Triathlon - Question about relay teams in tri's

Maybe I'm missing something, but what is the point of doing a relay? And can someone tell me if they're up for the same standings as regular triathletes? If so that doesn't exactly seem fair. Or is it that the relay teams are only competing against other relay teams? Thanks for any info.

If there are relays, there will be a relay division.

The relay is a separate division and they compete with other relay teams. Trouble is there is a mass start so you can't tell who is on the relay or what. You get excellent swimmers and runners and cyclist out there and they just go all out.

I don't understand why anyone would sign up on a tri-team. To me, the WHOLE point of running a triathlon is to do all three events, back-to-back-to-back. I am not an excellent triathlete, but I do like to look at the times at the end and see that I beat the tri-"teams" time wise......anyone else do this?

yes, usually the relays are comprised of slow guys/girls who cannot learn one of the other two events. although i know of one relay which is really a support relay to a blind guy that could pretty much be a pro. He needed to get elite athletes in all three events otherwise no one could keep up with him.

I have only ever come across one triathlon that I would want to relay with
http://au.srichinmoyraces.org/events/triple_triathlon
Hell, if they gave me 24-30 hours, I would do a full ironman, but this triple is one that just might kill me.
(maybe give me a few years to train, and I might consider the triple, but someone will have to teach me how to ride in the dirt)

I don't understand why anyone would sign up on a tri-team. To me, the WHOLE point of running a triathlon is to do all three events, back-to-back-to-back. I am not an excellent triathlete, but I do like to look at the times at the end and see that I beat the tri-"teams" time wise......anyone else do this?

Some bike riders are simply asked to be on a relay. Not because they want to, but because they're helping out a girl friend who basically is a runner/jogger.

Yeah athletes on relay teams are usually those that suck at one or both other disciplines. :lol:

I came from a cycling background. I can ride a 70.3 at 22-23 mph average. So when I first started I considered doing a relay with a great swimmer and a great runner.

Never did it. I got my running pace way down since then, and I even suck in the water a little less now. :innocent:

Yeah athletes on relay teams are usually those that suck at one or both other disciplines. :lol:

I came from a cycling background. I can ride a 70.3 at 22-23 mph average. So when I first started I considered doing a relay with a great swimmer and a great runner.

Never did it. I got my running pace way down since then, and I even suck in the water a little less now. :innocent:


i can relate to this. i grew up a cyclist, and was a respectable mid distance runner in high school track but i can only swim well enough to save my life.

anyway, long story short, a year or so after graduating high school i competed in a team triathlon (for fun) with two of my former track team mates. one was a very good swimmer, the other a very good long distance runner, and myself on the bike. all three of us were no where near the top of our game (due to college and work) but we did very well and came in second to a team that had been competing together for several years.

I don't understand why anyone would sign up on a tri-team. To me, the WHOLE point of running a triathlon is to do all three events, back-to-back-to-back. I am not an excellent triathlete, but I do like to look at the times at the end and see that I beat the tri-"teams" time wise......anyone else do this?

I really don't care about the standings. Triathlon, like most racing, is about beating yourself.

As for tri-teams, what about triathletes who are injured and unable to do all 3 disciplines? What about friends with different sport backgrounds, out to do something epic together? What about people who are out for any excuse to do an epic ride/swim/run?

Even if you decide to look down on relay teams, remember this - they're still one step above everyone who slept in or sat on their couches on race day.

I'm doing a relay on May 1. I'm planning on doing a couple other tri's later in the year (doing all 3 events) but we just started lacrosse season so that's taking all my spare time. Between that and work I have a hard time training more than an hour or two a week. The season ends in mid-May. I'm a cyclist mainly (mediocre swimmer and horrible runner), so I'm doing the bike leg of the tri with some other friends who are in a similar situaion as me. Once the season is over I'll have more time to devote to the other disciplines and get ready for my next tri in July.

I don't have any expectations of winning any of them though. I'm out there for the fun and experience.

I have done relays for a while now. This has enabled me to stay in the sport of triathlon, something I dearly love. I have a knee injury from running. Relays enable me to continue in the sport. Frankly, I wish this were not the case. Sometimes I have done speed walking mixed in with some running so that I could do the whole race--something I really miss.

I really don't care about the standings. Triathlon, like most racing, is about beating yourself.

As for tri-teams, what about triathletes who are injured and unable to do all 3 disciplines? What about friends with different sport backgrounds, out to do something epic together? What about people who are out for any excuse to do an epic ride/swim/run?

Even if you decide to look down on relay teams, remember this - they're still one step above everyone who slept in or sat on their couches on race day.

I apologize if you took that I was looking down on the teams, I don't and you are right they have probably accomplished more in the hour and a half than most people do all day. My point was that I (being an okay shape guy) can do all three events better than a "team" of specialist and I take pride in that fact. I feel that I am a jack of all trades, master of none!