Jonathan Brownlee is amongst many thousands of athletes who are currently training for forthcoming triathlons, the difference is he is currently world champion, having recently triumphed at the 2015 World Triathlon Series in Auckland!

Participation in triathlons has been growing at a dramatic rate, so if you're keen on taking part in a triathlon this summer, there are now more than 1207 registered triathlon events across the UK. In fact, the number of people taking part has more than doubled since 2006, indicating that there are more and more people who are racing regularly and calling themselves triathletes.

"Three events that create an all-round body workout"

So, why are triathlons becoming more and more popular? Newitts takes a look below at 10 benefits to becoming a triathlete.

1. All-round body work-out
   A triathlon, as the name suggests, involves three different sports rolled into one event, so anyone who takes part is guaranteed to benefit from an all-over body work out. Cycling and running will tone the legs, whilst swimming will help strengthen the arms and upper body.
   
   
2. Promotes healthy eating
   To be a successful Triathlete, you need to follow a balanced and healthy diet which incorporates good nutrition. Healthy eating is not only good for sport but also for general well-being, so you'll start to look and feel much better for it.
   
   
3. Promotes weight loss
   Depending on your weight and how hard you work, practicing the sports swimming and cycling can help you lose around 600-700 calories an hour, and running can burn off as many as 900 calories if you work hard enough.
   
   
4. Variety of events
   Triathlons promote events of all distances, so the sport is accessible to all. In 2014, there were 1407 registered events within the UK with entrants from all sorts of backgrounds. Some of the shorter events involve just a 200m swim, 10km cycle and 2km run – which can be completed well inside an hour.
   
   
5. Health benefits
   Because swimming and cycling are both non-weight bearing sports, they can reduce stress on the body whilst still giving you an excellent work out. Training for three sports rather than one will also reduce your risk of injury, and the regular exercise will help to lower blood pressure and prevent illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes.
   
   
6. Physical benefits
   Becoming a triathlete will take years off your appearance and help you feel younger too. Training for a triathlon helps you to reconnect with your body, making you feel more energetic and powerful. In fact, triathletes have some of the best physiques in the world, all down to cross-training between the three different sports involved.
   
   
7. Increase in productivity
   Regularly training helps to clear the mind and makes you more focussed within your daily life. You'll return to your day feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the tasks ahead of you, essentially, as your body becomes stronger your mind will follow.
   
   
8. A stress reducer
   Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress in people's daily lives. Training hard for an event will involve a certain deal of pressure to your body, both mentally and physically, but it will also in time help you to become more mentally resilient towards life in general.
   
   
9. A social event
   Sports offer participants the chance to meet other like-minded people and find some common ground. Whether you train for a triathlete alone or enlist the help of a training partner, you'll find the camardarie within the triathlon world is one of the best in sport.
   
   
10. Mixed abilities
    You don't have to be young and fit to become a triathlete, in fact, just recently 60 year old Gregory Taylor seized the Ironman World Championship! One of the most unique things about triathlons is that no matter what your age, everyone competes the same course.
    
    

Do you take part in triathlons? Let us know what attracted you to the sport

Posted on 14/04/2015 | By Leana Kell