5 Ways to Smash a Triathlon and 3 Ways to Screw Up

Getting into Triathlon is no easy feat. I would think the majority of people who get into triathlon their first year probably feels like 6th grade in Middle School. You don't know where to go, you don't know who anyone is, you don't know the lingo and you probably have no clue about training or racing. Is this correct?

This is what coaches are for, and groups, the tri community is a great one to help find your way.

Are you doing your first triathlon this season? Are you in your first couple of season and still trying to figure out the whole race thing. I am writing the blog to help you out and guide you a bit.

Here are 5 ways you can Smash your next triathlon-

1. Get really good at sprints and or practice your own tri. I see a lot of athletes get into the sport do one or two sprints maybe an Oly (Middle distance triathlon or Olympic Distance) and then they are gun ho to sign up for a 70.3 and or full 140.6 triathlon. Many athletes make it through this progression fine, but I also see people struggling with cut off times, injury, anxiety or other issues. Take your time, save your money and really enjoy and learn the sport. Sprint are short and sweet. You can even set up your own sprint distance tri and invite a few friends for a fun morning workout.
   The main things this approach will help is 1. getting your body use to transitioning through the different disciplines. 2. developing the skills like transitioning, sighting, navigating, pacing. 3. It will build your confidence and your mind to better handle the longer distances in the future, to learn to enjoy the sport is short busts and to avoid burn out.
   
2. Get a understanding on where you family or support crew is on your new interest in triathlon. Again, getting into triathlon is no easy feat. This applies to you and anyone you are involved with in an established relationship. It will be a major adjustment for you AND for them. Have a support system that understands your new passion over a skeptical or jealous bunch will majorly affect when race day comes around. So while training, think also about a training plan to get your family and support to buy into your new activities.
   
3. Consider getting a coach, following a training plan or joining a group. I have been coaching for almost 20 years and would love to help you learn about or training system TriDot, come TRI it!
   If you are not already, get on Facebook and look for local tri or running groups. You can get a wealth of knowledge and support for your local triathlon groups. You are welcome to join our group New Braunfels Triathlon Friends
   
4. Get your equipment needed, keep it simple at first. Triathlon can be a very expensive sport, but it can also be simple. All I need for a triathlon is - a tri-suit, goggles, towel, bike, bike shoes and running shoes, maybe a hat. It is easy to get caught up in the marketing and what other people have. The more stuff you have to keep track of the more potential to forget something and to set yourself up for mistakes. So start simple and then try things and build your equipment list as needed. You can also refer to this list-
   

5. Get your nutrition straight-  We all know what we like to eat. Most of us know what agrees with us and what does not agree with our stomach. Throw in a few hours of activity that needs nutrition sustainment, then we learn a lot more about our body and stomach agreeableness. The best way to make these discoveries is to do it in practice. Don't wait until race weekend to try new things out or try things you have not had on a long training day. Learn what works for you and what doesn't. Be on the safe side and to let months of training go down the tubes because your are having GI issues that cripple you for the day.

Here are three ways to for sure screw up your race weekend-

1. This may sound silly but I feel to many people go into a race- untrained, unprepared, and uneducated. Not only can you ruin and experience of your first or first few tris but you also need to consider safety and your life. No being prepared for a tri can have some serious implications.
   
2. Keep Calm. Don't panic. Again this is a primary safety concern in triathlon. Many unfortunate ending have been caused by panic, especially in the water. So for your first tri or first few tris don't let this be the first time you have gotten in the water in a while. Practice, a lot, in many different situations to have an understanding of your comfort level and confidence in the water, know your limitations and how to Keep Calm.
   
3. This kind of goes with Keep Calm, but learn to adapt. There is a lot that can happen on a tri race weekend. There are many things we can not control like- weather, other athletes, road conditions, mechanical issues (we can control these but can not always predict..).
   My best advice in triathlon as a whole is look at it as a journey of adaption not a check off. The discipline and consistency you need to maintain to be a successful triathlete will also reflect how you approach life. Keeping Calm and being able to adapt in any situation will make tri and life a whole lot easier.

If you need help with any of these suggestion or aspects of the sport of triathlon, I am here to help. Contact me at nicktotheplus@gmail.com I can help you find events, help you get a feel for the lay of the tri land, I can coach you with the best training system on the planet and I can be your biggest cheerleader.

Thank you for reading. Train Healthy, High Speed Low Drag and Keep TRIng!