wave ‘rag ws sh oman on ne AB De Ar Swe Megane Tragedy Hits a Half Ironman Triathlon When Athlete Dies After ‘Swim The finish was et for triathletes a the Ironman Chattanaaga 70.3 on Sunday as they sumed the death ef afeliow com TTiothions are known for being particulaly gruelingand a true test of beth physical and mental toughness— {gornghard at swimming, biking, and cunning for hourson end ist something tha just anyone can do. On ‘Sunde, more tnan 3,000 athletes put themselves to the test atthe ronman Chattanooge 703—also krown asa “hat” rormen, covering 703 miles tetal haf the dstance ofthe fll ronman race, Participants completed a 1L2ile (1.8 km) swim, 256-mile 20 km) bike ride, anc a 13.1-mile(21-Lkm) run. Sut therewes somesag news among he chars for enman 70. nshersn Chatanooge, Tenn aracer who as reportedly sugging curing the summing segment was plledvom the wate by emergency workersand administere6 CPR onthe staring dock, according to the Times Fie Press. Unfortunately, the athlete cule. Dderesisctated. USA Tathlon (USAT) studied tathlon deaths between 2003 and 2011 and found that SL ofthe 45 total deaths ‘ove the seven-year period were curing the swim portion (they ruledout any determining trend lkerace distance, venue, or method of wim siart).A2010 study from the Journal of American Medical Associaton (JAMA also suucied 2,371 USATsa 14 participants, therewerelé sudden deaths and 13 were during Q+awame ‘gee Ht fat tonran Tito When Abe Des Mr Sw| Fess Maan The author af the JAMA study, Minneapolis Heartinsitute cardiologist Kevin Hats, Seentiic Amerieantha he thinks afew factors ave te blame for making swirming the deadliest leg o a iathlonrace:the initial .drenaine sige a the beginning ofthe rece, the row number of athletes entering the water at once, the fact that many athletes come from a backglound in unningor cther sports and maybeless proficentat swimming thefact that swimming ina tathlonisvery atlerenttrom doing aps the pool (due tothe vaiability of waves, people swimming in close proximity, et, the abil to rest property if needed (whichis easier inthe biking .nd running portions), and te difficulties n being notice ithe swimmers in trouble duete the numberof athletes none body of water While this all might seem super scary i's important remember thatthese éeathsarestillareinthe grand, scheme oflathlons (13 tof almost 360,000 people inthe earlier stud. Triathlons are becoming more and move popular, USAT membership ates were up to170k n 2014 huge increase fom about S3k just 10 years earler (Plus, swimming, in rarticular, isan aweseme workout. Here are abunchof benefits ofoppin in the The reasons fer tiathion-elated deaths can'tbe pinned downto ene specific reason, so being prepared and staying safe whileracingis key. t's up to rece coordinators ta deciee ifthese deaths signal a need far changes in the swim portion (ox: fowor athletes inthewaver at onee, mare lifeguard znd medics safety stating, ora swim lectbelorebeng able to participate. All you can do ie make sure you'e really ready for there ically and mentaly-follow these tips to flly prep yourself it's your fist time lauren mazzo Lauren Mazzo isa digital assistant editor for Shape and Finess, She's an Ithaca Collage slumna, 3 Rochester, NY,native and sn NVC transplant. More —- MORE FROM LAUREN = omni “+ NutriBullts Fancy New Blonder Takes the GuessworkOut of Your Morning ESSE