General Discussion Triathlon Talk » List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out... Rss Feed  
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2008-04-20 8:52 PM
in reply to: #824939

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Master
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Gulf Shores, AL
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
Save some ice from your cooler and put it in a bag with a couple cold beers. After the race, you can go watch the rest of the finishers without having to walk over to the post race party to get your beer.


2008-04-20 9:03 PM
in reply to: #824939

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Master
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Canandaigua
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...

-I Velcro my gels or bars to the bike.  Make sure you put the soft side on the gel.  It's easier to pull off

-Don't change a thing two weeks prior to race.  

-Don't show Marmadaddy a hill, he'll want to go up it.   

2008-04-21 7:50 AM
in reply to: #824939

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Extreme Veteran
469
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Western MA
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...

I tell myself this before every race:

Go out and have a good time, be a good sport, and thank everyone you see.  Everything else is secondary.......  In the beginning I was too wrapped up in times and performance (and not as happy), but now I race because it's fun, and the training is how I want to live my life.

 

2008-04-21 7:59 AM
in reply to: #824939

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Extreme Veteran
503
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Lapel
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
-if it looks like rain don't put your shoes inside of plastic bags to keep them dry,
fold the towel over and put the bag on top.

-last minute changes in anything (nutrition, clothing, plans) are historically a bad idea.

-if running out with the bike in bike shoes (on asphalt), stop and then mount bike (vs slip and fall with bike)

-for sprints (don't know about longer), stop taking in liquid/gel just after 1/2 point on bike to avoid sloshing and stomach cramps on the run.

-never assume the hydration aid station is going to either be there when you get there,
or is going to have something you can drink. Plan ahead and practice carrying your own water/gatorade/etc for the run. It's no fun expecting water and not being to get any.

-take the time to do a full body stretch after your event and listen to what your body tells you it is capable of doing the next day.
2008-04-21 8:01 AM
in reply to: #824939

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Master
2202
2000100100
St. Louis
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
- Use buh-bump on your HRM.. great electrolytic gel.

- If you are going to train short, train hard. If you are going to train long, tone it down a notch.

- Check your wheel magnet before the race so you know your speedo works.

- Races arent competition, they are comaradere.

- Never forget your bike pump.

- Smile at the race finish, unless you want the face of death on your race photo.

- Nothing will prevent your goggles from fogging up. Nothing.

- Never skip pre-workout nutrition, having your training suffer isnt worth it.
2008-04-21 1:40 PM
in reply to: #824939

Regular
90
252525
Dalton, GA
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
This is a good read.

My first Sprint is Sunday.

Thanks for the tips!


2008-04-21 1:59 PM
in reply to: #824939

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Regular
156
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Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
I read somewhere that using plastic grocery bags over your feet helped when putting on your wetsuit. I have done this three times and it works great. I don't recall ever seeing anyone else do this and have subsequently spent eight bucks on Bodyglide.
2008-04-21 2:41 PM
in reply to: #824939

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Champion
5345
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Carlsbad, California
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...

For me and only me anyway:

1). All the stuff about Semi-Solid Nutrition being superior is a bunch of bunk. (Clif Bars work great for the bike and run for me)

2). Always clip the tops off of Bars your gonna carry before the race. (How many times have I dropped my Clif Bar trying to open it riding 20 MPH)

3). If I am to the point where I do not feel like eating on the bike, (Upset tummy) it usually means I am pushing too hard. If I am no longer digesting what I am eating on hte bike or the run, it usually means I went too fast for too long and burned up. (Game Over Man!)

Like others have said, a bad run usually means I went too hard on the bike for my current fitness level

2008-04-21 2:58 PM
in reply to: #826481

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Elite
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Austin, TX
Gold member
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
wsm9363 - 2007-06-01 10:22 PM

Yeah, I forgot about that tip.

When you start your swim, start SLOW. I have read too MANY race reports talking about having a horrible swim. They all go something like this. "Swam 100-200 yards doing great then I couldn't breath. I tried the breast stroke, side stroke, back stroke, doggie paddle, it didn't matter I could not catch my breath. So I was in full panic mode, yeah I finished the swim but I don't know how."

In nearly every case, it was race excitement, pumped with adrenaline, and starting way too fast. Back off, take it easy, once you have your stroke and are feeling good THEN you can take off.



Obviously pacing is important and you need to understand where your limits are. However, within those limits, I recommend the opposite. Start out harder and then settle in.

If you take it easy at the start, who's going to be around and in front of you? People slower than you. That means you're dragging other people along for the ride and you need to navigate through the people you catch up with.

If you start out hard, you get out with a faster group of swimmers and can get on their feet. Now you're going faster than you would be for the same effort. If the person you're drafting ends up being too fast to hold on to comfortably, let them go. Since you're out with the faster swimmers, another pair of feet will come along that you can get on.
2008-04-21 6:58 PM
in reply to: #826068

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Expert
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Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
this site is awesome!
2008-04-21 8:34 PM
in reply to: #824939

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Expert
686
500100252525
oregon ave,
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
  • Race like you train and train like you race.
  • Put your bike in the gear you want to start off with before the start of the race.
  • Practice transitions just like you practice anything else
  • Have fun


2008-04-22 6:54 AM
in reply to: #825714

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Master
2491
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Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...

Z-dog - 2007-06-01 12:56 PM My running coach taught us proper hill form last week, two days before I raced and got to put it into practice. Uphill, is a short,steady cadence, and downhill is a posture where you are slightly bent forward at the wast, with chest and shoulders spread open. Arms hang wide open to the sides. Let gravity take you. This form is amazing! In my sprint, I slowly ran up two steep hills, passing scores of walkers, then let myself "fall" down the steep descent and again passed scores of people who were braking on the way down. I thanked my TNT coach heartily yesterday at our track workout, as the training could not have been more to the point.

The above approach, along with shortening the stride and increasing cadence, gives you the speed and avoids the braking and attendant 'shredding of the quads.' 

2008-04-22 7:00 AM
in reply to: #826650

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Master
2491
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Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
chipit muffin - 2007-06-02 11:09 AM

sunscreen! it protects your skin so you don't burn and prevents from getting stuck with funny pale skin numbers on you where your skin didn't burn. It also makes the marker disapear like a snap with rubbing alcohol (and very little rubbing) !

 

I'm all for the sunscreen, but I sure wish it didn't make the numbers rub off so quickly.  I like to wear that badge for a while. 

2008-04-22 7:07 AM
in reply to: #824939

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Master
2491
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Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
Standing up toward the end of the bike leg allows you to stretch out your calves and hip flexors and generally loosen you up for the run.
2008-04-22 7:13 AM
in reply to: #830514

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Champion
9060
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Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: List your Tips/Tricks it took you a while to figure out...
mswole - 2007-06-05 12:20 PM

If you are doing your first tri, write yourself a note/letter the night before.  Tell yourself that you are have trained properly, you are ready to race, tell yourself that you have put all your fears and doubts away and that you will make the course beg for mercy. Tape it in you helmet and as soon as you have you transition area set up, read it. After you have read it, go get some!!!



I really like this one (and all the others), going to do that this Sunday.

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