Once upon a time long-distance triathlon was seen as something of a grail, holy or unholy, depending on how you felt about a 140-mile race. It was the preserve of the experienced, the specialists and, maybe, the slightly unhinged. Not any more

This weekend brings more than 13,000 triathletes on a quest to swim, cycle and run around some of the capital's most iconic landmarks. The London Triathlon, an IMG Challenger World Event, returns for its 15th year and it continues to hold its status

the national long-distance triathlon championships, and decided to take three months unpaid leave from work so that I could train full-time. I ended up finishing tenth. I had a terrible race, and was exhausted from beginning to end. I had overdone my training

Man Triathlon and her local Southwater Relay. "I ride the route beforehand if I can," she says. "I've driven courses before, just to get an idea of what I'm in for. It helps me to know what's around the next corner. I swim regularly in the lake I'll be racing

. "Duathlons can be a good gauge of performance, and they can replace 'threshold' workouts with something more interesting" says PhysFarm Coach Dr Philip Skiba.Duathlon, which has national, European and world championship races, is governed by British Triathlon

, Florida. The best 100 triathletes in Wimbleball earn themselves a place for the American race, which could ultimately open a door to the prize of a place at the Ironman World Championships finale in Hawaii.The triathlon starts with a swim in the flooded

potential in time for your races.For most of us, summer is a reminder of why we took up triathlons in the first place. Coach Dan Bullock (www.swimfortri.com) says, "It's just great to be outside. When the time comes to get away from the chlorine and straight

against your skin on race day - and it should not be a new sensation."You wouldn't use a mountain bike to train for a road race and the same rule applies to your triathlon preparations," says Dan Halksworth, a former Commonwealth Games swimmer who is now a

probably should because the unfortunate truth is that triathlon can have a negative impact on the environment. You probably love being outdoors and like to see nature at its best, if for no other reason than a healthy environment makes for an enjoyable race

and British Triathlon's Male Elite Long Distance Triathlete of Year 2007"The day before the race have a carbohydrate-biased day to ensure you are fully fuelled. Keep fully hydrated and keep drinking water up to within an hour of the start."Sam Gardner, former