What to Expect From Your First Triathlon
05/25/2010
What to Expect From Your First Triathlon
By Everett Woods
Training for a triathlon is a great way to get in shape or
maintain your motivation to stay in shape. There are 4 primary
types of triathlons to choose from: the sprint triathlon, the
Olympic triathlon, the half Ironman distance and the full
Ironman distance. Due to trademark restrictions on the name
Ironman you'll see many longer triathlons referred to as "iron
distance".
For your first triathlon you should focus on the "sprint"
distance. This is typically between 400-800 meters swimming in a
pool or lake, 20 kilometers of bicycling and 5 kilometers of
running. You will probably wonder how much training you should
do for a first triathlon. It depends on your goals but at a
minimum you should train for each sport 1 time per week. If your
schedule permits training twice per week for each sport will
help you feel more comfortable during the race and after the
race. You should focus on working up to the distance of each leg
in your training cycles. There are many free online resources
for a sprint triathlon training plan.
Think about which of the 3 events is your strongest and then
which one is your weakest. Give your weaker event more focus in
your training. One of the biggest training mistakes you can make
is focusing too much on your favorite event. If you have
difficulty running, then spend a bit more time doing that. If
you have a swimming background then you don't need to focus as
much on that event.
For many people swimming tends to be their weakest event. But
it doesn't have to be for you. Most public swimming facilities
offer lessons for different levels of ability. Check with the
swim team at your local pool to see if they offer private
lessons. If you are really ambitious you could consider joining
the local US Masters Swimming team. A great way to boost your
swim training is to use swim fins. This will give you some added
propulsion to help you stay up on the water and focus on your
proper freestyle technique. There are even some great training
videos available that teach proper swimming technique.
Two important things to practice you might not have considered
are running after riding your bike and the dreaded 4th event
"the transition". If you have never tried running after biking
it will feel pretty strange at first. Your legs will be tried of
spinning circles and you force them to switch directions. Take
time to practice getting off your bike quickly, putting away
your cycling gear, and then putting on your running gear. This
will help simulate your transitions during the race. It seems so
simple but when you're tired and in a hurry you can save
valuable time with a fast transition.
Do not get too hung up on fancy triathlon gear such as heart
rate monitors, aero wheels, or even a carbon fiber bike. You can
spend thousands of dollars on fancy bike but you do not need to
for your first triathlon. In fact you could even borrow a
friend's bike instead as long as it basically fits you. You
could even ride a mountain bike or hybrid bike if you prefer.
You will need a bike helmet so make sure that fits well. And do
not make a rookie mistake like I did once by leaving it in the
car before the race starts. You will not be allowed to leave the
transition area after the swim to start the bike course without
a helmet.
Depending on the size of the race it will begin with a mass
swim start. Some larger ones will break up the swim start into
smaller waves based on age group. Sometimes you'll be allowed to
walk or run into the water and other times you'll start already
in the water. If you're not a comfortable swimmer you should
start at the back of the group to avoid the initial commotion at
the start. It can be rough and sometimes you can get
accidentally kicked or pushed or even have your goggles knocked
off.
When you come out of the water you'll be entering into the
transition area where your bike and run equipment is stored for
what's commonly referred to as T1. After you towel off your feet
you slip on your bike shoes if you have clipless pedals on your
bike otherwise you'll just put on your running shoes if you have
regular style pedals. Take a moment to eat part of an energy bar
or eat an energy gel and drink a bit of your favorite sports
drink. Take your time on the bike course so you can enjoy your
first triathlon. On the bike you can also drink more. Try to
take a few sips every 15 minutes to maintain your hydration
level.
As you complete the bike leg you'll come back to the transition
area for what is known as T2. Take care to rack your bike
properly because you can be penalized if it falls off the rack.
If you are wearing cycling shoes take them off with care to
maintain your balance and not fall over as your legs will be
tired. Some people will even just site on the ground to give
their legs a momentary rest. Put your run shoes on, take another
energy gel, and a few more sips of an energy drink before you
head out of the transition area on to the run course.
Take it easy on the run course and maintain the same pace you
did in training. This will ensure you finish comfortably and not
experience any problems during the run leg. During a sprint
Triathlon there is usually at least 1 water station where you
can get a drink. One technique to drinking while running is to
pinch the top of the closed on one side to help minimize
splashing otherwise just walk while you drink your water.
Crossing the finish line after your first triathlon is a real
milestone. It can be a powerful feeling of accomplishment.
Congratulations you are now part of an exclusive club. You are a
triathlete.
