Ok... I'm a High Schoool runner/ endurance sport fanatic. I've decided to jump into a sprint triathlon on August 31th just for fun. The problem is I have no clue how one completes a triathlon. Specific rules, equipment, what to wear, transition from swim to bike and bike to run, etc. So how do triathlons work?

Hi there! I would highly suggest going to your local bookstore and getting a triathlon book and a tri training journal. They have many different books on tri's and at least two specifically geared to newbies. I know mine were invaluable!

Don't worry about it. It's your first time out and there's bound to be nerves.

There are places you can surf to, but the best way is to talk to the other Triathletes at the race, who will be more than willing to impart 'tricks of the trade' to you.

Essentially you will need:

Swim gear - goggles, nose clip (optional), wet suit (temperatures low enough to deem one necessary), swim cap (some events provide these).

Transition - Fresh Water bowl (if you just run up a beach, you want to get the sand off), towel (to lay out kit on and for drying feet), watch/ask how other athletes lay out the kit.

Bike - Cycle helmet, a bike (road or off-road), fluids on the bike, cycle shoes (if wearing running shoes for this and the run, I advise fitting pedal straps). For speed most athletes keep their shoes clipped onto the pedals).

Run - (if you have a tri-suit, this will be enough for the 3 events) vest & shorts, running shoes (talcom powder in socks and runners will aid drying feet, and getting them on), hat, sun-shades (if hot day).


Your going to be excited at the start of your first race, this can lead to not being able to breathe properly in the first strokes of the swim, just try and control it and DON'T PANIC. Keep away from the pack, it's your first race, take it easy.

Think through your transition, what are you going to put on and in what order, practice (trying to put a vest on over a cycle helmet is quite a trick) this as it will then become natural.

Cycling, no drafting and listen for the rules for following and overtaking. At the end of the cycle, say the last km, click down on your gears and spin those legs to rid them of lactate, do some toe and heel presses, this will help you transit into the run with less of a wobbly leg. Take on fluids and enrgy bars. Try to stay in the seat, even if it means use of gears into wind or up hills. Ask about 'mount/dismount' lines, entry/exit transition rules.

Enjoy the run and the race, run at your own pace and try to not get pulled into someone else's pace, you'll catch and pass them if you have the legs.


KEEP SMILING.

I just read the reply to your question- and it answered so many of mine! Who in the world would think about bringing a 'fresh water bowl'! I wish I could find a book titled something like "triathlons for the completely clueless" where -waterbowls and the use of talcum powder were described with full page pictures.....Thank you to all of the veterens out there who take the time to explain all the 'obvious' things! We really need it!

Melissa,

I would also recommend Vaseline (petroleum Jelly) for those areas that get sweaty and sensitive during a race.

There's nothing worse (and takes longer to heel) than a friction burn on your most sensitive bits.

Glyn. :cool:

I don't recommend to have your shoes on the pedals when you start, unless you have trained that. It's real easy to get a bad fit in your shoe, unless you have a specific triathlon biking-shoe that are easy to put on and off. I have size 47 in shoes, so I will probably never find a tri-shoe :)

Smart things to have that really helps are a race-belt and as mention already bodyglide, see www.trisports.com.


>>Fresh Water bowl >> I wouldn't use that, as long as the transition area are on a sandbeach of course. Because as soon as your feet dries the sand will come off, as it will when you run to the transitionarea.

One thing I could recommend is to have a shoehorn for the transition for bike->run if you don't have speedlaces. You could build your own speedlaces if you are handy, see picture at: www.speed-laces.com