Gear you wouldn’t have guessed you’d need for your first triathlon

So you’re about to race your first triathlon. This is an exciting time, but it might be a tad overwhelming, too. Training can be overwhelming enough, but then you have to toss in the extra stressors of getting to your race, preparing mentally for the event, and making sure you have everything you need on the day. The thing is, there are lots of items and pieces of gear that you’ll definitely want on race day that you probably wouldn’t think of yourself. You know you need goggles, a bike, and running shoes, but those are obvious, so here are a few items you might not have thought of on your own.

Something bright

Since this will be your first race, you’ve likely never been in or seen a transition zone before. Well, they can be massive, and no matter how good of a memory you have, it can be tough to remember exactly where your bike is when you enter transition after the swim. A great hack to help you find your spot is to bring something bright, like a towel, and spread it out in your transition area. With that, you just need to remember the general positioning of your bike and be on the lookout for your bright item. This will help save you time and stress, which will go a long way in helping you not only race well, but to enjoy the full experience, too.

Flat kit

This one might be an obvious choice, but it could be forgettable for some people. If you’ve never had a flat in training, this could easily slip your mind. You’ve trained so hard for this first race, so one of the last things you want to happen is to get a DNF because of a flat tire on the bike. Bring a flat kit with the tools you need and an extra tube to ensure that, even if you’re unlucky enough to pop a tube on the ride, you’ll make it to the finish line.

Race belt

You’ll get safety pins with your bib when you sign in on race day, but a race belt is such a better option. You can attach your bib to the belt (along with gels for easy access to nutrition) and then you don’t have to worry about the pins and any discomfort they might cause while you race.

Elastic laces

Since it’s your first race you might not be too concerned with posting a blazing-fast result, but you’ve put in a lot of work, so why not shave as much time off your final split as possible? A great way to save time in transition is by using elastic laces. All you need to do is slide your shoe on and tighten the laces with one quick pull and you’re good to go. No fussing with tying your shoes the old-fashioned way.