I am a PC athlete and have done a few Duathlons, and the PC community is right there with everyone else, the numbers are not up. I trained long and hard to participate in the World Long Course Duathlon Championships in Richmond, VA, last October ’07. However, as I was the only PC athlete entered; the National USAT office called it a hollow victory for me. Well, I put a lot of time and dedicated training into preparing myself for that event, and being in the T-1 (Handcycle) PC Category, there was only me entered, but I did not let that deter me. I met all of the time restrictions and in the hills of Richmond, the Long Course World Duathlon Championship was no stole in the park. I earned that Title and was every bit as excited and proud of the win, as I was the US National Triathlon Championship that I had won earlier that July in NYC. And there were only four males entered in the event. The only problem that I see is that many of the Duathlon courses are not on pavement for some of the run portion. That causes a problem for the Handcycle participants because our tires will not go over gravel or dirt roads, and is very hard to push over grass, especially on an uphill incline. I am trying to get in touch with the Race Directors in Richmond for the National On-Road Duathlon Championships next April, to see if there is any way the they could make some adjustments to the course to make it PC friendly, or just make adjustments to the run portion of the course for the PC athletes. We don't come to these events to be a problem, just to have the same chance to compete as our able bodied counterparts. I hope to see more of you at the Duathlon events next year. Thanks, Mackey Tyndall, Capt, USAF/Ret. Disabled American Veteran.
Endurance Planet Interview: Putting Duathlon in the Spotlight
Endurance Planet - USA Triathlon November 17, 2008
Participation in duathlon pales in comparison to the participation levels seen in triathlon. That's just something we have to face, right?
Well veteran endurance athlete Celeste Callahan has faced it ... and she's determined to change it. Endurance Planet talked to Callahan, who serves on the USA Triathlon Board, about a three-year plan that's been developed to give duathlon its due. And if you think duathlon is easier than a tri, Callahan wants to talk to you.
Listen to the interview on Endurance Planet
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