Every year, thousands of athletes take part in triathlon events in locations around the world. While many high-profile international triathlons have already taken place this year, there’s still plenty of action to look forward to in the next few months of 2012.

Alpe d’Huez Triathlon

25 July

The Alpe d’Huez Triathlon is one of the most hotly anticipated events in the sport’s calendar, set in one of the most awe-inspiring locations. There are two variations of the event. The long course incorporates an eight mile, 3,000 feet ascent cycle along the Alpe and a swim in the EDF du Verney Lake in Vaujany as well as a 21.9km run. The shorter course featured a 1.2km swim; a 30km cycle and a 7.3km run.

TriStar Monaco

2 September

This will be the third annual TriStar Monaco, but it’s already been embraced by the Triathlon community. Part of this is down to the luxurious location, but it’s also a tough and rewarding course which comprises of a 1km swim off the Monaco beach of Lavarotto and a gruelling but picturesque 100km bike course. The final leg of the triathlon is two laps (10km) of the world-famous Formula One circuit, concluding outside the Monte Carlo casino.

Ocean Lava Lanzarote Triathlon

8 September

Another event back for its third year is the Ocean Lava Lanzarote Triathlon, featuring a 1.9km swim in the Puerto del Carmen and 90km bike ride through the vineyards of La Geria, El Golfo and over Femes. The run consists of three loops of Puerto del Carmen before heading to the finish. For less experienced competitors, there are half- and quarter-distance variations of the race.

Virgin Active London Triathlon

21 September

Attracting over 13,000 competitors, this has become the largest mass participation triathlon in the world. Competitors can choose from four variations of the race: Super Sprint, Sprint, Olympic and Olympic Plus. The Super Sprint event incorporates a 400m swim in London Docklands as well as a 10km bike ride and 2.5km run that travels past some of the city’s most notable landmarks. At the other end of the scale, the Olympic Plus comprises a 1500m swim, 90km bike ride and 10km run.

Garmin Barcelona Triathlon

7 October

Another big city triathlon event which offers multiple options for its competitors is the Barcelona Triathlon. This year almost 5,000 people will choose between Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run), Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) and Olympic (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) as they compete on one of the most scenic courses in Europe. One of the highlights of the Barcelona Triathlon is the bike section, which includes riding around the Parc de la Cuitadella and under the Arc de Triomf.

I’m David Johnson, a triathlete and personal trainer in the UK. An avid blogger who loves to share my experiences and interesting stories in the wonderful world of athletics.