ first indoor triathlon facility, and tested it with a platoon of their own athletes and members of the Philippine triathlon team.

“We are very excited to introduce the new Indoor Triathlon program exclusive here at the Fitness First Platinum Aura Premier’s Multi Sport Zone,” says Fitness First Philippines country manager Mark Ellis. “We have invested in top-of-the-line equipment and have well-trained coaches to execute the program.”

Bringing a growing international trend to the country (which, in other countries, uses row machines as a substitute for swimming), Fitness First has reconfigured its facility to accommodate the needs of triathletes of every level. Just as basketball was invented as a winter sport, indoor triathlon helps everyone train no matter the weather, which is its biggest advantage, given the rains and growing pollution from the surplus of cars in Metro Manila. In many places, even just running along main roads can be more hazardous than beneficial to one’s health.

After the running boom of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, triathlon has become the new go-to training regimen of many hardcore athletes for the last decade or so. But it has also stirred the imagination of thousands upon thousands of Filipinos wanting to test their limits. Indoor triathlon is a way to gauge their starting capacity without having to invest so heavily in equipment. Lighter, state-of-the-art bicycles cost almost as much as a car. Wetsuits are another expense that not everyone wants to invest in. And where would you find an open body of water to practice your swim leg in? In the city, tying everything together also proves to be inconvenient. Fitness First’s facility eliminates most of those concerns.

“We are bringing triathlon, one of the country’s fastest growing sports, indoors in a safe and simulated environment,” Ellis continues. Experienced triathletes, triathlon coaches and even beginners can benefit from this program as it aims to train, strengthen and advance your triathlon skills, no matter what fitness level you’re in.”

The pool is on the upper level of the gym, and a row of stationary bikes sits right next to it. You can run in the track provided or on a treadmill just a flight of stairs away. This means that even beginners can determine what distance they want to start at, regardless of existing norms. Practicing your transitions from one stage to another also becomes easy; you won’t have to worry about losing any of your gear. Most important of all, you’re always surrounded by trained professionals, lessening the chance of injury, and ensuring that you get the proper attention should you need any form of assistance.

Imagine being a beginning triathlete, you have to find an open space to run in, and the safest place may be a residential village. That still doesn’t spare you from the rain or being chased by neighborhood dogs. If you run or bike along a main road, incompetent drivers are another hazard. And how do you practice your swimming? Lastly, how do you tie everything together?

I know, a stationary bike isn’t exactly being out in the open. But indoor tri also works on your mental endurance. Without external distractions, you can also listen to your body better, and create muscle memories to let you know how you are doing when then actual race comes. The gum becomes your laboratory, where you can make all your adjustments and build your confidence before attacking the great, intimidating outdoors. The only challenge is how far you want to push yourself in a more comfortable environment. If you’re a newcomer, what is most encouraging is being able to train alongside more experienced athletes and learn from them as you improve. Outdoors, that becomes more difficult. Inside, you can get real-time advice from a coach keeping an eye on you.

And that could make all the difference.