15 Tips for your First Triathlon Race

Published by kellypuffer on

As a beginner women triathlete, there are many unanswered questions, particularly when it comes down to the triathlon race.  We wanted to share 15 things that we would have appreciated knowing before the race to make it as enjoyable as possible. From setting up, to mindset tips and useful equipment purchases. Read on if you’re a beginner ready to ace your first race!

Our 15 Race Tips!

  1. Don’t Feel Threatened by what other triathletes do and what kit or bikes they have. They may have all the gear, but no idea!
  2. Start Off Slow. Don’t go out too hard, too soon in any of the sport disciplines, nor during the transition. Keep to your pace, enjoy the buzzing atmosphere and ignore what everyone else around you is doing. Many beginner triathletes start off too fast and 10 minutes later they realise that keeping that pace is impossible. They are already exhausted and they are forced to slow down. If you remember to keep steady and slow right from the start, you’ll avoid burning out too soon. If you have energy a few k out from the finish, then this is the time to give it your all!
  3. Do Your Thing Stick to what you have learnt and know and don’t be tempted to follow others. Even if that’s what they are eating, how they are dressed, how they have set up transition. Trust in what you have learned and planned for your race!
  4. Visualize Your Race. It sounds silly, but even the pro’s do it. Not only visualise yourself cross that finish line strong with a smile, but also take time to see yourself at the start of the race and each consecutive part. Work through and visualise what you do when you exit the swim and run into transition. Take yourself through every step you need to do to jump on the bike and then when you transition from the bike to the run!
  5. Learn the 4th Discipline – The Transitions. Don’t leave it until race day to understand what you have to do when taking yourself from the swim to the bike and then to the run! The more chance you get to practise beforehand, the more it feels natural when it comes to the race and you’ll feel much more relaxed when it comes to race day knowing what you need to do. Psst. here is How to Set Up your Transition Zone!
  6. Put Your Helmet On When you enter transition to set up, and when you race make sure your helmet is always on and done up before your touch your bike! In the rush of things, it’s easy to forget to put it on. If you rest your helmet in a really obvious place, there’s no chance of forgetting! You could place it either resting on the bike handle bars or on top of your bike shoes or trainers.
  7.  No time for a Shower after the Swim That’s right, you exit the swim and run straight to your bike! (Don’t worry, you soon dry off and forget about it!)
  8. Get Open-Water Swim Practice in Early. If you have signed up to an open-water race, practice many times before. It’s not just about getting a feel for the wetsuit and the sensation of being in open-water. It’s knowing that you might not be able to see what’s beneath you, or in front of you, or even see your hand enter the water! You’ll learn that swimming in a straight line isn’t so simple. You’ll understand the importance of practicing ‘sighting’ (looking where you are going whilst swimming). You’ll learn to swim with waves and wind and maybe other fish or obstacles in the water! Here’s our Top Tips about Open-Water Swimming.
  9. Panic in the Swim? Worry not! You can stop to rest in the swim section if you get tired. If you have a wetsuit, this will help with buoyancy but the kayaks are also there to help and rest if you need. You can also swim any stroke – it doesn’t have to be free style.
  10. Consistency and Sleep Is the No.1 formula to a Happy Triathlete! So what I mean by that is being consistent in your training and sleeping a good number of hours. So enjoy being that sid-the-sloth after your work-out…it’s the life of a Triathlete 😉
  11. Follow a Training Plan Train SMART. It doesn’t mean you need to be following it rigidly, but following a plan helps you understand the type of training sessions you should do to help you train smart, so you see progress as quickly as possible and gain confidence week by week!
  12. Find A Friend A friend to train with, or even better, to do the race together! It makes the experience much more exciting. You can share each others concerns, support each other and just have fun sharing your stories.
  13. Practice Nutrition Before. So even if it’s a shorter distance triathlon, you might want to have some sort of nutrition planned to keep your energy levels up. Whatever nutrition you would like to use, test them during your training sessions. You might not digest certain foods well, especially when you are using all your energy to race!
  14. Invest in a Race Belt to keep things simple during the race. Wondering what this is? We’ve got you sorted, take a quick look at What is a Triathlon Race Belt?
  15. Your Time Doesn’t Matter! Heck, of course it doesn’t matter. It’s your First Triathlon. Here it’s all about having FUN, taking in the atmosphere, meeting like-minded triathletes and getting the bug for it to continue.

Now go Ace your Race! We're right behind you!

