Triathletes Battle High Tides And Scorching Heat At The 2nd HercUlean ITF Triathlon

Triathletes Battle High Tides And Scorching Heat At The 2nd HercUlean ITF Triathlon

The 2^nd edition of the HercUlean ITF Triathlon- Konark 2021 was one of the few sports races or events which was organised since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Triathlon is not an easy sport and requires at least training of 5 to 6 months for any elite or amateur to participate. “The participation of 160 triathletes on the 27^th of Feb 2021 has proved that India has a great scope for this sport and with states like Odisha supporting it we can soon invite the international triathletes too to race in the state,” said Abhishek Mishra, Founder & CEO, Tabono Sports, and an Indian endurance triathlete, Ultra-Runner & an author.

The race started at 6 am sharp with the sprint category flagged off under the supervision of ITF officials and the team from Herculean triathlon as well as people from the Department of Sports and Youth services. Govt. of Odisha. Swimmers were allowed to go in batches with a staggered start as per the Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.

Sprint and Olympic triathlon race category participants had a good time in the swim leg but the participants of Full Distance Triathlon & Tri.5 category had to face the high tide and that made the swim part the toughest leg in this edition’s race. Since each category of races had different cut-off trimmings the race was on from 6:00 am till 12:30 am of the next day. It has been a gruelling race this year due to the high tide situation for 2 hours in the morning and the hot afternoon. The event athletes were super motivated to finish the race.

Most of the Triathletes were amazed to see the scenic route of cycling on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive and have decided to join the race again in the 3rd edition in 2022. This edition of the Herculean Triathlon race had seen participation from 15 states across the country. In the Herculean full distance race category in Men’s Vardhan Shirish from Pune, Maharashtra came first finishing 3.5km swim, 180 km cycling, and 42k run in 13 hr 38 min.

In the Tri.5 race category Cdr Yashpal Yadav from (Indian Navy) won the race in 6 hr 30 min 23 sec in men’s and female category Tapasya Singh (Bangalore, Karnataka) in 7hrs 16min. Olympic Distance winners in Male was Rahul Shinde (Pune, Maharashtra clocking 2 hr and 11min and Female Aarthi S (Chennai, Tamil Nadu wins the race by finishing it in 2 hrs 51min.

Sprint Category Male, Dilip Kumar from Pune, Maharashtra in 1hr 6 min, and in Female Mansi Mohite (Pune, Maharashtra) scored 1st position in 1 hr 13 min. All the winners were awarded with cash prize and ITF ranking points will be allotted to them which will then be used to select triathletes to represent India in international games.