Faster T1 & T2 tips???
417
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1179 days
BrianMc posted 3 years ago.
There are Easy Laces or Yankz (got a lot of abuse over recommending these ones last time), that are elastic, with a pull tight thingy on them. You can just slide your feer in and go. I love them. Saves you like 30 seconds on T2.
My advice is to practice your transitions. A lot of people forget about them, but in a sprint race espcially, 30 seconds can be a big difference in placing.
Brian
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1174 days
jaymac96 posted 3 years ago.
Thx Brian...you're right; the one area i didn't train were my transitions...
-Jay Mac
www.shorelinesharks.com
83
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1281 days
ShellKG posted 3 years ago.
i just got my Yankz laces yesterday and I have to say, I love them! The are so quick!
Jaymac, I'm in the same boat. I have my first sprint tri this Sunday and I am nervous about forgetting something, or trying to put my jersey on after my helmet... all that stuff... I'm even having dreams/nightmares about stuff!!
Glad yours went well, and any advice of what you found helpful would be appreciated!!
Shell
71
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1174 days
jaymac96 posted 3 years ago.
Shell, from 1 newbie to another, the biggest piece of advice i got from this site was: MAKE A LIST. Then, the nite before i packed everything, and checked them off.
Come up with a plan, run it through your head (or practice it in your backyard; big mistake i did NOT do), then stick to it. Couple little things i did: roll up your socks before you put them on; they're easier to roll up your wet feet to get them on. Having a wetsuit made life easier b/c i didn't have to try and pull on a top over my wet body. Get a race # belt.
It's your 1st race, so ENJOY yourself. You're only going to get better. I literally cut my T1 time in half from my first race, but i can see it getting even faster.
Good luck...you'll do great!!!
-Jay Mac
www.shorelinesharks.com
83
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1281 days
ShellKG posted 3 years ago.
Thanks Jay!
I appreciate all the input I can get... haven't heard the sock one yet... will definitely do that !
3349
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1362 days
RV posted 3 years ago.
Go sockless. Saves even more time.
Try it in training both on the bike and for a run before ever trying it in a race.
Want to be sure your shoes don't cause any blisters etc.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
71
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1174 days
jaymac96 posted 3 years ago.
You're welcome.....got the sock thing off this site, so i take NO credit for it. But it totally works!!!
-Jay Mac
www.shorelinesharks.com
71
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1174 days
4667
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1676 days
beads1985 posted 3 years ago.
Make a list of equipment you will need an break it down by section in order.
For example
-PRE RACE
-SWIM
-T1
-BIKE
-T2
-RUN
-POST RACE
Then think of everything you do in in each section and equip yourself accordingly.
Get there early and set up your transition area.
Then walk around and see how others have their Transitions set up.
Then just do it!!
If you have a problem or realize you forgot something don't stress.
Work around it and finish the event. Have Fun!!
Each time I do an event I learn something new and try stuff to see how it works out.
When you get done with the event and clean your gear go over what you need to pack for next time. I have some stuff packed right after I clean up the gear.
Nothing to it, but to do it
487
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1274 days
Tamara posted 3 years ago.
What I've done in my first two tris is essentially to stack the stuff I need in the order I need it for each transition. For example, coming out of the swim I have my foot towel and bottle of water, laying on top of my jersey (race # already pinned to it), laying on top of my socks, laying on top of my cycling shoes. Then the sunglasses are in the helmet hanging on the handlebars. For T2 I have my running hat laying on top of my running shoes (and in one of them is a gel already torn open so all I have to do is squirt).
That way, everything is ready in the order that I need it in, and I don't forget anything. Or at least I haven't so far!
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
283
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1338 days
Amy Lee posted 3 years ago.
i agree with RV, go sockless for a sprint! put a little vaseline around the top edge and into the heal and tongue of your bike and running shoes and they'll slip right on!
make a mental note of where your transition area is before the race starts. practice coming from the swim exit to t1 so you know which way to go! it's great if you have something like a balloon or a bright colored towel to identify your spot. i always have trouble finding my bike at T1. when i come out of the water the whole transition area seems to be from another planet and i hear my hubby yelling " no Amy, you're over there... over there!!" so i always end up losing precious time looking for my bike or running shoes!
make sure the top of your water bottle is open so you don't have to struggle with it. i also like to pre-tear a gel pack and tape it to the bike frame for easy access.
just my limited newbie 2 cents!
good luck Shell! have a great time!
amy
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1281 days
ShellKG posted 3 years ago.
