What is triathlon?
Triathlon is a multidiscipline sport incorporating consecutive, swimming, cycling and running elements. As soon as the swim starts, so does the clock. It keeps ticking as you transition first from swim to bike (T1) and later from bike to run (T2). The race finishes as you cross the line at the end of your run.
Why triathlon?
For the majority of the population, a triathlon is a challenge at any distance.
Even those who may come from a sporty background will find the "these are not my legs"
feeling at the start of the run hard to push through. Whose who have never
done one will often look at triathletes as "a bit mad" and ask "why would
you want to do that to yourself?"
As you talk to triathletes you'll find there are as many reasons for entering triathlons
as there are types of people doing it. Some are:
- For the challenge
- To get fitter
- As a bet
- Because I'm hooked
- To get faster
- For the buzz
The last three come about after you've done your first triathlon, and often you'll be doing it for all of those reasons! Numbers 1,2,4,5 and 6 are often a result of number 3 - repent at leisure…
It is without doubt the most inclusive sport I've ever come across. You'll find men and women from all backgrounds, ages, body shapes and abilities taking part. You will also see that it is the friendliest of sports too! Every time I race I'm amazed by the number of people willing to help you out and cheer you on.
Distances
Triathlons are held over an array of different distances, Olympic and above
are of a standard distance, while Super sprint and Sprint events can vary.
The sprint events are perfect for beginners to get a taste for the sport and
there are many events held around the country.
Super sprint
Swim: 400m or less
Bike : 20Km or less
Run : 5Km or less
Sprint
Swim: 400m to perhaps 750m
Bike : 20Km to perhaps 30Km
Run : 5Km to perhaps 8Km
Olympic / Standard
Swim: 1500m
Bike : 40Km
Run : 10Km
Half Ironman
Swim: 1900m
Bike : 90Km
Run : 20Km
Ironman
Swim: 3800m
Bike : 180Km
Run : 42Km - full marathon
Beyond…
Is there any more once you've done an Ironman? The Norseman, Deca-Ironman
and Arch to Arc are all events that are over and above normality! Funny how your perspective
shifts, before I got into triathlon - I thought a sprint sounded bonkers!
History
So where does Triathlon come from? Where did it start and who long has it been going?
In France during the 1920's and 1930's there was a race called "Les trois sports",
held near Joinville le Pont, in Meulan and Poissy. French newspapers of the time
carried reports on the race until the 1930's when it fell into obscurity.
The modern day sport of triathlon was born in 1970's USA, in Mission Bay near
San Diego, California. A group of friends began training together, containing
runners, swimmers and cyclists. Cross training gave way to informal racing and in 1974
on the 25th September the first Mission Bay Triathlon was held.
Governing bodies
British Triathlon Federation (BTF) - Formaly BTA
Deal with the BTF for any UK based information you may need on clubs and races near
to you as well as latest news from the UK's Elite and Age Group racers.
International Triathlon Union (ITU)
The ITU govern the sport on a global scale, they are primarily (but not exclusively)
concerned with promoting racing at Olympic distance.
Sign me up!
You still want in after reading all that?
Well OK then, you (probably) won't regret it!
The BTF have a database of upcoming events
here
, where you can filter by the area you live in, the time of year you
are looking to race etc.
Once you've found a race you like the sound of, there's usually a link
form the BTF site to the site of the club staging the race. If not
(and sometimes this is the case), just note down the event name and Google it.
Goodluck!
