Triathlon Distances: Ironman, Olympic, Sprint, Super Sprint Super League

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Triathlon length

• The length of a triathlon may vary, but there are four basic lengths: The most common triathlon distance follows international Olympic guidelines: A swim of 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers), a bicycle route of 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) and a run of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

How long is a normal triathlon?

The most common triathlon distance follows international Olympic guidelines: A swim of 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers), a bicycle route of 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) and a run of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

Is a triathlon the same as an Ironman?

All Ironman races are triathlons, but not all triathlons are Ironman races. A Triathlon refers to a race that consists of three disciplines completed back to back; swimming, cycling and running. There are other triathlons that cover the same distances, but these are simply called ‘Iron-distance races’.

What are the 4 triathlon distances?

The 4 Common Triathlon Distances

• Sprint Triathlon—750 meter (0.465 mile) swim / 20 kilometer (12.5 mi) bike / 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
• Standard or Olympic Triathlon—1.5 kilometer (0.93 mile) swim / 40km (25 mi) bike / 10 km (6.2 mi) run.

What is a full triathlon?

This triathlon distance requires a 2.4 mile swim (3.9K), 112 mile bike (180.2K), and 26.2 mile run (42.2K). Depending on your fitness level, course conditions, and the weather on race day, you can expect to complete these three legs in about 10 to 17 hours.

What is a good triathlon time for a beginner?

For the beginner triathlete, it will take about 1 hour 50 minutes to complete their first sprint distance triathlon. If we break down the average sprint triathlon time, this should take the novice triathlete around 2 minutes per 100 m in the swim. 1 hour for the bike leg, and up to 30 minutes to complete the run.

What is a triathlon sprint?

Sprint. This is the most common starting point for triathletes. While it can vary course to course, generally a sprint triathlon includes a 750-meter (0.46-mile) swim, a 20K (12.4-mile) bike and a 5K (3.1-mile) run.

What is higher than a triathlon?

An ultra-triathlon is a long-distance triathlon. The term generally refers to all triathlon events with a distance that is a multiple of the Ironman Triathlon, which consists of 2.4 miles (3.86 km) of swimming, 112 miles (180.25 km) of cycling, and a full marathon (26.2 mi or 42.2 km) of running.

What does 70.3 mean in Ironman?

The “70.3” refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run. Each distance of the swim, bike, and run segments is half the distance of that segment in an Ironman Triathlon.

How fast do triathletes run?

Not only are transition times mere seconds, but the overall pace is often extremely fast, hovering just above a 5-minute mile run pace. High-caliber professionals will often finish Olympic triathlons in around 2 hours or less, with the men’s record currently at just over 1 hour, 46 minutes.

What order is a triathlon?

All triathlons follow the same three-component sequence: an open-water swim, followed by a cycling leg (a term commonly used among triathletes to describe each stage of the competition), and ending in a run.

Do I need a swim cap for a triathlon?

DO YOU HAVE TO WEAR A SWIM CAP IN A TRIATHLON? If a swim cap is provided by the race organizer, which is the case in most triathlons, it is mandatory to wear it. Altering it in any way may result in a penalty up to disqualification.

What is Olympic triathlon distance?

Triathlon races are held over four distances: Sprint, Olympic, Double Olympic and Triple Olympic. The Olympic triathlon comprises a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run.

Why is swimming first in a triathlon?

Swimming is the most hazardous of the three sports from a safety perspective. Most casualties in Triathlons are during this leg for quite obvious reasons: if you stop swimming, you drown. It’s, therefore, best to avoid a risk of drowning from exhaustion and it makes a lot of sense putting the swim leg first.

Is a triathlon harder than a marathon?

A marathon is a set distance but a triathlon varies. So let’s assume you mean a full Ironman triathlon- then the answer is easy: the triathlon is harder, due to the need to train 3 sports, with the run distance being the same as the stand alone marathon, but coming after a swim, and bike in the triathlon.