Everything About Triathlon Distances
Ever wonder how long it’ll take you to prepare for a triathlon? Did you know there are different triathlon distances?
Millions of people across the U.S. and the world participate in triathlons each year. While only a small percentage of them are professionals and have their sights set on competing in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii— many of the participants are called ‘age groupers’, people who are just looking to cross the finish line and measure their abilities.
If you are new to the sport, you probably have a lot of questions about the equipment, the various distances, training and how to get started. The good news is there are millions of triathletes willing to answer your questions. The bad news… in many cases, you will get a million different answers.
First things first… what are the triathlon distances???
The answer is… it depends. Distances can vary from one race to another. Distances are influenced by a number of factors, including location, season and conditions during the race. Races can take place in a pool in the city, the lake in the mountains, or the ocean by the beach. However, there are four standard distances that a large majority of races fall under:
Sprint Triathlon
The sprint triathlon is an excellent way to break into the sport. It is challenging, but it does not require a massive change to your lifestyle. A sprint triathlon is approximately 1/2 mile (750 meters) swim, 12.4 mile (20K) bike, and 3.1 mile (5K) run. Most people expect to finish sprint triathlons within 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Note: The swim distance can vary greatly depending on the race. In colder regions, most of the early season swim events are in pools because of the temperature of the water outside.
Olympic Triathlon
If you are up for an even bigger challenge, then it’s time to tackle the Olympic distance. Just a quick warning – the Olympic distance will require significantly more commitment. The participants are more committed and typically more serious. In many cases, these competitors are training for a half ironman or a full distance ironman so be prepared for some fast competitors. To complete this event, you must be ready to swim 0.93 miles (1.5K), bike 24.85 miles (40K), and run 6.2 miles (10K). Most people expect to finish Olympic triathlons within 3 to 4.5 hours.
Half Ironman Triathlon
This level of competition requires serious time commitment if you expect to finish. This distance will test you mentally and physically. For this race, nutrition becomes critical. Athletes must figure out their specific fueling and hydration plan as they swim 1.2 miles (1.9K), bike 56 miles (90K), and run 13.1 miles (21.1K), Most people expect to finish Olympic triathlons within 5 to 6.5 hours.
Full Ironman Triathlon
Many refer to this distance as simply “ironman”, which many consider the pinnacle of endurance racing. The ironman pushes most people to the edge. Athletes devote a large part of their time to training, as well as committing themselves to a balanced lifestyle to ensure their body can recover for the next training session. Athletes who train for this event train at least six days a week and in many cases train multiple disciplines on the same day. This triathlon distance consists of a 2.4 mile (3.9K) swim, 112 mile (180.2K) bike, and 26.2 mile (42.2K) run. Most people finish an ironman within 10 to 15 hours.
Note: Ironman is also a popular company that organizes races around the world.
| Swim | Bike | Run | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | .47 mi / 750 m | 12.4 mi / 20 k | 3.1 mi / 5k |
| Olympic | .93 mi / 1.5 k | 24.8 mi / 40 k | 6.2 mi / 10 k |
| Half Ironman | 1.2 mi / 1.9 k | 59 mi / 90 k | 13.1 mi / 21.09 k |
| Ironman | 2.4 mi / 3.8 k | 112k mi / 180 k | 26.2 mi / 42.2 k |
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