ABSTRACT
This study focuses upon the increasingly popular sport of triathlon and event participation by active sports tourists. Triathlon has gained attention within the academic literature from a sports psychology, physiology, nutrition, performance, and training regime perspective, whilst only a limited number of studies have examined triathlon as a leisure pursuit. Triathlon has been regarded as one of the fastest growing adult sports globally and an estimated six million people are said to take part in organised triathlons around the world (Hadzipetros 2009). Within Britain, triathlon’s popularity has grown 10 per cent a year since making its Olympic debut in Sydney and it is regarded as Britain’s fastest growing sport (Usborne 2007). The distance of triathlon events vary, but this study focuses upon long distance events, such as those branded Ironman.
