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More Training Info > Triathlon Training Tips
Triathlon Training Tips
Q: I’ve got my first triathlon coming up at the end of August, is there anything else I should be doing to get prepared for the big event?
A: If you have never seen or done a triathlon before, you might want to go watch one up close so you can see what it’s like, especially in the transition area. If there’s not one nearby, look for stories about other people’s experiences -- Courtenay’s experience with the Danskin is at www.bodyresults.com/S2Danskin.asp and another client, Jason Land, has agreed to share his experience with the Seafair Triathlon (2003) at http://www.team-mango.org/archives/000170.html. If you would like to get started preparing for one next year, we offer tips on getting started at www.bodyresults.com/E2TriathlonTips.asp and other training suggestions as www.bodyresults.com/s2Danskintriathlon.asp.
If you have one coming up soon and you’re injury free and ready to peak for your event, then:
- Be sure you’ve included a few “brick” sessions in your training; the transition from biking to running, back-to-back, is the trickier of the two, so you will want to know what to expect when going from quadriceps-dominant biking to hamstring-dominant sprinting.
- Visit the area where you’re going to be doing your triathlon and if possible try to stage your own “mini-triathlon” or two at ¾ speed, at least two weeks before the race, to scout out the route – find the hills on the bike and running legs of the course, get familiar with the temperature of the open water, see if there are any issues with visibility, seaweed, winds, etc. For most people, transitioning from lap swimming to open water thrashing is perhaps the most eye-opening part of the triathlon experience, if they have never tried swimming in lakes before.
- Get your bike tuned, and play around with clothing options – unitard, shorts/jog bra, shoes with or without socks, goggles/sunglasses, etc. – and minimize changes of outfits and accessories so you can save time during the transitions.
- If there is an expo the day before a larger national event (such as the Danskin or Seafair triathlons), consider going and participating in a few of the seminars; you might pick up some helpful hints on how to calm your nerves, speed through the transitions, hydrate during the event, or change your stride--for future triathlons, of course! Don’t make any drastic changes to your plan the day before, especially in terms of food or beverage, as that can have dramatic negative consequences!
- Invite friends to come support you during the race, as nothing motivates amateur athletes as well as hearing their name called out when they’re racing toward the finish line!
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