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What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri?
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| General Discussion | Triathlon Talk » What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? | Rss Feed  |
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 2009-07-14 9:37 PM |
Member  11 Tuscaloosa |  Subject: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri?I have my first sprint on Saturday. I am super excited about it and feel really confortable with my fitness level and preparation on each stage. But, I am a little worried about transitions and other things that I might do to really screw up my day or, worse, somebody else's. From all you veterans, what is something that you wish somebody told you before your first tri? Also, this might be a really dumb question, but do I need to bring my own white swim cap and timing chip (both are required by the race but I can't find any specifics about them in any of the registration literature)? TIA. Edited by jbb3 2009-07-14 9:38 PM |
| 2009-07-14 9:43 PM in reply to: #2285846 |
Master 1915   Hamilton, Victoria | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Just relax and enjoy your first Tri. With regards to the swim cap and timing chip, if that hasn't already been posted to you then you will be that at registration. The swim cap colour indicates your Age Group so hang around folks with the same colour cap so you don't miss your wave start. Have fun! |
| 2009-07-14 9:43 PM in reply to: #2285846 |
Veteran 298 Des Moines, IA | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? nothing really race specific because of all of the "your first time" guides, but I really would have benefited from some seriously basic bike maintenance tips. I'm talking things you can learn from youtube videos in 20 minutes... or from asking a question at your local bike shop in 5 minutes. more specifically learning how to change a flat and adjust cables can take minutes to learn but save you many many more minutes once you know how to deal with them. My first race my rear derailleur became weird and gears were popping up and down every time I down stroked the pedal - I eventually found a very high gear that didn't pop and stayed put, but I was really struggling up the hills. Had I known to just twist the cable adjustment a few notches and it would solve the problem, I would have saved a TON of time. Edited by jtaddei 2009-07-14 9:44 PM |
| 2009-07-14 9:44 PM in reply to: #2285846 |
| Member 195 Akron, OH | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? They'll typically supply the cap and chip. Wouldn't worry about it. What I wish I was told is the first thing to do when the horn goes off is to count slowly to 20 then get in the water and start off at a painfully slow pace, speeding up after the first 100 or so if you feel like it. I spent the entire swim gasping for air, not fun. |
| 2009-07-14 9:50 PM in reply to: #2285846 |
Regular 90 Rochester | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Best advice I received before my first tri (Last month) and that I will be sure to use for my next tri (Saturday) is - Breath and have fun!!! |
| 2009-07-14 10:28 PM in reply to: #2285846 |
Veteran 334 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? X2 on starting the swim slow. At my first tri I started way to fast and paniked about 200 meters into the race, it took all I had to force myself to say in the water. Have fun |
| 2009-07-15 12:57 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Expert 1276 Salem | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? That not only should you find out where the exits are for your T1 and T2 Transitions, but you should also know how it looks coming into the transitions. It looks alot different coming back from the bike into T2 then going out. Have a great race!!! |
| 2009-07-15 2:51 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Expert 819 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? No matter how good of shape you are in, unless swimming is your strength and you swam all of your life, it will shock you at how short of breath you will get. Start at the back and go slow. |
| 2009-07-15 5:48 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Extreme Veteran 553 New Brunswick, Canada | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? not so much a "wish I'd been told" but rather a "glad I was told":
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| 2009-07-15 6:06 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
| Extreme Veteran 413 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? One of the reasons I took up triathlons was to swap my unhealthy, expensive lifestyle for a healthy, cheaper lifestyle. I wish someone would have told me that whilst it was healthy - it was far more expensive!! Although I wouldn't have changed a thing. |
| 2009-07-15 6:10 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Veteran 407 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Make sure you know where your transition spot is, count rows, look for a landmark, something that will let you know that is where you left from and that is where you must return to for transitions. You don't want to be trying to figure out where you should be coming out of the water, or off your bike. Enjoy every minute and good luck! |
| 2009-07-15 6:52 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Extreme Veteran 317 Chelmsford, MA | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Use the bathroom pre race, use it again, and consider using it again. Also use the bathroom. Start line anxiety can trigger powerful urges you should address ahead of time. |
