Trinity Triathlon

A triathlon is a multisport endurance race that combines three continuous disciplines in the following order:

1. Swim
2. Bike
3. Run

Athletes transition between each leg (called T1 and T2), and the clock runs continuously from the start of the swim to the end of the run. Triathlons come in various distances, from beginner-friendly to ultra-endurance:

• Sprint – Shortest common race (e.g., 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
• Olympic – Standard distance used in the Olympics (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
• Half Ironman (Ironman 70.3) – 1.2mi swim, 56mi bike, 13.1mi run
• Full Ironman – 2.4mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run

People love triathlons because they challenge the entire body, build endurance, and mix things up—you’re never doing just one thing for too long.

A sprint triathlon is a short-distance version of a traditional triathlon, designed to be more accessible to beginners but still challenging for seasoned athletes. It involves three disciplines done back-to-back:

Swim – typically 750 meters (about 0.47 miles)

Bike – around 20 kilometers (about 12.4 miles)

Run – roughly 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles)

These distances can vary slightly depending on the race organizer or course, but that’s the standard format.

Sprint triathlons are popular because they offer a great intro to the sport without requiring the intense training commitment of longer formats like Olympic, Half Ironman, or Ironman distances. Still, they definitely push you across all three disciplines!

An Olympic distance triathlon (also called a standard or international distance) is a step up from a sprint triathlon and is the official distance used in the Olympic Games. It includes:

Swim – 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles)

Bike – 40 kilometers (24.8 miles)

Run – 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)

These are completed consecutively, with transitions between each leg. Olympic triathlons are a great goal for athletes who have some experience with shorter races and want more of a challenge without diving into the deep end of Half or Full Ironman distances.

It’s long enough to require some solid endurance training, but still very manageable for people with busy schedules. A decent range of finishing times might be anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on experience and fitness level.

A Half Ironman, also known as an Ironman 70.3, is a long-distance triathlon that’s half the length of a full Ironman. It’s called "70.3" because the total distance covered across all three disciplines is 70.3 miles (or about 113 kilometers). Here's how it breaks down:

Swim – 1.2 miles (1.9 km)

Bike – 56 miles (90 km)

Run – 13.1 miles (21.1 km, a half marathon)

People often move up to a Half Ironman after doing shorter races like sprint or Olympic triathlons, but it’s also a major goal in itself. Training for it typically involves a few months of consistent work across all three sports.

A full Ironman is the ultimate endurance triathlon—known for being one of the toughest single-day sporting events in the world. It consists of:

Swim – 2.4 miles (3.86 km)

Bike – 112 miles (180.25 km)

Run – 26.2 miles (42.2 km, a full marathon)

All done back-to-back, without stopping.

Most Ironman races have a 17-hour time limit, starting early in the morning and ending at midnight. Finishing one is a massive achievement and takes months (or more) of serious training, planning, and dedication.

People usually progress from sprint → Olympic → Half Ironman → Full Ironman, but some ambitious folks jump straight to the full distance. Either way, it’s no joke.