HAZARD: Venous thromboembolic disease. Long periods of sitting causes blood to pool in the legs. Occasionally, this results in clots forming. Should these clots grow and propagate to larger veins in the thigh, they can break off and travel to the lungs, causing dire illness and even death. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are rare but are known to occur more often in people whose veins have damage in their walls as a result of prolonged, high-intensity exertion.
AVOID IT: Ensure frequent periods of activity. Get up once an hour and move around. Another helpful measure is to wear compression clothing on the legs. While the use of these clothes has never been proven to enhance recovery, they do prevent venous pooling and likely may have an effect on the formation of DVT.
Despite the risks, destination racing is an enjoyable part of the triathlon experience. As always, a little thought and preparation can go a long way toward enhancing the fun and minimizing the risks.