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Although triathlons are a great sport for kids to become involved in, one has to stop and consider the health risks involved.  Triathlons can be grueling for adults, who can experience dehydration, injury, and heat exhaustion; so it’s important that the children are ready when they join a triathlon.  Parents should remember that their children need to train appropriately and adhere to age-appropriate distances for each stage in the triathlon.  Beware of overtraining, especially for those children that have never been involved in a triathlon or do not get regular exercise. 

I had no idea how popular triathlons have become with children.  I did a search on-line for information regarding the sport and I was impressed by the number of races and other triathlon events are offered for children.  I always thought that triathlons were more a sport for adults.  But if you consider how it combines three sports that children love—biking, swimming, and running---it’s no surprise that participation by youngsters is growing.  Now more than ever, it’s important to get our children involved in any form of exercise.  The percentage of children that are overweight in America is increasing, and the chances of getting diabetes increases in overweight children.  I think training for and participating in triathlons is a great way for kids to become healthy and active.  Winning isn’t everything.  Participation is just as significant as competition.

Aside from the various web sites for triathlons that have taken place or will take place in various cities and states, there are two informative sites on triathlons in general:  http://www.usatriathlon.org/ and http://www.ironkids.com/

Does your child play a lot of video games or watch a lot of TV?  If you are looking for alternatives to get your child more active, you might want to consider getting your child involved in triathlons.  Most kids love to ride their bikes, go for swims, and burn off energy by running around.  Why not combine all three and participate in a triathlon while they’re at it?

In the past few years, triathlons have become more and more popular with our youth.  Course length varies depending on your child’s age.  For example, at this year’s Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon, kids in the 11-12 age group swam 200 yards, biked 6 miles, and ran 1.25 miles.  But for the 6-year-olds and younger, the course included a 25-yard swim, one-mile bike ride, and a quarter mile run.  

So help your kids become healthier and stronger.  They can be active participants and enjoy the great outdoors instead of passive spectators sitting in front of a TV or monitor indoors.