Why is a triathlon the length it is?

For a novice swimmer, is it better to register for a triathlon with 750m swim leg or 1.5km swim length?

• Answer:

  Do the sprint, the shorter one. In some ways there isn't much real difference as the hard bits are the nervous tension as you wait and the first 200m or so as you freak out and get used to swimming in cold, murky water with a herd of humans. If you have the time and can swim 1500m then you'll be fine - but the morale is to the physical as to 10 to 1 (as Napoleon said) So take it easier and do the short one first. Its the start of the season and you'll learn how to do it quickly enough to get longer ones in later in the year Have fun