If you want to learn exactly what triathlon gear you need to complete your first triathlon race, we’ve created a free downloadable Beginner Triathlon Kit List for Women! You didn’t think we forget that did you 🙂  

As a beginner women triathlete, there are many unanswered questions, particularly when it comes down to the triathlon race.  We wanted to share 15 things that we would have appreciated knowing before the race to make it as enjoyable as possible. From setting up, to mindset tips and useful equipment purchases. Read on if you’re a beginner ready to ace your first race!

Our 15 Race Tips!

  1. Don’t Feel Threatened by what other triathletes do and what kit or bikes they have. They may have all the gear, but no idea!
  2. Start Off Slow. Don’t go out too hard, too soon in any of the sport disciplines, nor during the transition. Keep to your pace, enjoy the buzzing atmosphere and ignore what everyone else around you is doing. Many beginner triathletes start off too fast and 10 minutes later they realise that keeping that pace is impossible. They are already exhausted and they are forced to slow down. If you remember to keep steady and slow right from the start, you’ll avoid burning out too soon. If you have energy a few k out from the finish, then this is the time to give it your all!
  3. Do Your Thing Stick to what you have learnt and know and don’t be tempted to follow others. Even if that’s what they are eating, how they are dressed, how they have set up transition. Trust in what you have learned and planned for your race!
  4. Visualize Your Race. It sounds silly, but even the pro’s do it. Not only visualise yourself cross that finish line strong with a smile, but also take time to see yourself at the start of the race and each consecutive part. Work through and visualise what you do when you exit the swim and run into transition. Take yourself through every step you need to do to jump on the bike and then when you transition from the bike to the run!
  5. Learn the 4th Discipline – The Transitions. Don’t leave it until race day to understand what you have to do when taking yourself from the swim to the bike and then to the run! The more chance you get to practise beforehand, the more it feels natural when it comes to the race and you’ll feel much more relaxed when it comes to race day knowing what you need to do. Psst. here is How to Set Up your Transition Zone!
  6. Put Your Helmet On When you enter transition to set up, and when you race make sure your helmet is always on and done up before your touch your bike! In the rush of things, it’s easy to forget to put it on. If you rest your helmet in a really obvious place, there’s no chance of forgetting! You could place it either resting on the bike handle bars or on top of your bike shoes or trainers.
  7.  No time for a Shower after the Swim That’s right, you exit the swim and run straight to your bike! (Don’t worry, you soon dry off and forget about it!)
  8. Get Open-Water Swim Practice in Early. If you have signed up to an open-water race, practice many times before. It’s not just about getting a feel for the wetsuit and the sensation of being in open-water. It’s knowing that you might not be able to see what’s beneath you, or in front of you, or even see your hand enter the water! You’ll learn that swimming in a straight line isn’t so simple. You’ll understand the importance of practicing ‘sighting’ (looking where you are going whilst swimming). You’ll learn to swim with waves and wind and maybe other fish or obstacles in the water! Here’s our Top Tips about Open-Water Swimming.
  9. Panic in the Swim? Worry not! You can stop to rest in the swim section if you get tired. If you have a wetsuit, this will help with buoyancy but the kayaks are also there to help and rest if you need. You can also swim any stroke – it doesn’t have to be free style.
  10. Consistency and Sleep Is the No.1 formula to a Happy Triathlete! So what I mean by that is being consistent in your training and sleeping a good number of hours. So enjoy being that sid-the-sloth after your work-out…it’s the life of a Triathlete 😉
  11. Follow a Training Plan Train SMART. It doesn’t mean you need to be following it rigidly, but following a plan helps you understand the type of training sessions you should do to help you train smart, so you see progress as quickly as possible and gain confidence week by week!
  12. Find A Friend A friend to train with, or even better, to do the race together! It makes the experience much more exciting. You can share each others concerns, support each other and just have fun sharing your stories.
  13. Practice Nutrition Before. So even if it’s a shorter distance triathlon, you might want to have some sort of nutrition planned to keep your energy levels up. Whatever nutrition you would like to use, test them during your training sessions. You might not digest certain foods well, especially when you are using all your energy to race!
  14. Invest in a Race Belt to keep things simple during the race. Wondering what this is? We’ve got you sorted, take a quick look at What is a Triathlon Race Belt?
  15. Your Time Doesn’t Matter! Heck, of course it doesn’t matter. It’s your First Triathlon. Here it’s all about having FUN, taking in the atmosphere, meeting like-minded triathletes and getting the bug for it to continue.

Now go Ace your Race! We're right behind you!

If you want to learn exactly what triathlon gear you need to complete your first triathlon race, we’ve created a free downloadable Beginner Triathlon Kit List for Women! You didn’t think we forget that did you 🙂  

A beginners guide to your first triathlon race

Why not know it all now if you have the chance to already, without finding things out on the day or maybe even too late! 

