What Is A Triathlon?

A triathlon is a distance race consisting of 3 parts:

• Swimming
• Cycling
• Running

These three sections are linked back-to-back-to-back for one intense, competitve race.  There are four different kinds of triathlons that can be raced, though most people always think of the Ironman.
the following chart outlines the difference between each of the four races:

              Sprint        Olympic          1/2 Ironman        Full Ironman

Swim     .5 mile        .93 mile          1.2 miles               2.4 miles

Bike      13 miles      24.8 miles       56 miles               112 miles

Run       3.2 miles     6.2 miles         13.1 miles            26.2 miles

Many times the different types of races are run on the same day with staggered starting times.  This way racers of all levels and abilities can enjoy any given course on the same day as anyone else. 

One of the best things about this is that many newcomers to the sport can enjoy the performances of the more seasoned athletes and get tips, tricks, and hints about how to improve their talents from those who have been in the sport longer. 

In fact, many of the articles I've read of people writing on their first race experience tells of how each of the athletes verbally supported and encouraged the each other to not quit and to keep pushing themselves. The great thing about these types of races is, while there is a prize for winners of each race, most of the racers are only out there to race against themselves and to accomplish a task that they have set out to achieve. 

Many people also associate the Ironman with a race in Hawaii. While there is an Ironman competition in Hawaii, that is not the only one.  The Hawaiian location is only the Ironman championship.  You have to compete in another Ironman competition elsewhere in the world in order to qualify for Hawaii.  I would be lying if I said I didn't want to compete in the tropics like that, but that would be a ways off after I complete my first triathlon.

Till next time.