Thanks Amy, Tamara, Beads! Very good info! Thanks for the encouragement!
Shell
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1221 days
zcowgirl3 posted 3 years ago.
Wetsuit: Peel off like a banana and go to socks
Sunglasses: are on my shoes so those go on then my belt w/ my # on it does
Socks: step on towel to get crap off feet then put on socks
Shoes: I don't tie mine, they're already tied to my comfort as well as to slip my feet in and out quick (I don't have clip yet but for people who don't)
Helmet: on my bik so before I grab and go I put that on then take my bike and go
T2: Bike: put it on rack, take off helmet and grab a gel
(shoes are already on so saves me time)
Hope that helps.
97
Member
1322 days
xcdave posted 3 years ago.
Just a note about going sockless - make sure to train without socks before you do it in a race. I tried going sockless for one run and got some a mad blister on the outside of my foot. Better to find out if it works for you BEFORE a race :)
4667
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1676 days
beads1985 posted 3 years ago.
As I have posted in other forums I am a big fan of socks.
If you practice it putting on your socks only takes a few extra seconds.
I have never gottne a blister.
Which can slow your time down in a race, and inhibit your training on another day.
I rather be safe than sorry.
Just my .02
Nothing to it, but to do it
1576
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1356 days
brittda posted 3 years ago.
I cannot go sockless esp on a long race...its worth the 20 seconds to put them on, just my own opinion.
2834
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1318 days
Anton posted 3 years ago.
get to the race early enough to practice...from the swim out to your bike...bike out...bike in... back to your spot on the rack...run out...walk through it. get it down. Saves alot of time.Mentally practice standing there looking at yer stuff.
On the sock thing..I wear my socks to the raceand when i set up in the T area I take them off and put the right one in the right shoe and the left one in the left shoe. Roll em up. Sock less is ok..but I have gotten blisters when I tried it.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
3349
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1362 days
RV posted 3 years ago.
Like I mentioned earlier, try going sockless in training (several times) - especially doing bricks.
If you don't have feet issues, i.e. blisters, hot spots etc, then go for it.
In a sprint 20 - 30 seconds can be a big jump in the placings.
I've gone sockless up through a 1/2IM. Will definitely use socks for my IM though.
I put powder in the shoes, that helps a lot. Others use vaseline etc.
Sockless with yankz (or equivalent) saves time, but not worth it if causes blisters.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
6
Member
1185 days
nytrigal posted 3 years ago.
Wear what ever you're planning to wear in the race for all three events. Trying to put a top on a wet body is nearly impossible.
A checklist helps a lot. This is my list. I've used this list for 15 years, and have added to it over the years.
Swim
tri suit
wet suit
goggles
body glide
swim cap
Bike
helmet
sunglasses
socks
shoes
Run
shoes
number belt
hat
Misc
Sunscreen
Timing Chip
towels
Energy bars
gels
sweats
change of clothing
USAT Card
photo ID
garbage bags
I have this in Excel with check boxes. If I'm not using a particular item I put a n/a in the box.
212
Member
1591 days
trimedic posted 3 years ago.
I believe these have been mentioned before but I didn't I got them from another triathlete after a race where I struggled in T1....
Lace logs...I have the Yankz as mentioned and I love them
Go without socks.
Baby powder...put the baby powder in your shoes and if you plan to wear socks put it them as well. It's tough to pull on shoes or socks with wet feet. Baby powders allows them to slide right in.
I also put things in the T area in the order which I want to put them on. Sunglasses are in my helmet, they go on then my helmet goes on, grab my bike and a away I go.
Just a few things that work for me.
283
Member
1338 days
Amy Lee posted 3 years ago.
i like sockless for a sprint. today i did an oly and i wore socks as a precaution because of the longer distance. i rolled the socks and i have to say... that is a great tip! they went right on... no struggle at all!
thanks!
amy
So i just completed my 2nd Tri. It was a sprint, and my times were faster than my 1st (although they mis-measured the swim, and it ended up being longer than .5 miles!!) Anyway, i was also able to cut down my transition times (even with wearing a wetsuit for the 1st time, and having trouble with the breakaway zipper). But, as i looked over the results, my transition splits were still ALOT slower than those that finished around me.
I've taken some good tips from this site, but if anyone has anything that they do to cut down their T1 & T2, i would greatly appreciate it.
Also, what do people do with their running sneakers regarding the laces??? I figure that tying my sneakers killed my T2.
-Jay Mac
www.shorelinesharks.com