Are there any swim/run biathlons in Australia ? It does not appear to exist in Perth. I heard that in Singapore they have a 1500m swim and 10K run combination.

At the moment, I don't have the time to train for triathlons and also find it costly to get a bike and maintain it but would like to venture into the swimming side. I know there are plenty of open water swims but I just like this combo.

Out of curiosity, are there any other CRs out there who would participate in a swim/run biathlon if it exists ?

Hi Mjail,

I do know that there is an "Aquathon" held in Wollongong on Australia Day. They have a 400m/3km & 900m/7km options.

It may not help as you're in Perth but this is the only one that I know of.

BC

Yes, there are aquathlons (swim / runs) in Australia.

An example of a club that conducts them is Cronulla Triathlon Club and an example of an importnat one that they hold. http://www.cronullatriclub.com.au/default.asp?PageID=2904

Other clubs in Sydney I believe also conduct them.

Would I compete in them? If held at a beach location, probaly not. I like swimming well away from grey nurses, white pointers and not to mention the bull ones.


So if held in enclosed waters, yes.

[quote name='mjail' date='Jan 18 2009, 04:44 PM' post='422256'.

Out of curiosity, are there any other CRs out there who would participate in a swim/run biathlon if it exists ?
[/quote]

I would but only if the swimming was in a swimming pool! Was nice to see you and Michael this morning.

there's one at Bondi Beach every week organised by BRATS and the SLSC. Heaps of fun!

Every Friday night at Shelley beach (Manly) as well.

Lots of Clubs stage them - especially the ones that have a strained relationship with their local Council &/or Police and thereby can't get permits to hold cycle legs. Ballina is one example up the coast here.

We also stage at least 1 aquathlon each tri season for the fun of it, and I'd have more of them too if I had my way. They're a great race format

Apparently, there is one in Perth that Suzy mentioned in another thread but when I googled it out then I could not find any info.

But just went into the North Coast Tri Club website today, and there is an Aquathlon on 30 Jan but an unusual 500m swim / 2.4K run / 500m swim / 2.4K run.
Don't particularly like the idea of having dried while running and then having to go in for another swim and then another run again.

Have yet to start training so will give that a miss but intend to start swimming training soon as I spoke to an organiser of triathlons and although they have not organised any swim/run biathlons, they are interested in toying with that idea. And it is a possibility that they may incorporate that in a coming triathlon.

Those who have done swim/run biathlons, do you generally just run in your bathers or slip a pair of shorts and t-shirt/singlet when you start running ?
Also, would you dry your feet before putting your socks & shoes on ?

Not that I've ever competed in a aquathon, but we do them in our sat morning training squad. Can be anything from continual 25mtr/200mtrs, up to 375mtr/1.25k. Our shoes are at the end of the pool and it's drag your butt out as fast as and straight into the shoes. Most of us wear tri suits or at least tri shorts, although once there was a guy doing them in bathers. But myself, even at 6am on a saturday morning I wouldn't be running around the streets just in bathers.

I usually wear tri shorts and tri singlet - gotta save the general public from having to see the Homer belly wobble!

trisuits are the best to wear for enduro-type aquathlons. You don't want any drag in the swim, and trisuits (or ideally, speedsuits) are best for this. Anything else produces a bit of drag. Depends on how comfortable you are with bathers I guess, but if your only options are those, then at least try and wear a pair of tri-knicks or short tights over the top.

You'll probably welcome the second swim if you've put in a half-decent effort in the run. And if you're worried about shoes, then wear an older pair - and ideally have zip laces (elastic laces) on them too.

mjail, I was coming here to post about the Sorrento Aquathlon as, coincidentally, someone mentioned it at training tonight. You could always do the short course option of 300m swim/2.4k run.

Thanks everyone for all the info and tips. Was not bargaining to splurge more on exercise gear.
Hopefully when the day comes if I ever take part in such an event, I would not stick out like a sore thumb in my non-trendy gear.

Yep, Orlando, I suppose I could take part in the shorter event but I also just realised that it is on a Friday evening which I can't fit into my schedule. BTW, would you participate in future biathlons in Perth ?

mjail, I'd need to get in some serious swimming training, but yes, I'd like to give it a try.

