Standard Race Distances
| Name | Swim | Bicycle | Run | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids of Steel | 100–750 m |
5–15 km |
1–5 km |
Distances vary with age of athlete. See: Ironkids |
| Novice (Australia) | 300 m | 8 km | 2 km | Distances vary, but this is a standard Novice distance course in Australia (often called enticer triathlons). |
| 3–9–3 (New Zealand) | 300 m | 9 km | 3 km | Distances vary, but this is a standard Novice distance course in New Zealand. |
| Super Sprint | 400 m (0.25 mi) |
10 km (6.2 mi) |
2.5 km (1.5 mi) |
Distances vary, but this is a standard Super Sprint course. |
| Novice (Europe) | 400 m (0.25 mi) |
20 km (12.4 mi) |
5 km (3.1 mi) |
Distances vary somewhat, but this is a standard novice/fitness distance course in Europe. |
| Sprint | 750 m (0.47 mi) |
20 km (12.4 mi) |
5 km (3.1 mi) |
For pool-based races a 400 or 500 m swim is common. |
| Olympic | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
40 km (24.8 mi) |
10 km (6.2 mi) |
Also known as "international distance", "standard course", or "short course" |
| ITU-Long Distance (O2) | 3.0 km (1.86 mi) |
80 km (49.6 mi) |
20 km (12.4 mi) |
Double Olympic Distance distance of the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships 2007 and 2009. |
| Half | 1.93 km (1.2 mi) |
90 km (56 mi) |
21.09 km (13.1 mi) |
Also known as "middle distance", "70.3" (total miles traveled), or "half-ironman". |
| ITU-Long Distance (O3) | 4.0 km (2.49 mi) |
120 km (74.6 mi) |
30 km (18.6 mi) |
So-called triple Olympic Distance, distance of the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships most years including 2011. |
| Full | 3.86 km (2.4 mi) |
180 km (112 mi) |
42.2 km (26.2 mi) marathon |
Also known as "long distance" or "Ironman Triathlon". |
Triathlons are not necessarily restricted to these prescribed distances. Distances can be any combination of distance set by race organizers to meet various distance constraints or to attract a certain type of athlete.
In addition to the above distances, two new long distance events have appeared, the 111 and 222 events. The 111 distance is 1 km swimming, 100 km bicycling and 10 km running, totalling 111 km (69 mi). The 222 distance is double that.
The ITU accepts a 5% margin of error in the cycle and run course distances. Though there can be some variation in race distances, particularly among short triathlons, most triathlons conform to one of those above standards.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) sanctions and organizes the World Cup and World Triathlon Series races each year, culminating in an annual World Championship for both elite pro-triathletes, junior pro-triathletes and amateur athletes in 5-year age-groups. ITU races are conducted in a draft legal format for the bike leg, whereas drafting is not permitted at the amateur level. In addition, the ITU has a Long Distance Triathlon series.
The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) sanctions and organizes a series of Ironman, Ironman 70.3, and 5150 Olympic distance races each year. These races serve as qualifying events for the World Championships held annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i (October, Ironman), Las Vegas, Nevada (September, Ironman 70.3), and the 5150 U.S. Championships in Des Moines, Iowa (September).
Read more about this topic: Triathlon
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