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Inclusive sport is finally becoming a standard practice across the UK. Gone, in many schools and clubs at least, are the days which saw people with physical disabilities completely excluded from sports and games.  

Thanks to developments in attitudes, technology and the momentum obtained by the 2012 Paralympic games, more and more people are able to enjoy the physical and mental benefits obtained through sports and physical activities. 

Sport England have launched a specific Inclusive Sports programme, designed to increase the number of disabled people regularly playing sports.  Coaching and teaching materials can now be found throughout the internet and within training literature – detailing how to carry out inclusive sports and PE sessions. 

Stevenson and Black’s (2007) Inclusion Spectrum, is designed to help coaches design activity sessions with provision for disabled, or additional needs individuals ‘built in’.

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ParaTriathlon Events in the UK

If you’re looking to reach peak fitness, you can’t go wrong with triathlon training. A triathlon requires intense fitness and prolonged training, but the individual areas of the competition can be broken down to keep your training regimen from getting stale. Not to mention, completing a triathlon would be one of the most rewarding experiences of your sporting life.

The other added benefit of the triathlon format is how adaptable it is for disabled athletes. Running, swimming and cycling are all sporting areas that are able to be adapted to include disabled athletes.

Swimming:

For a lot of competitors, the swimming section is the most challenging portion of the event to train for, whether they’re a para- athlete or not. While it’s difficult to master, the training itself is a lot easier on the joints and requires the least adaptation of equipment to take part. Swimming is great for all around fitness. It builds muscular endurance, core strength and is great for the lungs and heart.  Swimming alone can provide a rigorous workout and can provide the foundation of a highly effective fitness regime, regardless of baseline physical abilities and fitness.  The lack of impact is another benefit for many people, as it is less stressful on joints which may have been affected by injury or a physical condition.

Cycling:

An athlete can compete using a variety of aids for their cycling section. Athletes with missing limbs can use an upright bicycle with adaptations, or athletes with lower limb mobility issues can use a hand-cranked bicycle. Even athletes with visual impairment can accommodate their triathlon guide with a tandem bike.

Running bikes are also used in a variety of formats – both on the track and off it. There are a number of options to choose from, and these bikes can often be customised to suit the individual.  These are usually more suited to specialised running bike events and are aimed at simulating running as closely as possible for those people who have difficulty balancing.

Running:

The running segment – people can compete in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the athlete. With certain disabilities you’ll be able to make use of various prostheses, such as a dedicated wheelchair, running bike, or an aid to replace missing limbs. If the athlete’s disability is localised to the upper body, you’re welcome to compete in the running section as in a traditional triathlon.

If you’ve already invested in equipment or prosthesis for sports, it’s worth making sure it’s approved if you’re planning to take part in paratriathlon events which hold themselves to Olympic standards.

In 2016, the major UK paratriathlon events are:

• Tri and Para-Tri Festival in Berkshire on the 30^th of May
• Strathclyde ITU World Paratriathlon Event in Strathclyde on the 5^th of June
• Children’s Disability Triathlon in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 3^rd of July
• GO TRI Hartlepool #3 Triathlon in Hartlepool on the 3^rd of July
• TriLiverpool in Liverpool on the 14^th August

That said, if you’re not already in a late stage of training for a triathlon, it might be wise to look to next year’s events to give yourself adequate time to prepare your body and procure any equipment you might need to compete. You can keep yourself up to date on the britishtriathlon.org and triathlon.org websites to find upcoming paratriathlon events when they’re added to the schedule.