Beginner Budget Tri
Some of the young men and women in our ward (along with a couple of their leaders) recently competed in a triathlon. Congrats to all your hard work and surviving the challenge! In honor of that, I'd thought I'd post some newbie triathlon advice, just in case any of the rest of you are inspired to try a challenge like this.
If you decide to tackle a triathlon, you will need some equipment. You can't just show up, like for a 5k run. Here's the bare minimum list of things you will need if you are going to compete in a triathlon:
1. A swimsuit.
2. A bike.
3. A bike helmet.
4. Some kind of shoes you can run in.
That's for those of you who are competing in a very short event and just want to do it on the fly or have no extra resources at all. That really is the completely stripped down list. It will get you through a triathlon, though you will probably have all kinds of technical challenges along the way.
NOW.
Here's my list of what you need to tackle your first triathlon on a budget (more or less) without killing or humiliating yourself.
1. A competition swimsuit. Like a Speedo or TYR. Why? Because anything else is likely to fall off (especially if you've been training for awhile and the chlorine is starting to get to your suit). And that would be truly, utterly mortifying. Trust me, I know from experience. Check www.swimoutlet.com and haunt the clearance section. I've always been able to get a new suit for a decent price if I'm not picky about the color or design. (Keep in mind that competition suits run small, and they are supposed to fit tightly, so sizing may be a bit tricky. You may need to go to a store and try on suits for your first one.)
2. Swim goggles. I've seen people compete without goggles, but I honestly don't know how. I can't swim freestyle without them. They are tricky little blighters though. I had leaking problems galore. I solved that problem finally, with finding a pair of goggles that fit me well to begin with and then learning an unconventional way to get them on right (which involves a lot of spit, no joking).
3. A swim cap. If you have hair long enough to get in your face this is a lifesaver. Nothing is worse than trying to keep your hair out of your eyes while swimming laps. I have to go fancy and get a long-hair cap (impossible to stuff all my hair in a regular one).
4. A water resistant watch with a timer. You need one of these if you are going to time how long you have been swimming. A must if you are following a training plan that has you swim for increasing amounts of time each session.
5. A bike with gears. As a general rule, the better quality bike you use, the faster you will make it through your bike segment. A road bike is best, but at least you make sure you have a mountain bike that can switch gears so you can pedal up any hills without giving your legs muscle failure. You're still going to have to run after that, you know.
6. A bike helmet. One that fits. A helmet is non-negotiable. No event I've ever seen will allow you to compete without one. Better yet, wear it while you train. You'll be used to it, and should you have an accident while training (this is not unheard of) your noggin will be better protected.
7. Sunglasses. Glare is a problem, but bugs in the eyes are even worse. Sunglasses help with both. Go for comfort and extra coverage rather than style. And cheap, because likely at least once or twice they will fly off while you're riding down the road.
8. Padded bike shorts. If you are actually training on a real bike (as opposed to an exercise bike), your crotch will get sore. It will burn. You will hate life. Good bike shorts help. These can be pricey but shop around and try to find a pair on clearance, I promise it is worth it.
9. Properly fitting, good quality running shoes. Running will kill your feet. Especially if the tri bug bites you and you keep on running. If you've never done so, visit a specialty running shop and have them do a gait analysis. Let them help you pick out your running shoes. Listen to their advice, and take a deep breath when the sticker shock hits, but spend the extra money for the right shoes. (Later, when you need to replace them, you can look for the same pair more cheaply on the internet.) Your feet, with all their sensitive tendons and bones and joints, will thank you.
So, are you inspired? Ready to tri? If you are local and looking for your first triathlon to train for, I know of a couple of good beginner events in the fall. Send me a message and I'll hook you up!
If you decide to tackle a triathlon, you will need some equipment. You can't just show up, like for a 5k run. Here's the bare minimum list of things you will need if you are going to compete in a triathlon:
1. A swimsuit.
2. A bike.
3. A bike helmet.
4. Some kind of shoes you can run in.
That's for those of you who are competing in a very short event and just want to do it on the fly or have no extra resources at all. That really is the completely stripped down list. It will get you through a triathlon, though you will probably have all kinds of technical challenges along the way.
NOW.
Here's my list of what you need to tackle your first triathlon on a budget (more or less) without killing or humiliating yourself.
1. A competition swimsuit. Like a Speedo or TYR. Why? Because anything else is likely to fall off (especially if you've been training for awhile and the chlorine is starting to get to your suit). And that would be truly, utterly mortifying. Trust me, I know from experience. Check www.swimoutlet.com and haunt the clearance section. I've always been able to get a new suit for a decent price if I'm not picky about the color or design. (Keep in mind that competition suits run small, and they are supposed to fit tightly, so sizing may be a bit tricky. You may need to go to a store and try on suits for your first one.)
2. Swim goggles. I've seen people compete without goggles, but I honestly don't know how. I can't swim freestyle without them. They are tricky little blighters though. I had leaking problems galore. I solved that problem finally, with finding a pair of goggles that fit me well to begin with and then learning an unconventional way to get them on right (which involves a lot of spit, no joking).
3. A swim cap. If you have hair long enough to get in your face this is a lifesaver. Nothing is worse than trying to keep your hair out of your eyes while swimming laps. I have to go fancy and get a long-hair cap (impossible to stuff all my hair in a regular one).
4. A water resistant watch with a timer. You need one of these if you are going to time how long you have been swimming. A must if you are following a training plan that has you swim for increasing amounts of time each session.
5. A bike with gears. As a general rule, the better quality bike you use, the faster you will make it through your bike segment. A road bike is best, but at least you make sure you have a mountain bike that can switch gears so you can pedal up any hills without giving your legs muscle failure. You're still going to have to run after that, you know.
6. A bike helmet. One that fits. A helmet is non-negotiable. No event I've ever seen will allow you to compete without one. Better yet, wear it while you train. You'll be used to it, and should you have an accident while training (this is not unheard of) your noggin will be better protected.
7. Sunglasses. Glare is a problem, but bugs in the eyes are even worse. Sunglasses help with both. Go for comfort and extra coverage rather than style. And cheap, because likely at least once or twice they will fly off while you're riding down the road.
8. Padded bike shorts. If you are actually training on a real bike (as opposed to an exercise bike), your crotch will get sore. It will burn. You will hate life. Good bike shorts help. These can be pricey but shop around and try to find a pair on clearance, I promise it is worth it.
9. Properly fitting, good quality running shoes. Running will kill your feet. Especially if the tri bug bites you and you keep on running. If you've never done so, visit a specialty running shop and have them do a gait analysis. Let them help you pick out your running shoes. Listen to their advice, and take a deep breath when the sticker shock hits, but spend the extra money for the right shoes. (Later, when you need to replace them, you can look for the same pair more cheaply on the internet.) Your feet, with all their sensitive tendons and bones and joints, will thank you.
So, are you inspired? Ready to tri? If you are local and looking for your first triathlon to train for, I know of a couple of good beginner events in the fall. Send me a message and I'll hook you up!
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