Triathlon Aid Stations Should Supplement, Not Supply

A friend of mine finished yesterday's Ochsner Ironman 70.3 in New Orleans (race coverage). She said the afternoon temperature rose into the 80s.

An Ironman 70.3, or half-Ironman, takes its name from the total distance raced: 1.2 mile swim + 56-mile bike + 13.1 mile run = 70.3 miles.

Is it possible that anyone would be crazy enough not to bring any water?

"There were a number of athletes who came into transition (between the swim and the bike) with no water bottles on their bikes, " race director Bill Burke said. "How athletes come into 70-mile races without any of their own fluids is absolutely amazing."

A Times-Picayune blog post, "Thirsty-somethings: High temperatures leave some unprepared competitors desperate for a drink", discusses the race's dire water situation.

"Those stations are supposed to be supplemental fluids. We went through about 6,500-7,000 bottles of water on the bike alone, " Burke said. "We went through about 7,500 cups of water on the run and 5,000 pounds of ice at the finish and 2,000 pounds of ice in transition. I've never seen it this bad, where hundreds of athletes brought nothing to the race."

Sound familiar? 2007 Chicago Marathon?
Aid stations in any sport are intended to aid, not fully supply, the athlete. If you underestimate your caloric or hydration needs, the aid stations are there to bail you out so you can finish, if not race. No matter what distance you're racing, hydration and nutrition are your responsibility. In fact, so are your core temperature, your ability to recover from a tire puncture or broken chain, etc. Unless your race registration says otherwise, you shouldn't expect that race day will be like a day sightseeing at Disney World or a day of skiing at Beaver Creek (where, I hear, attendants give you warm cookies and tissues).

There are many ways to carry your own water during a triathlon.

On the swim: uh, don't drink the water. Especially Lake Pontchartrain. Grody.

On the bike:

• Use your water bottle carriers. Most people accustomed to rides over an hour will have to water bottle cages mounted inside their frame.
• Add a seat-mounted bottle carrier, like this one at TriSports.com:

• Put a water bottle between your aero bars, like this one from Profile Design:

• Fill a CamelBak with cold water to help keep you cool or wear a CamelBak RaceBak:

On the run:

• Wear a Fuel Belt:

• Carry a bottle in hand, like this Hammer Flask:

Few sane people would embark on a half-Ironman without first having gained valuable experience and fitness at the sprint and Olympic distances. Since this was New Orleans's first Ironman-branded triathlon, I'm guessing that the "hundreds of athletes" who raced without water were less experienced triathletes. Were they trying to save a little weight on the bike leg?