There shouldn't be a need to dry the feet and I wouldn't worry about socks either, as the runs are always fairly short these events. I'd just wear the budgies and throw on a singlet as I'm running out of transition.

There's the Boy Charlton biathlon every Thursday night in Sydney's CBD. It involves a 4km run around the Botanic Gardens/Mrs Macquaries Chair followed by a 300m swim in the Andrew Boy Charlton pool. I should post a link shouldn't I, that could be helpful. I'm keen to give one a go, one day...

I found a link http://www.andersonevents.com.au/BiathlonRaces.php

Certainly sounds like a good idea and worth keeping in mind for the future! See what you have started mjail!

Hiya

do you have any links for ballina events even if they are small - not a huge trip from QLD and a good excuse for an overnighter if there are small races you can join - same fo toowoomba ppl and noosa etc

the usm and bribie stuff takes up a little but looking for smaller events as I am just gttin into - this si not stopping me entering everything I can and the squads seem to focus on one thing without mini races etc

but I am liking this excuse for a wekend away idea!!!!

I'm not a member of their Club. Not sure whether their current calendar is still running or not, but you'll find it here ---> Ballina

Thanks for the link

Great to hear that there is a possibility that you (and Orlando & Keely) might be interested ! That was my intention. Need to get as many CRs as possible, particularly those from Perth so I won't have to be all alone when I do my first.

BTW, I am starting swimming this Friday at the local pool when my daughter goes for her training. Intend to do so twice a week.

I'd probably give it a go mjail if the course was interesting. Maybe you could check out some of the surf clubs and see if they have anything.

For those in Perth, the latest news that I have is that at the Point Walter Olympic Distance Triathlon on 29 March, I have been give the go ahead to participate in the swim and run legs only ineffectively making it a swim/run biathlon.

I am unsure if this biathlon is an informal race and is just included to gauge interest in this event but who else is interested ? It will be a 1500m swim and 10K run. When I get further details, I will post on this site.

Spoke to the organiser today and apparently, there used to be swim/run biathlons in Perth but response was very poor. So, if anyone out there would like to give it a go on 29/3 , just fill in the Pt Walter entry form (http://www.allbarnone.com/entryforms.html) and just state under Event that it is the Olympic Swim & Run only.

I assume Suzy that you are doing the Olympic Triathlon. What abt you Lauren, Pelagie, Orlando, Keely & Kilee ? It would be really nice to have company as most likely I am going to be the sole competitor.

Hi mjail. It's the week after the Darlington half and I've done no swimming training at all, so I'm afraid I'll have to give this one a miss.

I'm interested in the logistics of it, though. Assuming that the order is that of a normal triathlon(swim, bike, run), do you have a rest while everyone else is cycling, or do you get out of the water and head straight off on the run?

Orlando, I was wondering if I would have recovered after Darlington's half but I really want to do this biathlon as this may be my one and only chance.

Once I finish my swim I will go straight for the run while everyone cycles. I am sure spectators will be yelling out to me that it is the cycle leg ! I am indeed going to be the ODD one out and on top of that I am not getting any fancy gear so it is my swimsuit and then CR singlet and running shorts.

Good on you Mjail for giving this a go. So if you are the only competitior, does that mean you will win 1st prize?
I'm not sure if I'll be doing this one - its only 2 weeks after the Perth Challenge Olympic, and I have the Hillarys sprint the week after, plus I need to get in more long rides and runs for Busso.

Suzy, I am in a phantom category I guess. Hoping that they have an official time for me, though.

In just doing running alone, we have to miss races at times as they don't fit into our training schedule for the week so I don't know how you triathletes do it. Being a triathlete also is a big financial outlay with all the gear and maintenance of the bike. Races also do not come cheap and the biathlon Olympic event will cost me $80.

Any runners wanting to give it a go ? I am desperate for company. Entries close on 21 March.

Theres a good one on Australia Day in Wollongong http://www.aquathon.com.au/

Hi all,
There have been some test events at Gosford over the last few months. It's a 2km run, 520m swim and 2km run. Hopefully next season this will become a more organised event.