About the Author: Everett is an expert web designer and has
particiapted in triathlons for 15 years. You can check out his
latest website http://www.triathlon-cycling-shoes.com which
reviews and lists triathlon cycling shoes.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=534424&ca=Sports
By Everett Woods
Training for a triathlon is a great way to get in shape or
maintain your motivation to stay in shape. There are 4 primary
types of triathlons to choose from: the sprint triathlon, the
Olympic triathlon, the half Ironman distance and the full
Ironman distance. Due to trademark restrictions on the name
Ironman you'll see many longer triathlons referred to as "iron
distance".
For your first triathlon you should focus on the "sprint"
distance. This is typically between 400-800 meters swimming in a
pool or lake, 20 kilometers of bicycling and 5 kilometers of
running. You will probably wonder how much training you should
do for a first triathlon. It depends on your goals but at a
minimum you should train for each sport 1 time per week. If your
schedule permits training twice per week for each sport will
help you feel more comfortable during the race and after the
race. You should focus on working up to the distance of each leg
in your training cycles. There are many free online resources
for a sprint triathlon training plan.
Think about which of the 3 events is your strongest and then
which one is your weakest. Give your weaker event more focus in
your training. One of the biggest training mistakes you can make
is focusing too much on your favorite event. If you have
difficulty running, then spend a bit more time doing that. If
you have a swimming background then you don't need to focus as
much on that event.
For many people swimming tends to be their weakest event. But
it doesn't have to be for you. Most public swimming facilities
offer lessons for different levels of ability. Check with the
swim team at your local pool to see if they offer private
lessons. If you are really ambitious you could consider joining
the local US Masters Swimming team. A great way to boost your
swim training is to use swim fins. This will give you some added
propulsion to help you stay up on the water and focus on your
proper freestyle technique. There are even some great training
videos available that teach proper swimming technique.
Two important things to practice you might not have considered
are running after riding your bike and the dreaded 4th event
"the transition". If you have never tried running after biking
it will feel pretty strange at first. Your legs will be tried of
spinning circles and you force them to switch directions. Take
time to practice getting off your bike quickly, putting away
your cycling gear, and then putting on your running gear. This
will help simulate your transitions during the race. It seems so
simple but when you're tired and in a hurry you can save
valuable time with a fast transition.
Do not get too hung up on fancy triathlon gear such as heart
rate monitors, aero wheels, or even a carbon fiber bike. You can
spend thousands of dollars on fancy bike but you do not need to
for your first triathlon. In fact you could even borrow a
friend's bike instead as long as it basically fits you. You
could even ride a mountain bike or hybrid bike if you prefer.
You will need a bike helmet so make sure that fits well. And do
not make a rookie mistake like I did once by leaving it in the
car before the race starts. You will not be allowed to leave the
transition area after the swim to start the bike course without
a helmet.
Depending on the size of the race it will begin with a mass
swim start. Some larger ones will break up the swim start into
smaller waves based on age group. Sometimes you'll be allowed to
walk or run into the water and other times you'll start already
in the water. If you're not a comfortable swimmer you should
start at the back of the group to avoid the initial commotion at
the start. It can be rough and sometimes you can get
accidentally kicked or pushed or even have your goggles knocked
off.
When you come out of the water you'll be entering into the
transition area where your bike and run equipment is stored for
what's commonly referred to as T1. After you towel off your feet
you slip on your bike shoes if you have clipless pedals on your
bike otherwise you'll just put on your running shoes if you have
regular style pedals. Take a moment to eat part of an energy bar
or eat an energy gel and drink a bit of your favorite sports
drink. Take your time on the bike course so you can enjoy your
first triathlon. On the bike you can also drink more. Try to
take a few sips every 15 minutes to maintain your hydration
level.
As you complete the bike leg you'll come back to the transition
area for what is known as T2. Take care to rack your bike
properly because you can be penalized if it falls off the rack.
If you are wearing cycling shoes take them off with care to
maintain your balance and not fall over as your legs will be
tired. Some people will even just site on the ground to give
their legs a momentary rest. Put your run shoes on, take another
energy gel, and a few more sips of an energy drink before you
head out of the transition area on to the run course.
Take it easy on the run course and maintain the same pace you
did in training. This will ensure you finish comfortably and not
experience any problems during the run leg. During a sprint
Triathlon there is usually at least 1 water station where you
can get a drink. One technique to drinking while running is to
pinch the top of the closed on one side to help minimize
splashing otherwise just walk while you drink your water.
Crossing the finish line after your first triathlon is a real
milestone. It can be a powerful feeling of accomplishment.
Congratulations you are now part of an exclusive club. You are a
triathlete.
About the Author: Everett is an expert web designer and has
particiapted in triathlons for 15 years. You can check out his
latest website http://www.triathlon-cycling-shoes.com which
reviews and lists triathlon cycling shoes.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=534424&ca=Sports
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