Just how long does it take to finish a sprint triathlon?
When first joining the triathlon world, many people choose to do "Sprint" races. These shorter distance races are composed of a 0.5 mile swim, a 12-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run. A big question a new triathletes have is, "How long will it take to finish a sprint triathlon?".Also Read: What extreme sports are there The answer to this difficult questions depends on several factors including age, gender, level of preparedness and the course itself. Here is a variety of times that it takes beginners, experienced triathletes, and pros to finish a sprint triathlon.
Survive the Swim
Fast athletes are typically able to finish the swim in 10 to 12 minutes. Middle performers finish this part in roughly 15 minutes shorter distance races. Beginners usually slightly longer than 15 minutes. Your finish time can also be highly affected by the prevailing water conditions, or even your swim suit and prescription sunglasses . Investing in a great wetsuits is a good idea. Wetsuits have been shown to yield faster results.
Cycle Strong
This distance is covered by elite male athletes in less than 30 minutes. Women are typically slightly slower than their male counterparts, and the average elite female would finish it in less than 35 minutes.For beginners, if you did not burn yourself out during the swim, then you can finish this ride in just under 40 minutes. The time taken to finish the ride will be dependent on various factors. These range from weather conditions to the nature of the course. A winding and hilly course will take you more time to finish than a flat course on a calm day. It also depends on your fitness levels and riding technique.
Complete the Run
The time taken to finish the run is also determined by the course itself and how well you plan your previous two events. Running after biking for 12 miles and swimming 0.5 miles, is not the same as waking up and going for a run. Lack of fuel and dehydration will start taking a toll on you, during the run. If you are wondering how long it typically takes a beginner to finish a triathlon, then you need to consider your running speed.Most beginners perform very well in the swim and biking, only to fade out during the run, and spend more time there. If you are a beginner it will typically take you 25 to 30 minutes to complete your run and in turn your super sprint triathlon.Also Read: How does sunglasses project from the sun
Bottom Line
Transitions also consumes a considerable amount of time. Removing your swim gear and putting on your biking gear then removing them to put on your track attire will take some time. Transitioning from every event will take around five minutes, which means 15 minutes in total. Sprint transition time will also depend on practice, skill and choice of attire. When you put together the time taken, a beginner will probably take an average of 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete the event.