First Steps to Triathlon Success
You have made the commitment to do your first triathlon. Maybe a friend drug you into signing up with them. Maybe it was on your bucket list and you are finally ready. Now that you have made the decision to do a triathlon, what do you do next? Here are six tips to get you ready for your first triathlon!
Google what a triathlon is!
if you are like a lot of beginners, you maybe signed up for a triathlon without knowing exactly what you are getting into! So that makes the first step Googling what a triathlon is. You may know that there are three sports, but learning what you will do and what order you will do them it might be new. It may be intimidating at first to know you will have to swim in open water. Or ride a bike again if it has been years. And running three miles or more might get you running for the door! But, knowing what you are getting yourself into is the first step. The rest will fall into place.
Get the gear you need
Triathlon does consist of three sports, which means getting gear for three sports! It does not need to break the bank, though. While you are on Google, you may find plenty of website with the latest technology, the fancy bikes and high tech wetsuits. Do not feel like you have to spend thousands of dollars to be successful! Start with the basics. Swimsuit, cap and goggles for swimming. A bike (as long as you are comfortable on it and it works well), a helmet, sunglasses, comfortable bike clothes and shoes for biking. Then just running shoes and comfortable clothes for the run. The rest are bonuses or add ons. Only add them if you really want to or if you end up getting more serious about doing triathlon.
Get a good training plan
The internet has tons of different training plans out there. There are also plenty of books and other sources. Take the time to research different plans to find one that fits you well. Find one for the distance that you are doing first. From there, find one that the first week or two seems doable for you. Training plans usually progress as they go on. If you struggle a lot through the first couple of weeks, the rest of the plan wont be much better! On the same hand, keep in mind that you now have to train for three sports, so the workload may be more than you are used to. The goal is to find a plan that will get you to your goals without overdoing it.
Find a group to work with or a coach
One of the best things you can do is to find a training team or group to work with, or hire a coach. First of all, it will take the guess work out of your training plan as you will have someone making a plan for you. Second of all, you will meet some great people who are going through the same thing you are! You will make new friends that you can commiserate with, train with, laugh with and train with. They will cheer you on as you conquer your goals, and help keep you going when you want to stop. The camaraderie of a group or team will make your triathlon experience that much more memorable!
Talk about it as much as possible
Of course, in order to really soak in your first season of triathlon, you have to talk about it as much as possible. To your friends, to your family, your coworkers and social media. Ok, not really. This is more just a side effect of doing triathlon. It just comes with the territory of doing something new and challenging. You should be proud of what you are doing! Not to mention, you never know who you will inspire by telling your story. More than likely you started this journey by hearing someone talk about their experiences. You don’t have to go overboard on sharing by posting results of every single workout on social media. But do share your experiences with others. It might just be life changing to someone.
Make sure you are healthy enough to train for a triathlon
In all seriousness, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure you are healthy enough to train for a triathlon. If it has been a while since your last doctors visit, make it a point to get a checkup before you begin. Especially if you have high blood pressure, have gained or lost a large amount of weight in a short amount of time or have any family history of heart disease. It is great that you have made this step and commitment to do a triathlon. Just make sure your commitment to being safe and healthy is higher on the list!
