5 ways (that aren’t training) to be race-ready this summer

Triathlon season is quickly approaching, and we’re sure you’re excited to get into racing. You’ve spent the whole winter training and getting faster, so now it’s time to put your fitness to the test. However, there is to racing than just fitness. You can be in the best shape of your life but have an awful race if you don’t prepare properly. Here are five things to think about ahead of your first race to ensure that you give yourself the best shot at swimming, biking, and running well.

Nail down your pre-race meal

There should be no guesswork when it comes to what or when you’re eating the morning of a race. You don’t have to eat the same meal every morning you go out to train, but every once in a while, you should wake up as though it really is race day. Get up as early as you will the morning of the event, eat however many hours before you plan to on race day, and make the same breakfast you expect to eat before the competition. If you do this a few times, you’ll know what foods will work best for you, and you won’t find yourself low on energy or feeling sick while on the race course.

Dial in your race nutrition

While we’re on the topic of food, your mid-race nutrition is another area you cannot overlook. You need to try everything at least once before you race with it. You might love salted caramel treats, so that salted caramel energy gel sounds like a great idea, right? It could be, but gels aren’t always the tastiest, and if you don’t test them out before you compete, you might surprise yourself with a mouthful of disgustingly sweet goo that makes you want to throw up on the bike. Test your nutrition plan in training so you don’t have any issues on race day.

Train in your race gear

If you’re using any piece of gear for the first time on race day, you’re setting yourself up for discomfort at the very least and failure at worst. A pair of shoes or a race suit or any other gear might feel great when you try it on at the store or at home, but swimming, cycling, and running in it is an entirely different thing. You might chafe, you could blister, and there’s a chance you’ll be incredibly uncomfortable for an hour or more. Try the gear out beforehand.

Practice transitions

It is easy to overlook transitions when you’re training, but if you want to lay down the fastest result possible on race day, you should dedicate some time to practicing your transitions. You don’t have to do anything fancy. You can put your bike shoes on before you get on your bike and you can remove them after you’ve racked it in T2. There are no rules to transition. Simply find what works best for you and what will allow you to get in and out of the transition zone as quickly as possible.

Bring a flat kit

You don’t have to bring a flat kit on the bike with you, but if your goal is simply to finish the race, it’s worth it. You can’t finish the race if you’re on the side of the road with a popped tube, so bringing some supplies along for the ride can help you get to the finish line.