We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

What are the Different Triathlon Distances?

By C. Stoliecki
Updated Feb 24, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

There are several different triathlon distances, which make it possible for athletes of all skill levels to participate in the sport competitively. For instance, beginner athletes can compete in what are known as try-a-tri races or the slightly more advanced sprint races. For more skilled athletes, there are the longer Olympic triathlon races. Finally, seasoned athletes can compete in half-distance and full-distance triathlons.

Athletes looking to start competing in triathlons can compete in a try-a-tri race to determine if the sport is right for them. There are no set distances for these races, but in general, the swim tends to be about 1,000-1,300 feet (about 300-400 m) range, the run is typically about 2 miles (about 3 km), and the biking leg is generally no more than about 10 miles (about 15 km).

Sprint triathlon races have longer triathlon distances than try-a-tri races. These races are suitable for athletes who have increased their fitness level beyond what is required to compete in the try-a-tri races. There is some minor variation in distances, but sprint triathlons generally have swimming legs of about 1,600-3,200 feet (500-1,000 m), a bike ride of about 12.4 miles (20 km) and a 3.1-mile (5 km) run.

Longer triathlon distances are found in Olympic triathlon races. Olympic triathlon distances are standardized, with no variation between individual races. The swimming leg is 0.93 miles (1.5 km). Following the swim is a bike ride of 24.85 miles (40 km) and a run of 6.2 miles (10 km).

Triathlon distances are longer in the full-distance races. Full triathlons include a swim of 2.4 miles (3.8 km) swim, a bike ride of 112 miles (180.25 km) bike ride and a run that is the length of a marathon — 26.2 miles (42.2 km). These distances do not vary among individual races.

Another variation in triathlon distances can be found in the half-distance triathlon races. Half-distance triathlons are also set lengths that do not change between individual races. Each separate leg in this race is half the distance of the corresponding leg in the full triathlon races.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.