Triathlon 101

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The racing season is almost upon us...in fact...there have been many races already! But traithlon season is almost in full force. I started racing traithlons only 2 years ago. I have learned a lot but still have a lot to learn. My first traithlon I totally had a panic attack in the open water, took my helmet off too early so I tried to juggle everything in my hands as I ran into T2 and those are only a few of the mistakes! Triathlons can be intimidating but here is a few tips for beginning triathletes and I am also including a checklist of items you may need/want to have for the big day!!

Race Day Check List

 

Swim

Timing Chip

Goggles

Swim Cap

Ear Plugs (optional...I use them)

Wetsuit (Open Water Swim only)

Pre-race Nutrition. (Food you take before the swim start)

Bike 



Helmet

Race numbers attached to bike

Sunglasses

Water

Nutrition

Shoes

Socks (optional)

 

Run

Shoes

Socks (optional)

Race Number (I attach mine to a race belt)

Nutrition

Visor

Sunglasses

 

This is just the basics. I wear socks on all my traithlons wether a sprint or an ironman. Some people don't. When you are training practice running and biking with and without socks and find how you are most comfortable!

 

Now..here are a few tips! These are basic. If you have more complex questions, feel free to contact us and I can see if we have any suggestions to help!

 

 

1) Go Short Before you Go Long.  My first distance was a sprint. This is a great distance to begin with!  A goal for most triathletes is to compete in an Ironman Distance...however, swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 26.2 on your first outing may be a bit much. Select a short distance and really enjoy it. Leave the race wanting to come back and do more, go longer and push harder! Plus a good mini sprint is a great place to first practice the transitions from swim to bike to run.

2) Simplify Your Gear.  You race in the clothes you bike and run in. Some people bring a suit to swim in and change in the transition. This however takes a lot of time. Have you ever tried to put clothes on right out of the shower...it is next to impossible. To simplify swim in some good tri shorts and top and if needed, bring a towel to dry off a bit in the transition area.

The bike you may be riding at the time is fine. You don't need to run out and spend a lot of money on a bike to compete in. Use any bike and see if you even like the sport. Most first time triathletes are actually using a borrowed bike! I even saw one beginner come into the transition and put his kick stand down instead of placing his bike on the tri rack!! I think it was one of the most awesome things I have seen in a transition!!

One thing you need is GOOD running shoes!! If you need shoes and don't know what to select, see our post here on shoes. Also, visit your local running store, such as 26.2 for some expert help for getting you ready to run!!!

If you want to splurge and buy something special for the big day to speed up your time, look into some elastic laces, such as these. They will help speed up your time in transition by allowing you to slip on your shoes more easily!

3) Find a Training Plan. For most of us, we are not training for a podium position at an Ironman event for your first race, therefore you do not need to be training 20 to 30 hours per week. You can be ready for a sprint-distance race on less than five hours per week of training. Most weeks are less than five hours. You can find a variety of training programs here or contact us if you need some direction on where to start!

Also, you will hear the term "brick" quite a bit in traithlon. Someone may say, "Saturday I have a long brick workout." Which may leave you wondering what in the world they are talking about. A brick workout is a bike to run workout. You will ride your bike and quickly transition into a run. Why is it called a brick? For those who have done one, you will agree, when you start running after being on a bike for some time, your legs feel heavy...like bricks!! Try it and you will see! They are fun!!!

4) Transition time counts! I was surprised during my first traithlong at the time it takes to change from swimming to cycling and from cycling to running. These changes are known as transitions, "T1" and "T2". These times are also counted in overall race time. All of the time between the start of your swim and when you cross the finish line at the end of the run counts. We will do another blog post coming up on practicing smooth transitions with a few pointers from the pros on things you can do to shave time off!!!

5) Have Fun!!! Triathlons are a blast!! Go in expecting to have a good time and enjoy the experience. Don't syke yourself out before the race even begins with all the little things you can't control. Stay within your circle or bubble of what you can do and try to execute everything as best as you can! Just have fun so you will want to come back and do it again!

For your first race, really try to keep things simple. The most important thing isn't your time. It is getting familiar with the sport, how the transitions work, how your body responds to the race, where you went to fast, where you can improve, where you think you can make up time, etc. Once you get hooked on the sport, you can look into ways to get faster or go longer and start competing for time!

A great tri to start with is the Telos Tri in Orem, UT. This was my husbands very first tri and he loved it. He was hooked after doing this and is now training for 2 ironman events this year!! I asked to give me one sentence about his experience at the Telos tri he said, "It was fun. I ran most of my swim and swam most of my run but I loved it and I was hooked."

We are actually going to be doing a GIVEAWAY for a race entry. This is a Semi-Sprint distance and is actually a reverse tri. You begin with running 3 miles, biking 12 miles and then end with a pool swim of 350 M. Beginning with a pool swim vs open water is also a great way to dip your feet into the sport. If you have even been toying with the idea to do a tri, enter this giveaway and just try to go and do the triathlon. You won't regret it! They are a BLAST!!!  To enter, look below and follow the steps! This special giveaway will end Friday at 11:59pm. The winner will be announced this Saturday so you can start getting ready for RACE DAY!!

We will also have our normal Friday giveaway so be sure to check back and see what we have coming up!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Do you have any tips for Beginners?

What is or was one thing that you were most nervous for or during your first triathlon?