Abigail Cole created ARROW-13176:
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Summary: T Is for Technology in Triathlon Training
Key: ARROW-13176
URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARROW-13176
Project: Apache Arrow
Issue Type: Bug
Reporter: Abigail Cole
The original triathletes were amazing. Dave Scott and Mark Allen accomplished
amazing feats in triathlon long before technology took over the sport. They
didn't have metrics like we have today and they certainly didn't have all of
the information gathering abilities we have. Yet, they set records and competed
valiantly. In fact Mark Allen still holds the marathon record in Kona to this
day. Technology is a great friend to triathletes but is does have a downside.
TECHNOLOGY ITEMS
So technology has taken over every part of triathlon. One of the most widely
researched areas is the area of the triathlon watch. Each and every year there
are new watches available for purchase that have ever increasing measurements
for the triathlete. My personal favorite is the Garmin 910XT. This watch gives
me heart rate, power (with a power meter), pacing (with optional foot pod),
speed, cadence (with optional cadence sensor), mileage, yards in swimming, and
much more. Each of these measurements aid me in measuring my success or
failures in each and every training session and race.
Technology has been making huge strides in bicycles and wheel sets. The amount
of research going into these two items within the world of triathlon is
incredible. Each and every year there are new and exciting advances in
aerodynamic speed in bicycles and wheel sets. Much of the time these
technologies can take on two very different vantage points. This was most
evident at the 2016 World Championships in Kona. Diamond Bikes unveiled their
Andean bike which fills in all the space in between the front tire and the back
tire with a solid piece to make the wind pass by this area for aerodynamics.
Another bike debuted at Kona this year with the exact opposite idea. The Ventum
bike eliminated the down tube of the bike and made a vacant space in between
the front tire and the back tire with only the top tube remaining. These are
two very different ideas about aerodynamics. This is one of the amazing things
about the advancement of technology and one of the downsides as well.
Each and every piece of equipment in triathlon is undergoing constant
technology advancements. Shoes, wetsuits, socks, nutrition, hats, sunglasses,
helmets, racing kits, and anything else you can imagine. This world of
technology in triathlon is not near to completion and will continue to push the
limits.
THE UPSIDE TO TECHNOLOGY
Technology in triathlon is amazing. These new items are exciting and make each
and every year different. There are new advancements that help triathletes go
faster and longer. These new technologies help even the amateur triathlete to
go faster. Just the purchase of new wheels can mean the difference between
being on or off the podium. The advancement of shoes has aided many athletes to
avoid the injuries that plague so many such as plantar fasciitis. Technology
will continue to aid the sport in becoming better and better.
THE DOWNSIDE TO TECHNOLOGY
The downside to technology is that the amateur triathlete arrives at their
local race already incapable of winning because someone else has the money to
buy some of the latest technology. The biggest purchases such as wheel sets and
bicycles can be cost prohibitive to the average triathlete and yet
*[friv.com|https://complextime.com/friv-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it/]*
there are individuals who purchase these items at alarming rates. The amateur
triathlete can also feel overwhelmed at what to purchase and what not to
purchase. Some items of technology are not worth the extra cost because they do
not decrease racing time significantly enough for what they cost. Now that
these new technologies have been out awhile, knock-offs have begun to make
lower cost items. It will be interesting to watch the flood of these knock-offs
into the market and see how that affects the big boys of technology.
If you are an amateur triathlete shop smart and don't go buy the new gadgets
just because they are new. Make sure to invest in items that are going to truly
make you faster and not just a gimmick.
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