Dating from the 1970's, triathlon is a relatively recent sport in which you swim, cycle and run consecutively, always in that order. I've been doing sprint distance triathlon for a couple of years now, which if pool-based is a 400 metre swim (16 lengths of a standard pool), or 750 metres in open water, then a 12 mile (20 k) bike ride and to top it off, a 3 mile (5 k) run. The one at Duston run by 'Just Racing' is a very nice route around Althorp, though the hill up to Great Brington has to be experienced to be believed. I've also completed the Rugby tri and the Warwickshire tri at Stratford-on-Avon.
Olympic triathlon distance (standard) is 1,500 metre swim (60 lengths equivalent), 25 mile bike and 6 mile run. I've booked this also with Just Racing at Grendon Lakes, and training, especially on swimming - probably my weakest discipline - is ongoing.
The word most people know relating to triathlon is the ultra-distance Ironman. Don't even ask me about Ironman. That's just mental.
