The first noted triathlon, in 1974, was billed as an alternative t traditional training for running. When triathlons started to develop into organized races across the United States and elsewhere, event planners started implementing different race distances. As a result, the length of each segment of the triathlon, including the swimming phase, can vary based on the overall race distance. The four most common race distances are the short, intermediate, long and ultra.
Short
Short triathlons --- commonly referred to as sprint triathlons --- typically cover the shortest distance. Most short triathlons have a swimming phase that covers 0.25 to 0.62 miles, or 0.4 to 1 kilometer. For example, the 2011 USA Sprint National Championship featured a 750-meter swim followed with a 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run.
Intermediate
The intermediate --- or Olympic --- distance is slightly longer than a sprint triathlon. To be considered an intermediate distance triathlon, the swimming phase must be 0.63 to 1.25 miles --- 1.1 to 2 kilometers. The Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa, for example, has a 1.5-kilometer swim followed with a 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run.
Long
The long-course triathlon started in 2006 with the Ironman 70.3 Series, the Ironman website notes. Most long-course triathlons have a swimming phase that covers 1.26 to 1.9 miles, or 2.1 to 3.1 kilometers. The Ironman 70.3 triathlon, for example, has a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle and 13.1-mile run.
Ultra
Ultra triathlons are characterized as a long-distance endurance event. Most ultra triathlons have a swimming phase that covers more than 2.0 miles, or 3.2 kilometers. The Ironman is one of the most common ultra triathlons and includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.
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