Online Triathlon Training
What you Need to Complete a Triathlon
People participate in a triathlon for various reasons: some love the challenge while others want to prove to themselves that they can. Some people want to lose weight while others want to raise money for a cause. Regardless of the reason why you swim-bike-run, one thing is true for everyone: you need to train for it.
Completing a triathlon takes determination and training. “Wanting” to do a triathlon but not training for it is foolhardy. You could injure yourself or those around you. Similarly, doing the training in itself won’t help you if you don’t have the desire to propel you forward each step of the way. A triathlon is challenging and even the best athletes need to be motivated to finish strong.
Mark Rago, Personal Trainer & Health Coach
Mark Rago is an online triathlon training coach. He is a USA Level 1 Triathlon certified coach with additional certifications with ACE and NASM in personal training. He coaches beginner and experienced triathloners to achieve their athletic goals. Mark is a trainer at San Diego Fitness gym and offers online and in-person personal training for those who want structure, routine, and accountabiity. Most important, Mark also wants you to have fun.
How Long is a Triathlon?
How long is each leg of a triathlon depends on which triathlon you are participating in. For most beginners, a good place to start is the Sprint Triathlon. As you become more experienced and more fit, you can progress to the longer and more challenging races. Because there is such a huge range of how far you need to swim-bike-run, the strategies and training will be different. Each training program is catered to you specifically.
| Race Type | Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint Triathlon | 0.5 miles (750m) | 12.4 miles (20km) | 3.1 miles (5km) |
| Olympic Triathlon | 0.93 miles (1.5km) | 24.8 miles (40km) | 6.2 miles (10km) |
| ITU Long Course Triathlon | 1.86 miles (3km) | 49.6 miles (80km) | 12.4 miles (20km) |
| Half Ironman / 70.3 Triathlon | 1.2 miles (1.9km) | 56 miles (90km) | 13.1 miles (21.09km) |
| Full Ironman Triathlon | 2.4 miles (3.8km) | 112 miles (180km) | 26.2 miles (42.195km) |