What is a Triathlon?
In its most common form, a triathlon is a continuous race made up of swimming, cycling, and running. The clock keeps running between each discipline, so an athlete’s total time includes both the race legs and the transitions between them.
Triathlons are organized much like other endurance events. Participants are usually divided by age group and sex, with most everyday racers competing as age groupers. Professional or highly competitive racers may compete in elite fields.
Triathlon has its own rules, and many of them exist for safety. Each discipline has specific requirements, but some expectations apply across the entire race. Most violations result in time penalties, and serious violations can lead to disqualification.
Here’s an overview of some of the general rules applicable to all three disciplines:
- If participants leave the marked course for any reason, they must reenter the course at the same spot they left it.
- No outside assistance from anyone other than a race official.
- Don't do anything that endangers yourself or any other participants.
- No headphones or personal audio devices may be used during the race.
- No glass containers are allowed on the course. Violation of this rule can result in disqualification.
See the content below for more about the rules for each discipline, as well as transitions.
Swimming
- You can use any stroke you want at any time you choose. You may even tread water or float if you need to stop and catch your breath or adjust your goggles.
- You may also rest by standing (if shallow enough) or holding onto an inanimate object such as a boat or buoy, but you may not use them to push off and gain an advantage.
- You may not wear any swim aids, such as flippers, swim gloves, floaties, or any sort of propulsion device. Goggles may be worn.
Cycling
- You may not mount your bike until your helmet is secured.
- If through an accident or other means, your bike is rendered inoperable, you may push it or carry it to the finish line. No forward progress may be made without the bike.
- Unlike typical time-trial bike riding, drafting is not allowed in triathlons. Once you enter the draft zone of the biker in front of you, you have 15 seconds to either pass or fall back. If you fail to do so, a time penalty will be assessed. As a result, participants cannot work together and benefit from the reduced air resistance.
Running
- No forward progress may be made while crawling. If an injury or other circumstance arises where you can't continue running or walking, you must leave the marked course until you can continue.
- Running is usually the simplest leg from an equipment standpoint, but athletes still need to stay on course and follow race official instructions.