Sprint triathlons are shorter-distance triathlons than the traditional Ironman and Olympic distance lengths. They are ideal for the beginning triathlete or shorter-distance specialist.
History
Triathlon started as a training routine for members of the San Diego Track Club in Southern California in the early 1970s. The first official triathlon was held in 1974 in Mission Bay, San Diego.
Types
A sprint triathlon typically consists of a 750m swim, 20k bike and a 5k run. Distances can vary according to the terrain of the race venue, but the distances are always kept relatively short compared to other longer triathlons.
Geography
Most are held at lakes or at oceans for the swimming portions and on local roads for the running and biking segments. Some sprint triathlons are held on trails instead of roads and use mountain bikes instead of road bikes for an off-road, rugged experience.
Time Frame
A sprint triathlon takes much less time to complete than the longer distance triathlons that can take over twelve hours or more for the novice to complete. Winning times for sprint distance triathlons are a little over an hour with mid-packers coming in anywhere from one-and-a-half to two-hours plus.
Significance
Sprint triathlons have contributed greatly to the growth of the sport of triathlon. They are growing fast and now have a national championship of their own.
Tags: distance triathlons