Taking on your first triathlon is a daunting task (especially if you only recently learned to swim properly like myself), but it is possible to dive in at the deep end (literally) and complete an amazing challenge!
Here are my tips to help you prepare for your first triathlon and ace 3 disciplines in a single race!
How To Prepare For Your First Triathlon
1. Book onto Swimming Lessons
Do you swim one 25m lap of a swimming pool and find yourself gasping for air? That was me. 2 laps and I was pretty much done. With a triathlon event looming, I knew that I needed to improve massively.
I got over my initial fears of open water swimming by booking into an open water induction with (loveopenwater), which taught me the basics and got me comfortable with being in the deep end. I followed this up with an open water front crawl masterclass which took my swimming ability to a whole other level.
Two swimming lessons, a few open water swims and a huge boost in confidence, all for less than £100. The best investment I made in 2021! I’m no Michael Phelps, but I can swim a hell of a lot further now.
2. Put in Time on a Bike
The cycle is the longest section of a triathlon, so I definitely recommend getting out on your bike… a lot. You’ll need to build up your endurance and ensure you’re comfortable on a saddle for a prolonged period of time.
I would also recommend finding out if your first triathlon is an open or closed road event so that you know what to prepare for. I have never been comfortable riding on open roads, despite having done a few cycling events over the years. Luckily for me, my first triathlon was a closed road event which meant I didn’t need to compete with any cars.
With enough cycling practice, you’ll be less apprehensive and better prepared for the second part of your first triathlon.
3. Incorporate Brick sessions
Brick sessions is a term that was completely alien to me a few weeks before taking on my first triathlon. The idea of jumping off of a bike you have been cycling on for awhile and heading straight into a run may seem fine… until you try it for the first time.
Your legs will feel like jelly (or like bricks – hence the name) after cycling for so long, so practicing combining these 2 disciplines will make the world of difference come race day.
4. Practice Your Transitions
Going from one discipline to the next can be time consuming if you haven’t done it before.
Practice taking off your wetsuit, putting on your helmet & cycling shoes, then getting out on the bike. Test out docking your bike and getting run ready.
Practice your transitions over and over so that it feels second nature come race day and you don’t forget anything.
Related Post: Preparing for your first ultra race
5. Get Your Kit Right (But Don’t Spend Too Much)
Triathlons can be an EXPENSIVE hobby. If you do some quick math, a wetsuit, bike, running shoes, event ticket… all at full price and brand new can be a hefty cost.
For your first triathlon, why not go the cheaper route like myself? For my wetsuit, I rented one for £10. I bought mid-tier goggles instead of top-of-the-range. My trainers were a pair that I already owned and had been using for awhile. I borrowed a bike from a family member. Doing this helped to keep my costs low as it was my first triathlon.
By all means, research what kit you’ll need for a triathlon, but see if you can use what you already have, or hire/borrow what you don’t so that you can test the waters of a triathlon before investing a lot of money. Why spend thousands of pounds on top-of-the-line equipment, only to hate the event and be stuck with a bunch of under-utilised kit?
6. Practice With Your Kit
Just like any other race, it is ideal to use the same equipment on race day that you have used throughout training. However, if you’re hiring/borrowing kit, this might not be possible.
If you are able to practice with your actual kit, make sure that your wetsuit doesn’t have any hot points that cause chafing. You don’t want the first part of a three-part event to hinder your enjoyment.
Practice with your bike and make sure it’s fitted to you correctly. I recommend getting it checked over before you rack it at the event to ensure your tyres, brakes, chains etc are all in working order.
As for running shoes, that should be a given. Use trainers you have run in regularly to preempt and correct any uncomfortable points.
7. Arrive at Your First Triathlon Early
This is such a game changer! Doing your first triathlon is a daunting experience as it is, now imagine forgetting where your bike is racked among a sea of hundreds of other bikes?!
Arrive early, find the transition point exits & entrances and rack your bike close by. Set up your transition area with a bright coloured towel so that it is easily recognisable. Lay out your gear and get as ready as possible. This will reduce stress and make you feel a lot more comfortable once it’s go time.
How To Prepare For Your First Triathlon
All that is left is for you to toe the start line and enjoy!
You will be surprised at the amount of first timers there, so feel at ease knowing you’re not the only one. Who knows, this might be the start of a new adrenaline addiction for you too!
Triathlons are my big goal for this year, so I’ll be using these tips myself to improve ahead of taking on the Outlaw X Triathlon.
Are you looking to do your first triathlon? Have you signed up for any events?
Let me know in the comments below and I may see you there!
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