What Not to Do

It's easy to get sucked into the world of triathlons - that is, unless you have a 1st triathlon experience like mine...

About 4 years ago, anxious to get active again after a 1-year post-college rowing team hiatus, I learned about the existence of the local triathlon club. What a perfect fit, I thought! I had a swimsuit and rash guard, a used (25 lb) bike sitting in my garage, and a pair of running shoes. What more could I possibly need? Before I knew it, I was signed up to do a short triathlon put on by the club. I was going to be meeting new people, spending time outdoors, and getting into great shape - excellent!

Here are some thing I wish I had known BEFORE doing this mini-triathlon:

1. Moon jellyfish LOVE to congregate in the bay where the swim portion of the triathlon was being held. Although they don't sting, they certainly felt awfully squishy moving through my fingers with every stroke.
2. A rash guard is NOT "almost" the same as a wetsuit in 52 degree February waters.
3. Running up 20 feet of sand and about 10 feet of pavement is NOT long enough for your feet to dry off well enough for socks to be donned. Believe me - wet socks are the enemy while riding a bike in 10-15 mph wind gusts.
4. Riding your bike 12.5 miles while your caliper brakes are pushing against the rim of your front wheel is not the most efficient way to get from the start to the finish of the bike leg.
6. Riding said bike is NOT a "great warm-up" to the run portion of a triathlon.
5. Getting home (completely exhausted from your first triathlon) at 9am does not mean you're going have a whole day of productivity ahead of you.

I wish that morning had gone a little smoother but even despite my troubles, there was still something exhilarating about finishing (especially with a huge amount of food waiting for me at the finish). I was hooked from that point, onwards.

Even for more experienced triathletes, things always go wrong on race day. I realize now, that it could have been worse. At least I managed to avoid bee stings, stomach issues, getting kicked in the face while swimming, broken goggles, multiple flat tires, and falling off my bike (YES, all things I have experienced while triathlon-ing).

We are hoping to help you future triathletes avoid the pitfalls that we all fell into with our future articles. Here's a preview of what's to come:

- Which race do you sign up for? The things you didn't think about thinking about...
- Buying a bike (Getting the best bang for your buck)
- How to change a flat (A triathlon-specific version)
- Race day nutrition (Nothing new on race day)
- Pre-race nutrition (Not a gambling matter)
- What to bring to a triathlon (Preparing for the worst case scenario)
- Fast, efficient transitions
- Where to stay pre/post race, cheaply! (Priceline is your friend)
- What to expect on race day (Visualization to get rid of those jitters)
- Course preview (Things to take note of)
- Open water swimming tips (Staying calm in the chaos)
- An in-depth look at triathlon-specific bike gear
- An in-depth look at triathlon-specific run gear

Stay tuned!