Triathlon Pre-Event Race Pack: What and How
Understand what to do with everything in your pre-race pack and avoid that added stress!
In triathlon races, you are given a dedicated race number to you can be tracked, identified and easily seen by the race officials. Before the race, the organisation will inform you via email or on their website as to when you can collect the pre-race pack. You’ll also be able to see what number you are via the website too.
In some races, you can even pick up your pack the evening before the race, so you have time to organise yourself. We like going the evening before so that there is just one less thing to worry about on the morning of the race. In the morning, your mind has a million-and-one other things to think about. Sometimes there is also quite a queue to pick up the pack so to avoid any added stress, we make our way the day before (maybe we also love an excuse to get away for a holiday and explore a new area too! Hey, why not?)
For those who have never done triathlon, here you’ll understand everything you need to do to get the pack and understand what to do with it once you have it! Sometimes, it’s not so clear and some additional instructions could be quite useful. So hopefully this can be useful.
Go grab your pre-pack...
So you have located where you need to go to get your race pack. Great, you’ll most probably need to take a form of ID, your registration confirmation and it is always useful to know your race number. Also now, during covid times, we must also complete a declaration form.
What's inside...
Great so now you’ve got the pack and you’ve checked that it’s yours with your name or race number. It should include at least the following:
- race number
- at least 3 different stickers
- a long one for your bike
- between 1-3 smaller ones for your helmet
- 1 for your drop-off bag
- timing chip
- swimming cap
- race briefing instructions*
You have collected your pack and double-checked that it contains these items – before moving too far from the area? Great, now let’s understand more about each item.
Race Number
This number must be with you at all times once you arrive after you have completed the swim. Most people have ‘race-belts’ that make it quick and easy to attach around your waist for the bike and run. They are simply elasticated thin bands that you clip like a buckle around your waist. They are fairly cheap to purchase too, some as little as 8 € – just type in ‘triathlon race belt’ and you’ll find a bunch.
For the BIKE ride, the number must be visible from the back.
For the RUN, the number but be visible from the front.
With the race belt, as you can imagine it’s easy enough to swivel around. If you don’t have a race belt, it’s worth checking if you will be given 2 race numbers in the pack. If you have 2 you can use safety pins to attach one to the front of your t-shirt and one on the back. It’s worth bringing safety pins as it’s hit and miss if you’ll be provided with them.
We have also found ourselves wasting a lot of time trying to create a hole in the race numbers. We have found that races differ on what material they use to make these race numbers, but some are not easy to create a hole for your race belt (even those with the special hole-piercing functionality)! The easiest solution for this is to bring either a hole punch or simply a pair of scissors.
Stickers
So we have definitely scratched our heads wondering where the stickers go as often we are given the pack without any instructions. Here is what to do with each:
The long sticker must be placed underneath your bike saddle and be visible from the side (like in the photo).
The shorter stickers will be for your helmet. You should have at least one sticker for your helmet to place on the front. If you have more, then they must go on the side of your helmet.
You may also be given an additional sticker to attach to a bag for drop-off. This will be where you can leave your valuables in a guarded area ready to collect once you have finished the race. You might pop in this bag warm clothes, your phone, car keys, a drink and of course, a well-deserved snack you’ve been dreaming of during the race!
Timing Chip
The timing chip will record your exact times so keep this safe! It must be worn on your ankle at ALL times, even for the swim.
Usually, the race will provide you with the chip and the ankle band. It’s happened once to us that you are giving just the chip which you must attach yourself to your own band. You can find easily an adjustable timing chip strap on amazon for as little as 5 pounds/euro. This was highlighted during the purchase of the registration, but if it’s not clear or written anywhere on the website, just double check with the race organisers.
The chip will time every section of your race so at the end of the triathlon, you will have a breakdown of all of your timings including the swim, T1, bike, T2 and run times!
One thing to note is that the timing chip has prevented us from slipping off that wetsuit quickly. In fact, it’s created quite a comical scene for the spectators, watching a triathlete succumb to sitting down during the first transition to pull the wetsuit back up her leg, remove the timing chip and finally pull off the wetsuit. It may well give the spectators something to laugh at, but it’s SO not cool for us athletes in the race and it’s a huge time waster. So taking an extra 5 seconds to remove it and REATTACH IT WELL (let’s not forget), might well be worth considering. We also explain how this can be done more easily in our post: Speedy wetsuit removal for triathlete women: tips and tricks.
As soon as you are given this, put it on your ankle so you avoid misplacing it before the race starts or stick it in your swim cap so you don’t forget to put it on once your wetsuit is on.
At the end of the race, on exit from the finish line, you will have to return the chip. Watch out, if you have lost it during the race, you may be asked to pay a small fee – best not to loose it 🙂
The Swim Cap
We have always been given a cap to wear for the race, but there is a chance that you won’t get one. Therefore, we suggest you always bring a swim cap of your own. If you are given one, you are obliged to wear it for the race. The cool thing is that you get to keep it, so fingers crossed you get a funky colour one and save a few pennies from having to buy them. We love it when we get super-awesome PINK swim caps, yipee!
Yes, your cap colour matters! Yes, that’s right, it’s not just to make a pretty rainbow birds-eye view picture when we are all in the water swimming away. Usually, the colours define groups or genders so that we can be more easily recognised and organised at the beginning of the race for the correct start times. If you find yourself in a group all with different colours hats, you may be altered that somethings not quite right! So we always like to have a look around to see what colours are out there, and if there’s more of a distinction to it than that of solely gender.
Check again that it is the correct number, if written, then stick your googles in it and leave them close to your wetsuit/swim stuff so it doesn’t get lost or forgotten.
The Briefing Instructions
There will always be a briefing before the triathlon race. Sometimes it is written, sometimes it is a small video, and other times, it is a meeting in-person on the day of the event to go through last minute details and changes.
If you have been a good triathlete and have read all the instructions sent to you by email and on the website before the event, well first of all, well done. Some of us are better at preparation than others – some like the surprise aspect, others like to know exactly what you’re about to face. But, whether you are there for the adventure or prefer the certainty, these briefing instructions must be read. The final breifing may re-iterate what you know already from previous information, but it also can highlight differences from what was originally planned. The courses may have changed and the number of rounds required to complete too, so be ready and read it not once, but at least twice to make sure you have taken in the rules and regulations of the day.
Now you’re super pumped and prepared, it’s time to enjoy the race!
