When I turn up at a race, any race, I'm nervous. I've been taking part in Triathlons for over fifteen years and I still get nervous. That's a good thing! It means I care about what's about to happen... it means I care if I have a good or bad race... but it also means you can make very simple mistakes.
I go to every race venue with a plan... its not rocket science... its not a complicated plan but its my plan. Keep it simple...
Coach’s Race Day Tips: There is a list of equipment for your race here
- Before you do anything else, get registered.
- You may need body marking too... that will either be at registration or somewhere specific.
- Once you have registered, sort your bike out. Put it together, check everything is working. Pump your tyres up.
- Put your bottles on the bike.
- Put any numbers required for the race on now too.
- Helmet - apply any numbers and check the straps
- Some people like to go for a short spin at this point (its not always practical but a 10min spin is a good way to check the velocipede).
- Go and set up transition...
- Rack bike, helmet on bars or neatly on floor, sunglasses in helmet
- Number belt (with number pinned to it!) if not wearing it under your wetsuit
- Bike shoes - either fastened to bike (IF YOU HAVE NOT PRACTICED THIS DO NOT DO IT IN THE RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME!) or neatly next to your bike.
- Talc inside the shoes
- Little bit of vaseline on the heel
- Run shoes - neatly behind your bike shoes
- Talc inside the shoes
- Little bit of vaseline on the heel
- Make sure you leave them so you can get your foot in.
Transition set up done.
Get out of there, don't hang around in transition. Now...
1. Warm up as best you can. Every race is different but if you can’t ride a bike warm-up then you should do a short run warm-up and a few easy run activation exercises before the race - maybe 30min before your wave. For the swim you can bring some stretch cords and do a few minutes of easy pulling to get your swim muscles activated or lots of arms swinging - a good 10mins before your swim.
2. Dial in your pre-race nutrition. Typically I would sip on water and/or sports drink up until 1 hour before your race starts. I also suggest taking in a gel a few minutes before your wave starts as well.
3. Start your swim off right. BUILD into the swim rather than trying to go flat out at the beginning. Leave the super fast starts to the elite age groupers and pros! Sight often and stay on course. Better to go straight and go a little slower vs. going fast and swimming off-course.
4. Get settled into the bike section. Ride at your pace. Don't get sucked in to 'racing' the faster cyclists. Leave them alone, you do your thing... however, be aware of other athletes on the road. Break the bike section down into smaller chunks... if its laps then count laps... if its 56miles then its 4x 14miles etc.
5. Pace the run.
6. Enjoy it. Most people taking part in Triathlon do it as a hobby. Therefore we need to enjoy what we do. Smile... wave... high 5 friends...
Be nervous... that's good... don't be scared... it is just a swim, bike and run with a number on.
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Paul is a Professional Endurance Coach. Passionate about the sport of Triathlon. Paul empowers athletic achievements with quality individualised bespoke coaching. Coach Paul is a British Triathlon Federation Level 3 High Performing Coach, an IRONMAN Certified Coach and a Triathlon Australia Performance Coach.
F4L Triathlon Coaching offers triathletes and other endurance athletes a full coaching and training service that caters to all levels of triathletes. Paul offers professional triathlon and endurance training support and the reliability triathletes and multisport athletes require. Each athlete is an individual, every athlete has different needs.
