If you enjoy a variety in your workouts, then you may think that the triathlon is the perfect event for you. It gives you the chance to run, cycle and swim in the same event. Many people feel as though it is a more exciting opportunity than a single race. However, if you’ve never done one before, then you may feel as though you’re lost. The below tips for beginner triathletes will help you with some tips to ensure that you can complete your first ever triathlon free of stress.
Tips for Beginner Triathletes: Start With A Small Race
When you’re booking your first entry, you shouldn’t be too ambitious. Although Olympic athletes may participate in very hard and grueling events, this does not have to be where you start. Beginning with a shorter race would be a much better goal, and would give you a taste of what it is like, meaning that you can be more ambitious in the future. You should find a short triathlon local to your home. If you do not have to travel far on the day of the race, this will enable you to reduce your stress.
Tips for Beginner Triathletes: Choose Your Kit Wisely
With regards to equipment, you shouldn’t worry about buying any special clothing. Ensure that the race that you choose allows swimmers to wear a swimsuit rather than a wet suit and you will save the expense of having to buy one. In addition to this, for the cycling portion of the race, you should find that your current bike is perfectly fine. However, you should ensure that you have checked everything on the bike, particularly tires and brakes, before you set off. You don’t want to injure yourself. If you run regularly, then you should know whether or not your running shoes are suitable. There is no need to specifically buy new ones for this event. Make sure you only buy what you need by researching in triathlon forums or by reading triathlon magazines.
Tips for Beginner Triathletes: Practice Your Transitions
Training may seem daunting. However, if you aim to complete a short race, you should not have to train for more than 5 hours per week. Remember that the time that it takes you to switch between events counts towards your total time, so it is important to practice this during training as well. In addition to this, you should ensure that you have enough time to rest during your training schedule, as you don’t want to tire yourself out before the event.
Tips for Beginner Triathletes: Pace Yourself
When you’re in the race itself, it’s important to pace yourself. This is probably the biggest mistake that newbie triathletes make and the triathlon forums are littered with comments from people who are kicking themselves because they started a race too fast. Don’t worry about what the other competitors are doing; this is all about you and the time that you are able to achieve. Don’t start too fast, and ensure that you reserve enough energy for the final activity in the race.
Provided that you take the above tips into account, there is no reason that you shouldn’t be able to complete your first ever triathlon in a time that you are happy with.
This article was written by Ross, an experienced runner, triathlete and cyclist from the UK. For more triathlon tips, check out the triathlon forum at RankMyTri.com or Kymtom or some of the very good resources available online at Triathletes World or the Triathlon 220 website.
