CHOOSE YOUR DISCIPLINES
Similar to duathlons, aquathlon (swim and run) and aquabike (swim and bike) races are made up of two disciplines. They may not be quite as widely known as duathlons, but they’re great options if cycling or running is your weak point. Like many of the other sports here, these types of events vary in length, often starting with a beginner-friendly sprint and standard distance. Events tend to take place alongside other triathlon races, with some utilising pools and lidos, and others including open-water swims. If the latter takes your interest, take a look at the Castle Race Series. Perfect for: Anyone that wants to cut the bike or run out of their event. Find out more: Visit 220triathlon.com for more tips and info about aquathlon and aquabike racing. Jenny Vincent, head of participation at British
Triathlon, says: “Aquathlon is perfect for someone that doesn’t feel confident on a bike. Some people don’t have a bike. For some people, cycling is the bit they’re just not interested in. For me, personally, aquathlon is the simplest way to do the sport. “As a society, we don’t have the time to spend on sport that we used to. For me, aquathlon is the event you could do if you have the least amount of time [available to train]. It doesn’t take that long to do, there’s loads of events about, you can have a really great experience and you don’t need as much equipment.” f
“There are a number of open- water swimming events of varying lengths around the UK, giving you the chance to build your confidence and become familiar with swimming in crowds”