| Likely race duration |
1 to 2 hours |
up to 4 hours
(average is 2 to 3) |
| Training required |
3 to 4 hours per week should get you to the finish line comfortably |
Elite age group athletes may do 10 to 15 hours per week. You can finish well in 6 to 7 hours per week and get it to the finish in less than 5 hours per week. It would be possible to complete the swim doing breaststroke |
| Training build up |
None if you regularly swim, bike and run. If you don’t swim, then as long as it takes to learn or be confident of swimming up to 750m |
4 to 6 weeks if you regularly swim, bike and run. 3 to 4 months if you don’t, but you must be reasonably fit and do some training on a regular basis |
| Fitness requirements |
Basic swimming skills, ability to ride a bike for 1 hour and run for 30 minutes |
Competent swimming (must be confident in open water) and cycling skills. Should be able to swim non-stop for 45 minutes and ride for 90 minutes to 2 hours |
| Minimum equipment requirements |
Normal swimming kit for indoor races and possibly a wetsuit for open water. Any bike will do plus a pair of running shoes. Bike helmet. |
Wetsuit, any bike (though longer distances make lightweight bikes a good proposition). Bike helmet |
| UK events (approx) |
130 |
40 (open water from mid-May to end of September) |
