long distance races are getting more popular now.
20 years ago, there are less than 10 Singaporeans who has raced in an iron man distance triathlon, today we have hundred ironmen, marathoners, ultra distance runners, adventure racers and quite a few of them have very little training nor experience before they embark on this journey 
it is simply amazing to see this level of popularity but also participation!
added to this is concern for the competence level of the athletes for this sort of races. the increased in numbers of fatality at these distance events (recorded fatalities in marathons, Olympic distance triathlons, half marathons….). the cause of these incidents were drowning (less than ideal weather conditions and overly enthusiastic competitors etc).
it would be over reacting to tell people to stop doing these long distance races but we can advise people to prepare well for them.
acquire a level of competence to finish to course within the time limit set, e.g. able to swim not just 1900m in the pool but able to swim that distance in the open sea. swimming is the most dangerous of the 3 disciplines, the odds of unconsciousness to survival is 1:1. in another words, 100% you will be dead if you are found unconscious in the water.
the odds of being unconscious on land is 100:1
so even if you can’t finish the race, the chances that you only DNF is higher once you get out of water.
so if there is any discipline you want to invest in, it would be the swim!
competence and confidence!
to buffer against heat stroke and over exertion; train the distance, train in the heat and train your body to take in the food and fluids under those condition.
you train to race well and to race safe.
when are you going to start training?
