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How long is an Olympic distance triathlon?

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For those unfamiliar with the different triathlon distances, the word ‘Olympic’ might conjure up thoughts of professional athletes and rigorous training schedules, however, the Olympic triathlon is actually considered to be the ‘standard’ distance for a triathlon.

How long is an olympic triathlon

As is the case with all of the recognised triathlon distances, events are divided into age groups. This means that you will be competing alongside other triathletes who fall into the same band for age and sex as you, with the exception of triathletes who fall into the separate elite category.

If you’ve already started getting to grips with triathlons, an Olympic distance race is the ideal next challenge after completing a sprint, with all of the distances for the swimming, cycling and running legs of the race essentially doubled for the Olympic distance.

How far do you need to swim, cycle and run in an Olympic triathlon?

With the Olympic triathlon distance being double that of a sprint, a tougher training plan will be required to increase your fitness level and endurance so you can complete the swim, bike ride and run. Here are the distances you’ll need to cover:

  • Swimming – 1.5km (0.9 miles)
  • Cycling – 40km (24.8 miles)
  • Running – 10k (6.2 miles)

As we’ve mentioned, for those who have completed a sprint triathlon already, the Olympic triathlon is probably going to be your next challenge. It’s by no means an easy race and you may face competition from triathletes who are working their way up to an Ironman or half Ironman race, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t keep up with everyone on race day! You’re sure to feel a great sense of accomplishment once you’ve crossed the finish line regardless of your time.

Triathlons

A triathlon is one of the trickiest and most difficult types of event you can try, but the challenge is what makes it great. It comprises of a swimming section, followed by a large bicycle ride, and finally a long stretch of running.

For anyone who has ever done an event involving one sport, such as a 10K run, and found themselves bored by the end, a triathlon might be the exciting fitness challenge you’ve been looking for! Combining three sports – swimming, cycling and running, a triathlon provides a varied and challenging workout that test your fitness and endurance across multiple disciplines.

Triathlons

Find a Traithlon near you

 

Sprint | Super Sprint | Olympic | Half Ironman | Ironman

 

What is a triathlon made up of?

The distance of a triathlon can vary, but the race will always begin with a swim start. Depending on the length of the course this could be in a swimming pool or an open water swim such as a lake or sea. 

The swimming section of the triathlon is then followed by a cycling section – beginners don’t need to splash out on an expensive new bike, if you already own a mountain bike you can use that for your first few races! The cycling section is considered by many triathletes to be the most challenging part of the endurance event, with standard triathlon courses incorporating a 40km bike leg.

The final leg of the triathlon is a run. Again, the distance will vary depending on the length of the course, but a 10k run is considered standard for a triathlon. 

Between stages there is also a transition, which is often referred to as the fourth discipline. The transition area is where you change your kit between stages, for example switching from your cycling gear to your running shoes. The time it takes you to do this is counted as part of your total triathlon time, so serious triathletes will have got their transitions down to a fine art.

What are the benefits of taking part in a triathlon?

Triathlons are great for those who are looking to improve their fitness, lose weight but don’t like the idea of doing a regular marathon of running event. The varied stages keep training and competing challenging and interesting, providing a total body workout. Those prone to running injuries may also benefit from the swimming and cycling sections, as the movements are lower impact on joints.

Regardless of sprint length, triathlons are typically divided into age groups. This means that you will be competing alongside other triathletes who fall into the same band for age and sex as you, with the exception of triathletes who fall into the separate elite category.

Top Triathlon Events in 2020

We have picked out the best events taking place in 2019. We have lots more listings available, just click on the 'Triathlons' tab at the top of this page to find them.

Ironman UK Wales

This event is well established as having one of the most challenging bike and run courses on the IRONMAN calendar.  It also boasts the most spectacular swim location of any IRONMAN event, and the inspiration gained from one of the most vocal and enthusiastically-supported events with tens of thousands of spectators who turn out for race day on all three disciplines.

Find out more about the Ironman Wales event here

Ironman Wales - Triathlon Event