Disciplines
Run, Bike, Swim...
Or some combination of the three: that's what multisport is. With so many versions of these three sports (and more), there are several ways to compete in multisport.
Triathlon
Swim, Bike, Run. The most common multisport event, triathlons allow athletes of all ages to challenge themselves by covering various distances by swimming, biking and running.
Standard Triathlon Distances
| Discipline | Super Sprint | Sprint | Olympic-Distance | World Triathlon Long Course | Half | Full/Long Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 400 meters | 750 meters | 1.5 km | 2 km | 1.2 miles | 2.4 miles |
| Bike | 10 km | 20 km | 40 km | 80 km | 56 miles | 112 miles |
| Run | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 13.1 miles | 26.2 miles |
| Total | 12.9 km | 25.75 km | 51.5 km | 102 km | 70.3 miles | 140.6 miles |
Note: Distances are categorized by using the category in which two of the distances fall. If all three are in separate categories the distance is categorized by the bike.
Duathlon
Run, Bike, Run. In this most popular variant of triathlons, athletes complete two runs with one longer cycle leg in between. No water? No problem as no swimming is necessary in a duathlon.
Aquathlon
Run, swim, run. Aquathletes don't need two wheels to compete, they just run and swim. The format of aquathlons may differ depending on water temperature. If the swim will require a wetsuit, athletes will swim first and run second. If no wetsuit is required, they'll do a short run, hit the water and finish back on the run course.
Standard Aquathlon Distances
| Discipline | Sprint | Standard | Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 | 1.25 km | 2.5 km | 5 km |
| Swim | 500m | 1,000m | 2,000m |
| Run 2 | 1.25 km | 2.5 km | 5 km |
| Total | 3 km | 6 km | 12 km |
Aquabike
Swim, bike. Low impact, high fun! Aquabike allows athletes to compete in the two lower-impact multisport disciplines. Everyone everyone is welcome in aquabike waves, and this variation allows those who cannot run or prefer not to run to still participate in multisport.
Standard Aquabike Distances
| Discipline | Standard | Middle | Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 1,500m | 1,900-3,000m | 3,000-4,000m |
| Bike | 40 km | 80-90 km | 90-200 km |
| Total | 41.5 km | 81.9-93 km | 93-204 km |
Off-Road
Swap pavement for trails and get a little dirty with off-road races! Primarily triathlons, off-road events swap road cycling and running for mountain biking and trail running. Off-road races demand plenty of skill in navigating the course safely.
Gravel
Gravel events are a variant of off-road events that feature gentler and, typically, wider trails. They can be mixed surface, dirt, gravel or other surfaces and typically won't have obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs or sharp turns to navigate over or past.
Winter Triathlon
Run, Bike, Ski. Winter triathlons are by far the coolest multisport variant around (temperature-wise, at least). Leave the wetsuit at home and pack your ski poles as winter triathlons consist of running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, all on snow. Not just a way to stay fit over the winter, World Triathlon has held world championship races since 1997.
Alternate Formats
Other race types use other disciplines in place of the swim, bike and/or run. Paddle boarding or canoeing can be a popular substitute for the swim leg.