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January 21, 2014

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Triathlon club draws hundreds of fitness fans

By Wu Huixin | January 21, 2014, Tuesday | Print Edition

The Olympic triathlon consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40km on a bicycle and a 10km run, and all participants must complete all the three sequential races without a break.

It may seem impossible for ordinary people to finish the whole competition without stopping within limited time, not to mention having time to train to reach the high level of fitness required.

Yet there are hundreds of Hangzhou triathlon amateurs engaging in this sport with passion, energy and effort. They belong to an officially authorized non-profit sports club, Hangzhou Triathlon.

During the club’s start-up period half a year ago, it only had five members; now, nearly 300 amateurs regularly participate.

Zhu Jiajia, 30, is one of the five founders of Hangzhou Triathlon. Oddly enough, he didn’t enjoy exercise until he learned about the triathlon a year ago.

“Compared with other sports, triathlon is more challenging and interesting with more variety,” Zhu said. “Also, it’s free to join our club. The only conditions to join are that people should love sports and live in Hangzhou.”

The appeal of the triathlon plus the nonprofit nature of the club attracts people from many walks of life, including doctors, civil servants, white-collar workers and business executives. They usually get together to take part in international marathon competitions in Beijing, Xiamen and Hangzhou.

“Last year we put together a team comprised of 101 members to participate in the Hangzhou International Marathon. However, our aim is not to compete for prizes in competitions, but to gather together amateur triathletes and provide them with a platform for communication and training,” said Zhu.

Exercise session are organized every week, though the training varies somewhat according to the season.

Given that most club members have to work in the daytime, their collective runs are scheduled at night. The route starts at Manjuelong Road to Hupao Road, Nanshan Road, Su Causeway, Yanggong Causeway, and then back to Manjuelong Road, a total of 12km.

“There are around 40 people who participate in each night run. In summer and spring, the route will be extended to 20 to 30 kilometers,” Zhu said. He gets up at 5am and run 10km every morning.

Women also participate.  Twenty-six-year-old Li Xue made a stir this month after her photo was published.

Marathon beauty

The photo was snapped by a journalist when he glimpsed Li at the Xiamen International Marathon on January 2. Li’s attractive face and figure caused a sensation on the Internet. Netizens entitled her “the most beautiful marathon girl.”

“My best record was the 2012 Beijing International Marathon, which took four hours and 20-plus minutes,” Li said.

Zhu thinks Li is a good role model to attract more and more women to take part in endurance exercises.

“The sports outfit and equipment is a bit expensive. I once spent 6,000 yuan (US$991) buying two bicycle wheels from America. But I love the triathlon and could not help myself,” Li said.

Zhu said, however, that it’s not a requirement to spend a lot of money to train. “There is no necessity to buy such valuable equipment. The only thing needed is your passion. I think public bicycles can be rented for amateur training.”

However, they do agree that it is good to wear professional-grade equipment to test cardiopulmonary functions during long-distance runs. Such equipment can cost about 2,000 yuan, Zhu said.

“People have died in marathon games because they didn’t control the amount of exercise appropriately, so it’s better to be safe while running,” said Zhu.

Zhu estimates that it takes around 30,000 yuan in outfits, equipment and travel costs for each member to participate in marathon and triathlon competitions in other cities.

The club is harnessing the economic power of high-income members to erect a guesthouse — an inn with an eatery — near West Lake, making it a meeting place for Hangzhou Triathlon. Club members are offered shares in the project, though it is not a requirement.

“The guesthouse will offer free showers and bags storage for members. Outside of our training time, it will be a common guesthouse. We have budgeted 5 million yuan for it. The capital will come from our own investment and other sponsorship from brands,” Zhu said.

Both Zhu and Li think the triathlon brings great positive changes to a person’s life and body. “I always suffered with allergies, but now my body is stronger and I no longer need any anti-allergy tablets,” Zhu said.

“Triathlon enriches my life, and I have found many like-minded friends in the club,” Li added.

Contact the club: Follow its Weibo account: 杭州铁三

 

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