| 2009-07-15 6:52 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Expert 716 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? One tip I wish I would have learned before my first tri. Even if you practiced OWS, I wish someone would have told to practice OWS with someone bumping into you. First time it happen messed with my head. |
| 2009-07-15 6:55 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? "You should have started swimming competitively when you were 7." It would have made every tri so much more enjoyable for me if I had done that ....... Edited by Daremo 2009-07-15 6:56 AM |
| 2009-07-15 6:59 AM in reply to: #2286137 |
Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? dont joke around with someone unless you know them.... I told a guy with a very nice bike that he should take off the small American flag on his seat post becuase it will slow him down. he said, "I dont need to worry about anything slowing me down." I kept my mouth shut when I passed him on the run |
| 2009-07-15 7:02 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Master 1411 Lexington, KY | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Agree with the go slow in the early part of the swim. My biggest surprise during my first tri was being really dizzy running to T1 after the swim and in T1. Didn't expect that at all. |
| 2009-07-15 7:38 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Master 1531 TORONTO | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Not to underestimate the swim! I totally did and it was brutal but... swim or sink right? |
| 2009-07-15 8:45 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
| Extreme Veteran 763 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? I agree with starting the swim slow. May I add that you want to apply starting slow to all 3 disciplines? I keep telling myself to Respect The Run. My goal is to deliver myself to T2 ready to run. Swimming and biking are the warm ups don't blow it there. Kevin |
| 2009-07-15 8:49 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Champion 7547 Albuquerque, New Mexico Bronze member | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Don't do it! Yea, it all starts innocently enough with that little sprint tri, but pretty soon your wallet and family are cringing at the money and time going into this little diversion. |
| 2009-07-15 8:58 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
| Master 1963 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? My advice is to take your time during transition! Your better off taking your time and getting your stuff on right than having to stop later to adjust or worse forgetting something entirely. |
| 2009-07-15 9:04 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
| New user 73 Collegeville | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Here is one someone did tell me - make sure to take a small break at a predetermined point to soak it in- at about the 400 yd mark in my first tri (800 yard swim lake swim) I moved to the side, rolled over and just looked around - seeing the other swimmers putting out the effort, people on the shore cheering... it was a great moment that I'll remember for a long time. |
| 2009-07-15 11:29 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Veteran 263 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Agreed with everyone about starting the race very slowly. Start about half of what you think your race pace is. Then, about 100 yards in or so, see if you feel like going up to "race" pace. What happens with me is that what I think is half race pace is actually above my race pace, but the adrenaline makes me silly and thinking I'm going slower than I am. |
| 2009-07-15 11:40 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Extreme Veteran 660 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? If you can watch the earlier waves go through tranistion |
| 2009-07-15 11:44 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? A few things as I am sure others have said. Some of these were told to me before my first tri... 1. have Fun! (this includes smiling) 2. no matter how you do, it is a PR! 3. DFL > DNF > DNS > DNT (Last > started but did not finish > Did not start but trained > did not try at all, in case you are not up on the acronyms) 4. Transitions are easy if you just remember to take your time. Practice them before hand if you can. 5. Get to the course early to give yourself plenty of time to walk through the swim course, T1 run, and T2 run. This also gives you time to vizualize or zone out if you are the type that needs to do that prior to a race. 6. (this might be one of the most important things) Triathletes are FRIENDLY. Go ahead and talk to the people near you in transition, ask questions if you don't know what to do when setting up, see if anyone has done the course before and has any insights into it, not only will this pass the time but if/when you see these people on the course it will be a nice familiar face! Good Luck and enjoy it |
| 2009-07-15 11:52 AM in reply to: #2285846 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia Bronze member | Subject: RE: What do you wish somebody told you before your 1st Tri? Get there earlier than you think you should. See if you can find out how far away you will have to park. I've done races where it was an entire mile walk, AFTER sitting in the race traffic line forEVER. Expect tons of traffic. Plan ahead! You don't want to be "that guy" rolling into transition when it is closing. I see a lot of people saying to "slow down" or "take your time" in places. While I understand for a first race this may make sense, I can't tell you how many "First race reports" I've read where people say "wish I would have just moved faster" or "Don't take so much time in transition." I think if you take your time TOO MUCH, you'll be wishing you wouldn't have. |
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