Russell Sergent is a professional triathlete who successfully completed four Ironman challenges. The preparation process for such competitions can be grueling, but contrary to the popular belief, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to finish a “simple” triathlon race, especially if it’s a sprint competition. Regardless if you wish to win or just participate in a triathlon race, this event still requires immense preparation and careful planning. There Are Several Types of Races The first step is to decide what kind of triathlon race you want to compete in. There are four basic types, Sprint races, Olympic Triathlon races, Half Ironman competitions and Ironman Triathlons. The preparation process should be fairly different for all of these events, as their completion requires different levels of fitness and skills. Sprint Triathlons Sprint Triathlons are the shortest triathlons, but that doesn’t mean they are easy. There is still about half a mile of swimming, 15 miles of cycling and 3 miles of running involved. These type of events require a high level of fitness but the preparatory process should be fairly different compared to the longer events. The general rule of thumb is that you should always incorporate the imitation of these events into your training. This means swimming, cycling and running the same distances as you would in the race. Olympic Triathlon Olympic Triathlons are the most common triathlon events and they usually include 0.93 miles swimming, 24.8 miles cycling and 6.2 miles or running. Half Ironman Half Ironman competitions require you to swim 1.2 miles, to bicycle 56 miles and to run 13 miles. These events are the second most challenging Ironman races. The Ironman Triathlon The most grueling of all, the Ironman Triathlon, is a huge accomplishment to complete. With the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike ride and the 26.2-mile marathon run, this type of competition asks a lot from the competitors. Preparing for an Ironman Triathlon is often a multi-year experience. Sign Up Once you have decided to test your abilities in a specific competition, the next step is signing up. Looking into the details of a specific race is always recommended, as there could be special rules. The official website of the event is usually the place to find useful information, and also where you can sign up. If you wish to participate as a professional athlete there could be other prerequisites involved, such as medical examinations. Gear The quality of your gear is very important. The basic minimum is having a swim suit, goggles that can help you during your swim and bike ride, running shoes with quality outsoles, a bicycle (this depends on the competition), and a helmet. As an experienced triathlete who completed his fair share of competitions on all levels and in different categories, Russell Sergent hopes that more people will become interested in triathlons in the near future. Sources: http://www.wikihow.com/Train-for-a-Triathlon Comments are closed.
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