List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...

- Baby shampoo as a goggle defogger
- Holding the mode button for 2 seconds on the Garmin to switch between sports
- Baby powder in shoes for transitions
- Duct tape on blisters, used to just deal with them
- Everything associated w/ tubular tires (still learning - thanks Dumpster!)

I am sure there are more....

The swim is more important than most people make it out to be.

Poor run results in a tri are almost always the result of biking too hard.

Running a lot is key to making big improvements, but it's the area you have to be the most cautious in adding to your training.

You can ride faster by not looking down at your speedo every ten seconds to see how fast you're going and just going by feel and cadence (which is why I rode without any speed sensor at my sprint a few weeks ago and will be doing the same thing at my HIM).

For longer races, stop taking in nutrition on the bike about 15 - 20 minutes before you hit the transition so you are not all sloshy and bloated at the run start.

When turning on my Garmin, I leave it on the laundry line for 1-2 minutes while it finds the beacons.

When setting up your transition area, use 2 towels.  One to put your stuff on, the second to dry off.  The second towel can be used to cover your shoes and stuff to help keep them drier.

OK.  At first I was wondering what the heck you were looking for "down there" during a race. 

Ahh, the difference in mindset between a cyclist and a triathlete ...... any pure cyclist would have gotten what I meant.  Only a triathlete would immediately go "there" when I said speedo ......

Never press your stopwatch button at the finish line, it makes for a goofy looking picture.  Instead, raise your arms like a champion, and stop your watch 10 seconds later.

If you are on an out-and-back course on the run, high five all the BOP-ers.  You can't believe how motivating it is to them.  Some day you will be there yourself.

If you are running behind a woman, tell her they put the wrong age on her calf during body marking.  For example, tell her it says 39 instead of 29.  Lie if you have to.  You won't believe how many new friends you will make!

If you have extra gear, like goggles or a spare cycling helmet, bring them to the race.  Someone ALWAYS forgets something and you will be a hero.

Run with a small fanny pack that holds a cycling water bottle.  For me, it's tons easier to drink from than a paper cup, plus you get your hydration when you want it, not when the aid stations happen to be there.

Learn to lift your head every ten strokes or so during the swim, and sight on a distance landmark.  It helps keep you from swimming a crooked route.

 I'd say be careful with this approach.  It's fine for short downhills and short duration races, such as a 5K and even a 10K if you're a runner with several years experience.  But if you try this on a long downhill on a long distance course (especially one with lots of hills), you'll shred your quads and wish you hadn't "fallen" down the hill.  I've seen this happen in many marathons - especially Boston.

Awesome! Come race with me someday!

What do you suggest?  Hit the brakes down the hill to control your speed?  That's a surefire way to "shred" your quads. 

I don't think "bent forward at the waist" is accurate in the description above, but letting gravity take you down the hill and maintaining a quick turnover should help save your quads by reducing impact, right?

Keep gu's in your sports bra. Easy to get to, don't move around too much, and eliminates the need for pockets on longer runs. And, if you're me, actually gives your sports bra something to do!