Drexel Holding 3rd Annual Indoor Triathlon/Duathlon
By Frank Otto
For the third year, Drexel’s Office of University Wellness in conjunction with the Recreation Center will hold an indoor triathlon/duathlon.
Scheduled for March 28, multiple distances are offered for the events. Everything will be inside, with swimming taking place in the Daskalakis Athletic Center pool, biking on stationary bikes and running a treadmill.
“I had never completed a triathlon before and the fact that this was indoors made it a lot less intimidating,” said Qadim Ghani, a finance analyst in the dean’s office of the College of Medicine, who competed last year.
All fitness levels are encouraged to give the event a try. Registration is open and available here or at 7 a.m. the day of the event. The fee is $40 and includes a race day T-shirt. Proceeds from the fees will go toward The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“One of the most appealing things is that this event seemed to be geared toward the ‘everyman,’ as opposed to serious competitors,” Ghani said. “There were strong athletes there, however the event managed the disparity in skill by putting them in other heats.”
Ghani did the Dragon triathlon, which consists of swimming 750 yards, bicycling the equivalent of 12 miles and running the equivalent of three.
The Half Dragon is 300 yards swimming, six miles biking and one mile running.
Additionally, a variant of the event is offered called the duathlon, which features running, cycling, then more running. Half and full versions are available for the duathlon, as well.
Ghani said Recreation Center staff are posted everywhere during the triathlon to help log times, point athletes in the right direction and offer encouragement.
Those who aren’t sure whether they can run the distance can walk, according to the event announcement from the Office of University of Wellness. You can email HealthierU@drexel.edu if you’re interested in training help from the Recreation Center team.
Although Ghani said he isn’t exactly a gym rat, doing the triathlon “requires a training commitment and will be tough depending on your current level of fitness.”
“That said, it was one of the more rewarding, physical challenges that I had had in my life,” Ghani said.