Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

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Five Tips for Your First Triathlon

May 1, 2015 By: Runner Leana

Have you decided to take the plunge and race your first triathlon race this year?  If so, good for you!  Triathlons are so much fun (and may be a little addictive) but they can also be a little scary/intimidating the first time.  Here are five tips to help you have a great experience at your first multisport race!

first triathlon tips

1. Make a list of everything you need

Running races are pretty straight forward.  Just roll out of bed, get dressed, pin on your bib and go!  Adding in swimming and biking to the mix means extra gear and more stuff to remember.  Think about everything that you’ll need for each sport and write it down (goggles, swim cap, bike helmet, etc).  You can also create customized check lists online to make sure you’ve packed all of your gear.

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2. Don’t wear underwear

My biggest question when I signed up for my first triathlon was “what should I wear??”  You can race in a swimsuit if you really like and then just pull on bike shorts in transition.  I find the most comfortable gear to race in is a pair of triathlon shorts though.  Tri shorts are basically like bike shorts, except the chamois pad in them is much thinner than on bike shorts.  This means the chamois will soak and hold less water on the swim and it won’t feel like you are running in a diaper.

Bike vs Tri Short Chamois

Bike Short versus Tri Short Chamois

Don’t wear underpants under your tri shorts as that will most likely result in some very uncomfortable chaffing…just go commando.  If you don’t want to invest a lot of money in gear that you are worried you may never wear again you can always swim in tri shorts and a sports bra, then pull a t-shirt on in transition.

KGH Sprint Du 017

3. There will be cars on the bike course

It can be very easy to get caught up in race day adrenalin but please remember that there will most likely be cars on the road.  Cars being driven by individuals who may not know that a race is going on.  Always follow the rules of the road – ride in the shoulder and be sure to shoulder check and make sure it is safe before you attempt to pass anyone.  Also be courteous to your fellow racers and call out “on your left” as you pass them.  If you get passed by another rider without them announcing it you can get startled and no one wants that to happen.

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4. Keep your transition space simple

There will be people that will bring every single piece of gear they own and lay it out in transition.  You may see people try to make their bike easy to spot by tying a balloon to the bike rack.  Ultimately keep your space simple and clean.  Often race directors don’t want you to have balloons up in transition so you’ll need to use a different way to find your bike.  Count the number of racks you’ll have to run past or try to find a landmark to remind you of where to go.  Have a towel out to dry your feet off (maybe make it a bright one to make it easier to spot).  Have your socks ready to go in your shoes.  Have your bike helmet resting on your handlebars so that you’ll be reminded that you need to put your helmet on before you take your bike off the rack.  The less stuff you have out the smoother you will be able to run through from swim to bike and from bike to run.

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5. Have fun

Strathmore Tri 08 031

Finally, have fun and enjoy the moment!  Smile!  Give words of encouragement to people as you pass them or as they pass you.  Maybe compliment them on their tri kit.  You may just put a smile on someone’s face who is having a tough day.  Thank the volunteers because without them the race wouldn’t be possible.  And if you are nervous or unsure about anything on race day don’t hesitate to ask the person setting up their bike next to you in transition.  We were all nervous tackling our first race and triathletes are honestly a friendly bunch.  They won’t mind helping, I promise.

Strathmore Tri 08 011

Are you racing your first triathlon this year?  Let me know if you have any questions at all!

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I’m linking up with Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What and Mar at Mar on the Run for their Friday Five Link Up!

more from Runner Leana

  • Newbie Triathlete – Help Needed!
  • Strathmore Women’s Triathlon – Race ReportStrathmore Women’s Triathlon – Race Report
  • St. Albert Sprint Triathlon – Race ReportSt. Albert Sprint Triathlon – Race Report
  • Race Report – KGH Sprint DuathlonRace Report – KGH Sprint Duathlon
  • Time to Put Two Sports TogetherTime to Put Two Sports Together

Comments

  1. 1

    Jen says

    May 1, 2015 at 7:19 am

    I’ve always wondered about the gear triathletes wear. I didn’t know if you changed after the swim.
    Jen recently posted…FYI Friday – When there are no wordsMy Profile

    • 2

      Kris says

      May 1, 2015 at 9:31 am

      ME TOO! It seems like such different gear for each sport so I never knew if you swam in everything you would be biking and running in?! Great tips Leana… I just need one more tip: How to work up the courage to actually commit to one 😉
      Kris recently posted…Non-Running Accomplishments & May Challenge.My Profile

      • 3

        Runner Leana says

        May 4, 2015 at 3:53 pm

        Kris, you are such a strong athlete and you already have a background in swim/bike/run. You could definitely do a tri! There are plenty of beginner friendly ones out there. I think you are near St. Albert right? My second ever tri was a sprint tri in St. Albert.

        http://starrt.com/wordpress/events/st-albert-triathlon/
        Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

    • 4

      Runner Leana says

      May 4, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      There was definitely a lot to learn when I started tris but really the easiest thing is to just wear one outfit the whole way through and not be mindful of the fact that you are wet!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

  2. 5

    Marilyn says

    May 1, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Great post! I am doing a triathlon in August. It won’t be my first, but my last one was 9 years ago. I forgot how much stuff I will need to pack! Thanks for the tips!
    Marilyn recently posted…FIVE THINGS FRIDAYMy Profile

    • 6

      Runner Leana says

      May 4, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Which tri are you doing in August Marilyn?
      Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

      • 7

        Marilyn says

        May 5, 2015 at 8:47 am

        I am doing the Santa Barbara sprint course in August. We will be down there for my sister’s wedding and decided to “come out of retirement.” It is a VERY short sprint – 500 yard swim, 6 mile bike, 2 mile run.
        Marilyn recently posted…EUGENE MARATHON – THE PLAN & MY GOALSMy Profile

  3. 8

    lacey says

    May 1, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Love your customized check list.You really do have to be extra organized when doing a tri. There are so many more things involved.
    lacey recently posted…5 Things about RnR NashvilleMy Profile

    • 9

      Runner Leana says

      May 4, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks Lacey! I find that checklist is also pretty handy for travelling for running races too!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

  4. 10

    Molly says

    May 1, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    These are great tips, although I am scared of swimming in open water so I don’t think I could ever muster the courage to do a tri! But I never knew there were tri shorts before–that totally makes sense. Who would want to swim feeling like they’re wearing a diaper? 🙂
    Molly recently posted…5 Race Day Don’tsMy Profile

    • 11

      Runner Leana says

      May 4, 2015 at 4:06 pm

      Molly, if you ever wanted to give a tri a shot maybe there is one nearby with a pool swim? That was what my first race was like. I would think a first triathlon with an open water swim would be intimidating. Even after all of these years I still don’t love swimming in open water!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

  5. 12

    Courtney says

    May 4, 2015 at 7:27 am

    this is a wonderful post with some great tips! thanks for laying all of this out for us 🙂
    Courtney recently posted…May Goals and Looking Back at AprilMy Profile

    • 13

      Runner Leana says

      May 4, 2015 at 4:06 pm

      Thanks Courtney!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Weekend In Review 05.04.2015My Profile

  6. 14

    Jennifer says

    May 12, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Great tips! I bought a cheap zebra print towel from Old Navy so I could spot my transition area from afar.
    Jennifer recently posted…2015 RES1CUE Run 8K Race RecapMy Profile

who is runner leana?

6 x Ironman Finisher, 11 x 70.3 Finisher, geeky engineer and recent MBA grad.

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