Triathlon
A multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running, performed in that specific order.
What is a Triathlon?
A Triathlon is an endurance contest involving three distinct disciplines:
- 🏊 Swim
- 🚴 Bike
- 🏃 Run
They are done sequentially with no breaks, other than the time it takes to change gear in the Transition Area.
Common Distances
| Type | Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | 750m | 20km | 5km |
| Olympic | 1.5km | 40km | 10km |
| Half Ironman (70.3) | 1.9km | 90km | 21.1km |
| Ironman | 3.8km | 180km | 42.2km |
Why Do It?
- Cross-Training: It forces you to train your whole body, reducing overuse injuries common in running-only athletes.
- Variety: Training never gets boring because you switch sports daily.
- The Challenge: Mastering three different skill sets is mentally engaging.
The "Fourth Discipline"
Transition (T1 & T2) is often called the fourth discipline.
- T1 (Swim to Bike): Wetsuit off, helmet on, grab bike.
- T2 (Bike to Run): Rack bike, helmet off, running shoes on.
A triathlete is a person who doesn't understand that one sport is hard enough.
Triathlon
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Related Terms
Cross Training (XT)
Alternative exercises like cycling, swimming, or strength training used to build fitness while giving running muscles a break.
Ironman
The most famous brand of long-distance triathlon, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run.
Transition
The designated area and time spent switching between disciplines in a triathlon (T1: Swim-Bike, T2: Bike-Run).
Race & Results
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