What do you have to do in a triathlon?

Everything You Need to Know Before You Start Triathlon Training

• Sprint: 750 meter (about half a mile) swim, 20 kilometer (12.5 mile) bike ride, 5 kilometer (about 3 miles) run.
• Olympic: 1.5 kilometer (almost a mile) swim / 40km (25 mi) bike / 10 km (6.2 mi) run.

Should you wear socks in a triathlon?

While you won’t need socks for swimming, you’ll likely want to keep your feet dry and comfortable through the cycling and running legs of your triathlon. In fact, even the professionals had to work their way up to wearing no socks for their races.

Can I use a road bike for a triathlon?

A road bike will get you to the finish line of the triathlon just fine. It may not be as fast, but it’s not necessarily slow either. In fact, you can still be pretty competitive on a road bike with some solid training and coaching.

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.

Can you rest during a triathlon swim?

Yes, you are allowed to rest during the swimming segment of a triathlon. Any participant is allowed to rest anytime during a triathlon, or any event for that matter. Resting is vital to a participants health and safety when needed so it is important to stop and rest if need be.

How difficult is a triathlon?

For most, the hardest part will be either the swim or the run. The swim is obviously the most challenging leg of the event if you don’t know how to swim (see below)​. The run poses problems especially if you carry more weight than you should, and have been sedentary for many years.

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.

How long do you have to run in a triathlon?

Sprint Triathlon On average, you will swim 1/2 mile (750 meters), bike for 12.4 miles (20K), and run for 3.1 miles (5K). Depending on your fitness level, course conditions, and the weather on race day, you can expect to complete these three legs in about 1.5 hours.

How fit do you need to be to do a triathlon?

You should be comfortable training up to 75% of standard-distance triathlon in each of the disciplines. As standard-distance is a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run, we’re talking a 1.125km swim, 30km bike and 7.5km run. If you can, you’ll certainly have the fitness to put it all together in an event.

Why do triathletes not wear socks?

Socks are difficult to put on wet feet and competitors can hear the seconds ticking away as they struggle. Leaving socks out altogether will make a faster transition. There are plenty of athletes who don’t wear socks when they race and don’t seem to get blisters.

Can you wear swim socks in a triathlon?

For open water swim triathlons, the use of a wetsuit is usually mandatory. While the wetsuit will help you to keep warm in the water, you may also want to consider a neoprene skullcap, swimming gloves and a pair of swimming socks in very cold conditions.

Can you wear buoyancy shorts in a triathlon?

Note: Neoprene flotation shorts are not legal in USA Triathlon Sanctioned Events when water temperature is above 78 degrees due to violation of Article 4.9 Illegal Equipment. Below 78 degrees, they are legal if no other wetsuit is worn.