Triathlon Time Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the triathlon time calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Triathlon Time Calculator

Formulas Used

Total Time (hours)

total_hours = floor(total_min / 60)

Total Time (min)

total_remainder_min = round(total_min - floor(total_min / 60) * 60)

Swim Leg

swim_time = round(swim_min * 10) / 10

Bike Leg

bike_time = round(bike_min * 10) / 10

Run Leg

run_time = round(run_min * 10) / 10

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
swim_pace_per_100mSwim Pace(sec/100m)120
swim_distance_mSwim Distance(m)1500
bike_speed_mphBike Speed(mph)18
bike_distance_miBike Distance(miles)24.8
run_pace_minRun Pace(min/mile)9
run_distance_miRun Distance(miles)6.2
t1_minT1 (Swim-to-Bike)(min)3
t2_minT2 (Bike-to-Run)(min)2
swim_minDerived value= swim_pace_per_100m * swim_distance_m / 100 / 60calculated
bike_minDerived value= bike_distance_mi / bike_speed_mph * 60calculated
run_minDerived value= run_pace_min * run_distance_micalculated
total_minDerived value= swim_min + t1_min + bike_min + t2_min + run_mincalculated

How It Works

How Triathlon Time Is Calculated

Total triathlon time is the sum of all three legs plus transitions.

Formula

Total = Swim Time + T1 + Bike Time + T2 + Run Time

Standard Distances

  • Sprint: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
  • Olympic: 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
  • Half Ironman (70.3): 1900m swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run
  • Ironman: 3800m swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run

    • Worked Example

    Olympic distance triathlon: 1500m swim, 24.8mi bike, 6.2mi run.

    swim_pace_per_100m = 120swim_distance_m = 1500bike_speed_mph = 18bike_distance_mi = 24.8run_pace_min = 9run_distance_mi = 6.2t1_min = 3t2_min = 2
    1. 01Swim = 120 * 1500 / 100 / 60 = 30.0 min
    2. 02T1 = 3 min
    3. 03Bike = 24.8 / 18 * 60 = 82.7 min
    4. 04T2 = 2 min
    5. 05Run = 9 * 6.2 = 55.8 min
    6. 06Total = 30.0 + 3 + 82.7 + 2 + 55.8 = 173.5 min = 2 hr 54 min

    Ready to run the numbers?

    Open Triathlon Time Calculator