Glossary of Triathlon terms
A
Aerobars
These special handlebars extend out from your bike and give you a place to rest your elbows. They offer a more aerodynamic, tucked position than can help you achieve faster bike times.
Age-Grouper
A non-professional (i.e. amateur) triathlete who competes against other athletes within their five-year age bracket (e.g. 25-29, 30-34, etc.) and against their same gender.
Aquathlon
A multisport event where there is no need for a bike with a 2.5km run, 1km swim and 2.5km run. Sometimes, an aquathlon can be swim-run because it is a wetsuit swim.
B
Bodymark
Race number on arm and age on calf with temporary tattoo or black marker.
Brick Workout
A combination workout during which an athlete completes a swim and bike or bike and run back-to-back.
C
Cooldown
Physical activity done after a workout or competition to loosen muscles and rid the body of lactic acid.
Cross Train
To engage in various sports or exercises especially for well-rounded health and muscular development.
Cross Triathlon
A typical cross triathlon comprises of 1.5km swim in open water, lake or river, 30km mountain bike on off-road trails and a 10km trail run on a variety of surfaces.
D
DNF
"Did not finish"
DNS
"Did not start"
Drafting
All World Triathlon Series and World Cup events are draft legal on the bike, allowing athletes to follow directly behind the rider in front of him or her in order to save energy.
Duathlon
A multisport event that generally starts with a 10km run, then 40km bike and finished off with another 5km run.
E
Elite Triathlete
A professional triathlete who competes at an international level.
L
Lap Time
An athlete's time for a single swim, bike or run lap.
Long Distance Duathlon
One of the toughest events that World Triathlon offers, it is a multisport event that consists of a 10-20km run, 120-150km bike and 20-30km run.
Long Distance Triathlon
Although the distances can vary a little, the long distance triathlon is an incredibly important part of World Triathlon, as it is a gruelling test of mental and physical endurance contested over a 4km swim, 120km bike and a 30km run.
M
Mixed Relay
Triathlon Mixed Relay format consists of teams of four, comprised of two men and two women. Each athlete completes a mini triathlon of swimming, cycling and running, before tagging their teammate. Races last between an hour and ninety minutes depending on the course layout and are very explosive and exciting to watch.
Mount Line
You can't get on your bike until you cross this line.
Multisport
A sport consisting of more than one discipline, including triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, cross triathlon and winter triathlon.
O
Olympic-Distance or Standard-Distance
A triathlon course that consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run
P
Penalty Box
An athlete may be given a time penalty in the Penalty Box if assessed by a Technical Official to have unintentionally infringed the rules – for example, littering on the course. Where an athlete serves the penalty and for how long depends on the type and distance of race, level of athlete and the infraction.
PR/PB
Personal record and personal best.
R
Racking Your Bike
Placing your bike in the transition area on provided racks.
S
Sighting
Follow the swim course by lifting your eyes out of the water every stroke or two to see where you are in relation to the course buoys.
Split Time
An athlete's time for one segment of the race (swim, bike or run).
Sprint-Distance
A triathlon course that consists of a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. There are also sprint distances of other multisport disciplines.
Swim Waves
Based on gender, age and/or speed, you'll start the swim with a subset of people, with your own starting horn. This is to space out athletes on the course.
T
Tapering
The practice of reducing exercise in the days just before an important competition.
T1
Transition 1: The change from swim to bike (in a Triathlon).
T2
Transition 2: The change from bike to run (in a Triathlon).
Timing Chip
You'll wear a chip, attached to an ankle strap, through the whole race to track your time.
Trisuit
These are shorts and a top, or a one-piece style, that you wear through the entire race.
W
Warm-Up
To engage in activity before a race or workout. Warming up has a wide range of physiological and psychological benefits.
Wetsuit
A close-fitting suit made of rubber and worn by swimmers when they are in cold water to keep their bodies warm. Wetsuits also make you more buoyant and faster.
Winter Triathlon
This is a multisport for the snow lovers of triathlon! Athletes compete by running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing - all on snow.
World Triathlete
You! Any athlete that competes in a triathlon at a World Triathlon-hosted race.