Let?s first begin with this quick reference to get you up-to-date with the different race distances:
Olympic triathlon is the distance used at the Olympic Games: a 0.9 miles swim (1.5K), a 24 mile bike ride (40K), and a 6.2 miles run (10K).
Half-Ironman event is a 1.2-mile swim (about 1.9K), a 56-mile bike ride (89.6K) and a 13.1-mile run (21K).
Ironman event is a 2.4-mile swim (about 3.8K), a 112-mile bike ride (179.2K) and a 26.2-mile run (42K or a marathon).
The sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman and Ironman are the most traditional and mainstream triathlon events. The Ultraman World Championships is an event of epic proportions and is described as ?an athletic odyssey of personal rediscovery; as such, they are the next step in the endurance challenge of being human.? The Ultraman World Championships event is a 6.2 mile (10 K) open ocean swim, a 261.4 mile (421 K) cross-country bike ride, and a 52.4 mile (84K) ultra-marathon run. This event takes place over two days where the 6.2 mile swim and 90 miles of the cycling leg are completed. The second day consists of the remaining 171.4 miles of cycling. The third and final day is devoted to the 52.4 (double marathon) run.
These endurance athletes are amazing! Through find raising and accomplishing such super-hero-like feats, most of the participants are racing to benefit a cause or some else. This altruistic approach is often the modus operandi that enables these athletes to endure such a high level if sustain activity.
All of this time, I thought a marathon was tough - I?m heading back to the drawing boards to re assess my priorities!