Complete A Sprint Triathlon
Still to do
Swim, bike and run in one rush of a morning, the first triathlon that turns three sports into a single race.
The adventure
A sprint triathlon is the friendliest way into multisport, but it still feels like a big event. Race morning starts with racking your bike in transition and laying out your shoes and helmet in careful order, then walking to the water or pool with your heart already racing. The 750-metre swim is the part most beginners fear, especially in open water, where arms and feet are everywhere and the buoys seem very far apart.
Out of the water, everything speeds up. Wetsuit off, helmet on, 20 kilometres on the bike, then the strange sensation of running a 5K on legs that still think they are pedalling. Most first-timers finish in between one and two hours, and as you cross the line you understand why people call triathlon addictive. For a non-swimmer, it is the moment the impossible becomes a race result.
Why it’s epic
- The standard sprint distance is a 750 m swim, 20 km bike and 5 km run, half an Olympic-distance race.
- Many beginner-friendly sprints use a pool swim, so you don't need open-water experience to start.
- Most finishers take between one and two hours.
- Transitions count towards your time, so practise them like a fourth discipline.
What it is
A sprint triathlon is usually a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and 5-kilometre run.
How to do it
Enter a local event and train for all three disciplines.
Top tip
Practise open-water swimming before race day.
Need to know
- If you can't swim yet, adult lessons and a few months of pool sessions will get you to 750 m.
- You need a roadworthy bike and an approved helmet; any bike will do for a first race.
- Open-water races usually require a wetsuit when the water is cold.
Why it’s on my list
The first step on the Ironman journey. For somebody who cannot swim, this will be a major achievement!
Once i start on this journey I know I will be hooked, and have to move up steadily to the Olympic, Half Ironman, and hopefully one day the full IRONMAN!
Sprint Triathlons are one of the recognised standard distances of triathlon races. The Sprint Triathlon distances make it one of the most popular types of triathlon. They consist of a 750m swim, a 20km bike and a 5km run
Check out Find A Race to find your nearest Sprint Triathlon event.
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