     

As a beginner women triathlete, there are many unanswered questions, particularly when it comes down to the triathlon race.  We wanted to share 15 things that we would have appreciated knowing before the race to make it as enjoyable as possible. From setting up, to mindset tips and useful equipment purchases. Read on if you’re a beginner ready to ace your first race!

Our 15 Race Tips!

  1. Don’t Feel Threatened by what other triathletes do and what kit or bikes they have. They may have all the gear, but no idea!
  2. Start Off Slow. Don’t go out too hard, too soon in any of the sport disciplines, nor during the transition. Keep to your pace, enjoy the buzzing atmosphere and ignore what everyone else around you is doing. Many beginner triathletes start off too fast and 10 minutes later they realise that keeping that pace is impossible. They are already exhausted and they are forced to slow down. If you remember to keep steady and slow right from the start, you’ll avoid burning out too soon. If you have energy a few k out from the finish, then this is the time to give it your all!
  3. Do Your Thing Stick to what you have learnt and know and don’t be tempted to follow others. Even if that’s what they are eating, how they are dressed, how they have set up transition. Trust in what you have learned and planned for your race!
  4. Visualize Your Race. It sounds silly, but even the pro’s do it. Not only visualise yourself cross that finish line strong with a smile, but also take time to see yourself at the start of the race and each consecutive part. Work through and visualise what you do when you exit the swim and run into transition. Take yourself through every step you need to do to jump on the bike and then when you transition from the bike to the run!
  5. Learn the 4th Discipline – The Transitions. Don’t leave it until race day to understand what you have to do when taking yourself from the swim to the bike and then to the run! The more chance you get to practise beforehand, the more it feels natural when it comes to the race and you’ll feel much more relaxed when it comes to race day knowing what you need to do. Psst. here is How to Set Up your Transition Zone!
  6. Put Your Helmet On When you enter transition to set up, and when you race make sure your helmet is always on and done up before your touch your bike! In the rush of things, it’s easy to forget to put it on. If you rest your helmet in a really obvious place, there’s no chance of forgetting! You could place it either resting on the bike handle bars or on top of your bike shoes or trainers.
  7.  No time for a Shower after the Swim That’s right, you exit the swim and run straight to your bike! (Don’t worry, you soon dry off and forget about it!)
  8. Get Open-Water Swim Practice in Early. If you have signed up to an open-water race, practice many times before. It’s not just about getting a feel for the wetsuit and the sensation of being in open-water. It’s knowing that you might not be able to see what’s beneath you, or in front of you, or even see your hand enter the water! You’ll learn that swimming in a straight line isn’t so simple. You’ll understand the importance of practicing ‘sighting’ (looking where you are going whilst swimming). You’ll learn to swim with waves and wind and maybe other fish or obstacles in the water! Here’s our Top Tips about Open-Water Swimming.
  9. Panic in the Swim? Worry not! You can stop to rest in the swim section if you get tired. If you have a wetsuit, this will help with buoyancy but the kayaks are also there to help and rest if you need. You can also swim any stroke – it doesn’t have to be free style.
  10. Consistency and Sleep Is the No.1 formula to a Happy Triathlete! So what I mean by that is being consistent in your training and sleeping a good number of hours. So enjoy being that sid-the-sloth after your work-out…it’s the life of a Triathlete 😉
  11. Follow a Training Plan Train SMART. It doesn’t mean you need to be following it rigidly, but following a plan helps you understand the type of training sessions you should do to help you train smart, so you see progress as quickly as possible and gain confidence week by week!
  12. Find A Friend A friend to train with, or even better, to do the race together! It makes the experience much more exciting. You can share each others concerns, support each other and just have fun sharing your stories.
  13. Practice Nutrition Before. So even if it’s a shorter distance triathlon, you might want to have some sort of nutrition planned to keep your energy levels up. Whatever nutrition you would like to use, test them during your training sessions. You might not digest certain foods well, especially when you are using all your energy to race!
  14. Invest in a Race Belt to keep things simple during the race. Wondering what this is? We’ve got you sorted, take a quick look at What is a Triathlon Race Belt?
  15. Your Time Doesn’t Matter! Heck, of course it doesn’t matter. It’s your First Triathlon. Here it’s all about having FUN, taking in the atmosphere, meeting like-minded triathletes and getting the bug for it to continue.

Now go Ace your Race! We're right behind you!

If you want to learn exactly what triathlon gear you need to complete your first triathlon race, we’ve created a free downloadable Beginner Triathlon Kit List for Women! You didn’t think we forget that did you 🙂  

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