Triathlon is an individual sport where competitors swim, run and cycle over various distances. The competitor with the quickest time of completion is the winner.

A triathlon is an endurance event where participants compete consecutively in a 1500 meter swim, 40 kilometer bike race, and 10 kilometer run without any breaks in between the stages. Longer distance triathlons, called Ironman competitions, are also held throughout the word.

The goal of a triathlon is to complete all three stages in the fastest time.

Triathlons are timed in sections: 1) from the start of the swim to the beginning of the first transition; 2) from the beginning of the first transition to the end of the first transition; 3) from the start of the cycling to the end of the cycling leg; 4) from the beginning of the second transition to the end of the second transition; 5) and finally from the start of the run to the end of the run, at which time the triathlon is completed. Other rules of triathlon vary from race to race and generally involve descriptions of allowable equipment. Additionally, while on the bike course, a competitor is required to ride their bicycle at all times. Should a competitor's bike malfunction they can proceed with the race as long as they are doing so with their bicycle in tow.

Historian Scott Tinley has traced the history of the triathlon to France in the 1920s. A French newspaper reported on a competition called “Le Trois Sports” that involved a 3 km run, a 12 km bike race, and crossing the channel Marne; the three stages were done consecutively without a break. This event spread through France throughout the 30s. However, the sport did not reach the United States until 1974, and even then it was seen as an off-beat training exercise for runners. Soon after reaching the US, athletes in Hawaii extended the distance of each leg of the race in order to crown the first ever “Ironman.” This competition involved swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles. Gordon Haller completed the even in 11 hours, 46 minutes, and 58 seconds to become the first Ironman. While there are now long distance triathlons held throughout the world, only those sanctioned by the World Triathlon Corporation can be labeled Ironman competitions. The triathlon became an Olympic event at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Bicycle
Helmet
Shoes

Race sanctioned aide volunteers are positioned throughout the course to administer first aide, and provide competitors with food and water.

A proficiency in swimming, cycling, and running are not enough to ensure an athlete completes the triathlon in a competitive time. Part of the training process for triathlons is to learn to run each stage in a competitive time, but reserve enough energy and endurance to be able to complete the following stage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon