Question - What's got three legs and kills you?

Answer: - Triathlon
The swim leg, the bike leg and the run leg!

Jeff Lewis of the Cardiff Triathletes gives us some tips on this most taxing of sports.

The excitement of racing head to head against others across three completely different disciplines - all of which demand different strengths and skills - has caught the imagination of the public.

All you need to take part in this new and exciting sport is to be able to swim a bit, have access to a bike and be able to run/walk/crawl.

Some say there is a fourth leg to triathlon: the transition. This is the time taken to go from discipline to discipline. Swim to bike and from bike to run. The clock doesn't stop for these transitions so speed is of the essence, rather than comfort!

Distances

Don't worry about going straight in at the deep end. Wales has plenty of races to offer the budding triathlete, of all different distances. There are recognised distances for each discipline and these are usually matched to the event category. The swim can take place in a pool, or in open water - lake, river or sea.

Clubs

There are many triathlon clubs in South East Wales and all have training sessions identified, to which all are welcome; from novices to the more experienced athlete. These sessions cover the swimming, cycling and running training needed. Cardiff, Gwent, Penybont, Rhondda and Taff Ely all have very active clubs.

The Welsh Triathlon Association is very active in the development, promotion and organisation of triathlon in Wales. It is responsible for Welsh team selection, training and organising Home Nations races.

Membership provides one with insurance for racing and training, a race license that qualifies members for a reduction in race entry fees. The WTA also produces a Welsh triathlon race calendar every year.

The WTA forms part of the British Triathlon Association.