According to British women who swear by them, triathlons aren’t as terrifying as they seem. As Kate Offord, triathlon coach and co-founder of Manchester-based Smiling Tricoach, puts it: “When you actually get into it, you realise everyone is normal.”

Overachievers like Pippa Middleton, J. Lo, and Mel C are all fans of the sport, which involves competing in swimming, cycling and running races, all in one event. But the nature of triathlon – and the difficulty that comes with attempting to master all three elements of the race – famously makes these ambitious athletes a friendly group to spend time with.

Elizabeth King, an art therapist who took up triathlons to learn how to swim, explains: “Everyone is so supportive! I’m without doubt the slowest at running, but nobody looks down on me and there’s a real understanding of pushing yourself to your personal limits.”

How to train for your first triathlon, according to the women who’ve done one