Race Format Guides

Learn how different endurance race formats work — the rules, distances, and history — then find an event near you.

• What Is a Backyard Ultra?

  A backyard ultra is a last-person-standing race: a 4.167-mile hourly loop until one runner is left. Learn the rules, history, frontyard variant, and find one.

• What Is a Try-A-Tri?

  A Try-A-Tri is the entry-level triathlon for first-timers: a short swim, bike, and run, often with a pool swim. Learn what to expect and find a race near you.

• What Is an Aquabike?

  An aquabike is a swim-bike multisport race with no run. Learn the distances, how it differs from a triathlon and aquathlon, and find aquabike races near you.

• What Is an Aquathlon?

  An aquathlon pairs swimming and running with no bike: multisport's easiest entry point. Learn the distances, race-day flow, and find an aquathlon near you.

• What Is a Duathlon?

  A duathlon is a run-bike-run multisport race with no swim. Learn the standard and sprint distances, the two transitions, and find a duathlon near you.

• What Is a Gran Fondo?

  A gran fondo is a long-distance, mass-participation road cycling event with chip timing and competitively timed segments. Find a gran fondo near you.

• What Is Enduro Mountain Biking?

  Enduro mountain biking times the downhill stages and leaves the climbs untimed, so only descents count. Learn the format and find an enduro race near you.

• How to Prepare for Your First Triathlon

  Preparing for your first triathlon? Learn whether you need a wetsuit or tri bike, how to practice sighting, beat cutoff times, find a tri club, and a race near you.

• What Is a Criterium (Crit)?

  A criterium, or crit, is a fast multi-lap bike race on a short closed circuit. Learn the format, primes, and how crits differ from road races, then find one.

• Open Water Swimming vs Wild Swimming

  Open water swimming and wild swimming both mean swimming in natural water, but differ in framing and region. Learn the difference and find a swim near you.