Triathlon tricks to make your life easier on race day

Triathlon is a tough sport, and no matter how much you train, any race you enter is going to be a big challenge. You work so hard at swimming, biking, and running to give yourself the best chance at a good race, but there is so much more you can do to make your life easier on the big day. Here are a few tricks to keep in mind as we move toward racing season. They won’t make the race easy by any means, but they will help things go a little smoother.

Get organized in transition

Go through your head in your race and picture everything you’ll need for the three legs. You will of course take your swim gear with you, but lay your bike and run stuff out carefully. Make sure you aren’t missing anything, and be sure to organize all of your stuff so it is easily accessible as you race through transition.

Bring a plastic bag

There are few things more tedious on race day than getting into your wetsuit. You’re already stressed, so squeezing into that skin-tight bodysuit is not a fun task. A plastic shopping bag can make the job a little easier. Put your feet and hands in the bag and slide into the suit. You’ll still need to do a little bit of squeezing and maneuvering, but it will be way easier to get the legs and sleeves on, saving you stress before the race begins.

Bring Tupperware

Fill a Tupperware container with water and keep it in your transition zone. Odds are you’ll get grassy and maybe sandy feet after the swim, but a quick dip in water before tossing your shoes on will fix that and help you avoid any uncomfortable rubbing.

Tape gels to top tube

Use painter’s tape (which won’t leave glue or marks behind) and secure some gels to the top tube of your bike. This will give you easy access to your nutrition during the ride. It also won’t require you to get out of your aero position to grab the gels. Be sure to tape in line with the gel’s perforated tab so you can simple pull it off and open it at the same time.

Take small sips

We know you’re going to be thirsty after the swim and during the ride, but control your urge to chug water or any other drink you have on the bike. The relief will be temporary and the excessive drinking could lead to stomach issues later on in the race. Instead, jsut take small sips at regular intervals throughout the ride.