If you run or ride or swim regularly, then it's not that hard to do a triathlon - you broaden the scope of your training to include the other disciplines, working in your comfort zone, then go and do the race knowing that you are weaker in one or two of the disciplines.

Being a triathlete is not so simple, and the basics of training for swimming, bike for triathlon and running for triathlon are covered on other pages. The advice is aimed at athletes racing sprint or standard distances. And for now, here are some general facts, information and tips on the sport of triathlon to start you off.

Distances Sprint (pool-based):
400-750m swim, 15-30k bike, 4-8k run. Pool-based triathlon distances are usually set by the race organiser to best fit the surroundings. Sprint (official): 750m open water swim, 20k bike, 5k run. Standard, aka Olympic: 1500m open water swim, 40k bike, 10k run. Half-Ironman, aka Middle Distance: 1900m open water swim, 90k bike, 21.1k run 'Nice' distance (named after the race in Nice, France, and now often used for Long Distance championships) 4k open water swim, 120k bike, 30k run Ironman, aka Ultradistance: 3.8k open water swim, 180k bike, 42.2k run

Swim
If you plan on sticking to pool-based races, you won't need a wetsuit. But you will get the bug, won't you, and start to wonder what an Olympic-distance race would be like. Then you'll need to swim in a wetsuit. You can hire one to train for a race, and do the race in. In a wetsuit you are buoyed up by the rubber, so swimming is easier; on the other hand it requires a little more shoulder strength to go fast. Goggles that fit well are important.

Bike
At a novice race you'll see MTB's, shoppers and hybrids. At a pro race it's all featherweight carbon and titanium. The most important thing is comfort at the pace you ride. And it must all work properly. And you must race in a helmet, so you might as well train in one.

Run
Even if you are scared of the water and can barely ride a bike, at least you can run, right? Triathlon running is special, and, until you get conditioned for it, feels like you are using someone else's legs. And it's what gets you across the finish line, which is great.

Training
You need a plan. You need to learn how to swim efficiently, bike powerfully and run strongly off the bike. You need to phase your training to match the time of year. You need to rest a lot. You need to test yourself. You may need to adjust your diet. You need a lot of core strength.

Kit
What kit do you need? Depends on how deep your wallet is. Swimming cossie and goggles; a roadworthy bike that fits, a helmet, and run shoes are essentials. You'll go further with a healthy, open-minded attitude and a desire to train and race than with the latest carbon aerobars on your bike.

Hawaii Ironman
The race that defines triathlon for many, held on the Big Island of Hawaii. The original and best Ironman race, and the official Ironman World Championships. The Pacific Ocean swell, the baking lava fields, the cruel winds... It’s an awesome experience that many aspire to undergo at least once in their life.

Great Britons
Now...Simon Lessing, Spencer Smith, Jodie Swallow, Tim Don, Leanda Cave, Bella Comerford, Andrew Johns, Michelle Dillon...

Then...Glenn Cooke, Sarah Coope, Alan Ingarfield, Sarah Springman...

Click here for some interviews with top triathletes.

Click here for some triathlon FAQs.