What is Triathlon, Part III: Olympic distance

If the sprint distance is the triathlon for "everyone and their mother", then the Olympic distance triathlon is for "everyone"!

This distance tests one speed stamina, whereas a sprint just tests speed, and it tends to attract the best "pure athletes" since much glamour and prestige surrounds this distance since it is the Olympic, as in the Olympics, distance so gets recognized on the international stage. At no other distance races will one see the full spectrum of athlete, from the best in the world to the working person who has 4-8 hours a week to train, maybe less, who's goal is to finish. From the young 16 year old kid to the 70 year old grandparent (rare, but i've seen it!) racing for the first or eight hundreth time.

Completing an almost 1 mile swim, 30 mile bike ride and 6.2 mile run is the perfect physical challenge that is very attainable with smart, minimal training, and involves some mental strength to keep pushing a high pace as long as one can.

The long and short, for most of us is to have fun, and the Olympic distance provides an arena that is enjoyable while pushing the physical limits a little further than the sprint distance.