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Triathlon for Beginners

Are you new to triathlon?

If you are then don't worry as we will help you through every step of the way, from the first training session to our congratulations as you cross the finish line. Triathlon may appear a daunting prospect but the thing to remember is that everyone has been a beginner and understands what it is like.

This section is for you and anyone else who is new to triathlon. This includes information about the different triathlon distances, equipment, transition and what to expect on the day. More info can be found in our Tri FAQs section and the club forum.

Preparation = success

No-one is born an Ironman or a sprint triathlon expert: this success is only achieved through hard work and dedication and that applies to all athletes irrespective of the level they compete at.

At NTC we will help you to be the best that you can be and that applies equally to beginners as well as elite athletes. This includes advice about training, what to eat and events which are designed for triathlon novices.

Equipment

The sky's the limit when it comes to equipment but you don't need to spend a fortune for your first triathlon.  A wetsuit is not necessary for a pool swim and there is always the option to hire one if you need to. For the bike stage any bike will do as long as it is roadworthy so you can use your old mountain bike until you decide whether to buy a road bike. Finally, a good pair of running shoes is essential.

Our coaches and members will provide you with additional information about equipment.

Find out more about triathlon in this section. We guarantee that you will be bitten by the triathlon bug!

Triathlon Events

Here is a list and description of the various triathlon events:

Supersprint
The shortest of all the triathlon events. The distances are:

Swim: 400m
Bike: 10km
Run: 2.5k

Sprint
The next one after supersprint.

Swim: 750m
Bike: 20km
Run: 5k

Olympic
Often referred to as 'standard distance'.

Swim: 1500m
Bike: 40km
Run: 10k

Half Ironman
Getting a bit more serious now!

Swim: 1.2 miles
Bike: 56 miles
Run: 13.1 miles

Full Ironman
The full monty of triathlon.

Swim: 2.4 miles
Bike: 112 miles
Run: 26.2 miles