What triathlon should I start with?

As a triathlon beginner, we recommend starting with a sprint triathlon (generally a 500-meter swim, a 20K bike, and a 5K run), but if you’re interested in longer distances you can learn more about what those entail here.

How long is a triathlon for beginners?

What distance should my first triathlon be? Most beginner athletes start with a Sprint distance race for their first triathlon. While the distance of Sprint triathlons can vary from race to race, the standard length of each leg is a 0.5 miles (750m) swim, 12.4 miles (20km) bike, and 3.1 miles (5km) run.

How do you get into triathlon?

Set a Triathlon Training Plan

1. When to begin: In general, if you are aiming to complete your first sprint triathlon, plan for at least 12 weeks of training prior to your event.
2. Establish your swim/bike/run schedule: Complete a minimum of two sessions of each activity (swim, bike and run) during the week.

Is a sprint triathlon for beginners?

Both Sprint Triathlon and Ironman are specific distances of triathlon. Because of their shorter distances, sprint triathlons have become well-known and are ideal for beginner or novice athletes.

Can you do a sprint triathlon without training?

Racing a triathlon without training properly is a magnificent way to ensure you hate the day and the sport. Doing the bare minimum is better than not training at all, but this generally means you will just spend the day hanging on for dear life.

What is the easiest triathlon?

Most short triathlons fall under the sprint category: half-mile swim, 12-ish mile bike and 5K run. These 10 triathlons span the country and are known for having flat courses and being well-organized — all hallmarks of making for a great beginner race.

How fast do triathletes swim?

The average swim time across Ironman races is 1h19 min (pace of 2:04 min/100m).

Can I walk in a triathlon?

You can walk during the running portion of a triathlon, but please don’t “crawl.” In typical legalese style, the ITU defines crawling as “the action by an athlete of bringing three or more limbs in contact with the ground, either together or in any sequence, to enable forward propulsion” [source: ITU].

Do triathletes Pee on the bike?

On to the matter at hand – yes, some triathletes do, in fact, pee on their bikes. If it’s not obvious, triathletes pee while riding their bike so they don’t have to stop – saving precious time for competitive races.

Should you exercise the day before a triathlon?

On the final day of preparation, however, you should take the time to do a light workout, on the racecourse itself if possible. Limit yourself to a gentle 15-20 minute cycle and a five-minute run – enough to make you break a sweat but certainly not a tough workout.

What should you eat before a triathlon?

For later races, triathletes will generally aim for a meal 3-4 hours before the race and then a smaller ‘top-up’ snack 1-2 hours before race start. Meal choices may include breakfast cereals, porridge, toast or pancakes if breakfast, or wraps, sandwiches, pasta or bread rolls if a late evening race.

Is a sprint triathlon hard?

The Run. Running may be what comes most naturally, but as the last leg in a triathlon, it often feels like the hardest part. Your body is already tired at this point, but if you trained correctly you’ll be able to cross the finish line successfully.

What distance should my first triathlon be?

Begin with a shorter sprint-distance event (400 to 500 yards of swimming, 11 to 15 miles of cycling and around 3.1 miles of running) or an Olympic-distance event (0.9 miles of swimming, 24.8 miles of cycling and 6.2 miles of running). 2. Stay close to home.

Can you train for a triathlon in 4 weeks?

Sprint Training Plan: The Program This sprint training plan begins six weeks prior to your first sprint triathlon. Before starting, you should be generally aerobically fit and able to swim, bike and run. Weeks 4 and 5 continue to focus on race-pace fitness, and will give you practice running off the bike.