3 small tweaks that will save you big time on race day
From transition changes to gear choices, here are simple changes that can lift you from the middle of the pack to top of the podium
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
Training hard and training well will help you make huge gains as a triathlete, but if you stick with the sport, soon enough, you’ll begin to plateau. This might be frustrating, especially after a period of rapid growth and improvement in the sport, but try to look at it as a positive thing. After all, it means that you’ve reached a new level of triathlon that will require more focused training to help you progress further. If you’re still looking for easy ways to save time, there are some simple things you can do that will help on race day. Here are three quick tweaks that can help you PB at your next race.
Footwear choices
There are two things that will slow you down in T2: putting on socks and tying your shoes. Running without socks will save you a lot of time in transition, so it’s worth getting used to doing. Use body glide to help prevent chafing and blisters so you can fly into T2, toss your shoes on, and be out before anyone has the chance to pass you.
You can also save time by using elastic laces. You don’t want to have to worry about tying your shoes during the race, and elastic laces will eliminate that need entirely. All you’ll need to do is slide your shoes on, give the laces a pull, and you’ll be ready to run.
Mounts and dismounts
This will require some practice, but a great way to save time on race day is by starting the ride with your shoes clipped into the pedals and finishing the bike leg without unclipping them. It will be awkward at first as you try to get your feet into your shoes while biking, but if you can get the technique down, you’ll save loads of time in T1 and T2.
Set your bike up properly
The last thing you should do with your bike before heading off to the swim start is to make sure that it is in a low gear. You don’t want to exit T1 and hop into the saddle only to find that you left it in one of the highest, hardest gears to push. Set yourself up for success by proactively changing the gears so you can get on the bike and fly away right off the bat.