I love to set myself challenges, and a triathlon was on the list for 2024. As a total novice, I opted for a sprint distance to try my hand and was fortunate to find a friendly charity triathlon in Sydney to head to. Here’s a quick run down of my experience and some, hopefully, useful information.
What kit do you need for a triathlon?
Bike – I cycle to work and have a small (not fancy at all) drop bar road bike which I purchased second hand for $100. I decided the triathlon was a good opportunity to start riding in cleats so I made the switch about two months before but I could have gone with normal pedals and runners.
Tri-Suit – I managed to find a second-hand tri-suit on Facebook Marketplace form 2XU. I had the option of shorts and a top or a full trisuit and went for the latter as I hate it when my kit moves, and I’d hear trisuits were better for this purpose. That said, I have since used my tri shorts and top (also 2XU) and and they didn’t move at all.
Runners – I used my regular Asics GT-1000s. I kept my normal laces, as I decided the time saved in transition wasn’t worth the cost given I didn’t know if I’d be doing another.
Goggles – a pair of run of the mill goggles will do just fine. I have an old pair of speedos which I bought second hand (you’re spotting a theme…) and these did the trick perfectly.Swim Cap – provided by the race organisers
Socks – lots of people go without, and I did in my cleats on the bike, but not in my runners. I blister really easily and it simply wasn’t worth it.
Race belt – the day before the race, when I went to collect my number, it was suggested that a race belt was a handy thing to have. Unfortunately I’d left it to late for this but a friend suggested some elastic tied into a loop so that I could step into it and pull my number up around my waist. This worked a treat.
Contact lenses – I normally use monthly contacts or glasses and was advised to use daily contacts for the triathlon so I could get rid of them afterwards. Contacts do make your life so much easier but I appreciate they’re not for everyone. If you don’t have contacts, prescription goggles and glasses/ sunnies will certainly work too.
Should I wear underwear with my trisuit?
I am quite flat chested and with the compression of my suit I didn’t need a bra. Most people will however wear a sports bra or get a trisuit with a built in bra. As for the bottom half, I was planning to go without but unfortunately it was that time of the month so I whipped out my trusty ModiBodi swimmers to be safe.
How much training should I do for a sprint triathlon?
I’m relatively fit but I do tend to carry injuries – stretching has never been my forte – so my training beforehand was a little limited. I did the following for around 1 month beforehand:
Bike → cycled to work once per week (13km each way) + 2x 20km rides per week. I could have gotten away with less but I wasn’t running much due to my dodgy knees.
Run → 2 x 7kms per week
Swim → 2 x 30mins per week. We live by the beach so swimming is an almost daily occurrence. I made sure to get two decent swims in each week.
What should I eat for a triathlon?
Although it was not as intensive, I followed my marathon week meal plan which you can find here. This was extreme but I knew with this I wouldn’t be short of energy or hydration so it was one less thing to worry about.
For the race itself, I carried a nut bar on the run but never actually got around to eating it..
Race day tips
First things first, check the transition opening times and make sure you leave plenty of time to get in and set up your bike. The last thing you want to do is be rushing around and forget to put something out. Most triathlons will give you a transition window so make sure you take note of it.
Bike check
If you have a drop bar bike, make sure the bottom of your bars are taped up i.e. you can’t stick your finger in the bottom of them. I hadn’t realised this was a thing and so had to do an electric tape job on mine the night before. The race director said that was okay but it’s probably worth getting stoppers if you can. I have since had my handlebars retaped and stoppered and I wish I’d done it earlier.
Laying out your gear
This is one area where a little know-how went a long way for me. I met a lovely lady who had racked her bike next to mine who gave me her top tips and she was spot on. I had just put my kit in what I thought was a well organised manner but she re-ordered it with the kit I’d use first at the front, and the kit I’d use last at the back. Genius. Below is a photo of how that looked with my cycling gear at the front, and running stuff at the back. A brightly-coloured towel or similar is a good way to make sure you find your kit quickly during transition.