The phenomenon of the ‘one and done’ triathlete is one that has attracted some attention recently on this site. But is it really a thing – and what can be done to keep triathletes in the sport longer-term once they have had a taste of swim, bike, run? As part of a new short series, I’ll be asking these questions and more.

First up, I talked to sports marketeer and athlete Emily Bell, who achieved an ambition of competing in the Ironman World Championship. Emily Bell – who brings the additional perspective of being a new mum – is well positioned to speak about the allure of triathlon and the challenges of sticking with the sport. Here’s what we asked her and her thoughts:

Qualifying for Kona

220: What first attracted you to triathlon?

I watched my dad do Ironman in Bolton. You know the saying: ‘Watching a marathon restores your faith in humanity’? I felt like Ironman was like that on steroids and although I didn’t swim or bike at the time, I really wanted to do one for the challenge.

220: How did your triathlon journey go?

I signed up for Ironman Austria with my dad, got a stress fracture in my back, but went and did the swim and bike because I couldn’t get my money back. Ironman Vichy was eight weeks later and came third in the 18-24 age-group. Then it was the pursuit of Kona, which I did in 2019.

220: What was it about Ironman that appealed?

Even now, having done non-branded races I cannot compare it to that feeling of running down the red carpet. Ironman’s expensive, but unmatched for atmosphere. The training, even though it’s all-consuming, is addictive as well, and you get post-race blues like no other race because it has consumed you for months.

220: Did the Kona experience live up to everything you wanted?

It really did, and I didn’t expect it to. I kept saying I just wanted to get there, and I did everything, including the underpants run and swimming out to the coffee boat.

220: Have you noticed triathlon’s changing demographics?

I think there’s a surge of people in their early 20s getting into triathlon, whereas when I first got into it, I trained with my dad’s friends and it felt like a real middle-aged man sport. I joke that I did it before it was cool, but from what I see a lot of people do Hyrox alongside it.

220: So, why did you stop?

I needed a break, and not just for my body. I’d done five and was in my early 20s and financially and socially it’s such a big commitment. I was a year out of university and planned to have a year off, but one year turned into two. I was living in London and travelling at weekends and it’s hard to play catch up with training. I switched to half Ironmans, but it didn’t have the same draw. Kona was my why yet I never really felt like I needed to go back and do it again and the expense is astronomical.

Time for something new

220: What happened next?

It was time to dabble in other things. I did my first ultra, a couple of multi-stage ultras, and then gave Hyrox a go. I wanted to dedicate more time to getting strong in the gym, and set smaller, manageable goals like being able to do a heavy back squat or 10 pull-ups.

220: What was the appeal of new challenges?

Community. If you’re training for an Ironman, not many people want to go out for a six-hour bike ride, and if you’re doing different races your training doesn’t normally cross over with the same sessions, so it becomes isolating. Turf Games or Hyrox can be done in pairs. It’s fun to train with people, and I really enjoyed that in the last few years. 

220: Why do you think there might be a one-and-done culture in triathlon?

Everything has gotten more expensive. Not just in triathlon, but life itself. You can race locally, but it doesn’t always fit a time schedule. You have to get your bike there, hotel costs add up and it can consume you for so long you feel selfish, especially if you have family and children.

I also think the concept of being a hybrid athlete is attractive. I did Hyrox with my husband, and it was fun to play off each other’s strengths and have a strategy going in – every second and rep feels like it counts. On a weekend you can do a savage workout for an hour with friends and then go for lunch afterwards and have the whole day. I think that is appealing.

Retaining athletes in tri

220: Is there a solution to retain people in triathlon?

Reduce the financial barrier to entry for a lot of races. Even now, short course races can feel really expensive. And play on the community side of things. It can be quite a lonely sport. Can there be events we all go to – which aren’t the main event of the year – but can fit in more frequently. 

220: Do you see a difference between how men and women view triathlon?

While parenthood is more 50-50 now, the woman carries the child, and I wouldn’t choose to do an Ironman now as I’m breastfeeding, and a six-hour bike ride is out. It’s maybe harder to get back into and while it could be the same for men, women have the physical recovery to make as well. Men and women are also different in terms of physiology. There’s not tons of research on women’s health compared to men’s and it’s so easy for women to run into problems like RED-S [relative energy deficiency in sport], so potentially face more risk.

220: Finally, will you return to triathlon?

I’m not done with Ironman. I’d like to come back and see how fast I can do it, and it gives me a cool reason to go somewhere and explore. I’d also like to run a fast marathon at some point, and continue doing ultras. It’s just the appeal of staying fit so I can say yes to any cool opportunity that comes up.

Emily is from York and runs her own marketing agency, Breakaway 51, working on social content for brands or rights holders in sport.

Lead image: Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)