Tri Sports: Gear, Tips, and Tricks to Get Your Best Time

Any athlete who has participated in a Triathlon knows it’s not just about how strong or fast you are. It takes a lot of hard work to get there.
But there are many tricks that were designed to help you reach your ultimate potential. There is gear and apparel that’s been created to help maximize this, as well as secrets and tips that will push you to your full ability.

GEAR

The type of gear you are wearing plays a massive role in your performance in any sport. This is no difference in a triathlon.
You must be equipped with the right shoes, bicycle, helmet, swimsuit, and that’s just the beginning. If you aren’t wearing the right type it can completely ruin everything you have worked and trained so hard for.
A beginners list of triathlon gear generally consists of: swimsuit, goggles, swim cap, towel, bike, helmet, water bottle, shirt and running shoes. The most important thing about the gear you use for a triathlon is comfort. Individual preferences vary. Some people feel comfortable doing an entire race in a swimsuit. Others who aren’t concerned with transition times will change clothes for the bike and run.
First and foremost, you need to feel comfortable with the gear that you are in as that will help you throughout the entire race. If not, you will be focusing your time and energy on fixing how uncomfortable you are which will put you behind in the race. But if you’re prepared and ready with the correct gear you can put all your energy and focus on the race and doing your best!
 

TIPS AND TRICKS

There are countless tips and tricks that triathlon athletes have shared throughout the years to help you prepare for the race, but also keep you going during the race.
They may seem small, but these will make all the difference in the world during the competition.
Dave Scott is a six-time Ironman champion and he combined a list of 11 tips for your first triathlon. Start fueling for the race the day prior. Finish your morning meal two-and-a-half to 3 hours before the race starts. Don’t drink just because you’re nervous. Map out the transition area.
Mentally rehearse the order of things after you lay everything out. Don’t just stand there—warm up. Swim smart. Don’t eat anything in T1 (transition 1). Be smart on the bike. Don’t eat anything in T2. Ease into the run.
He goes into much more detail for each rule, but just simply knowing these basics will put you ahead of the game!
 

WATERPROOF IPOD

The last factor you may want to consider falls into both the “gear” and “tips and tricks” categories.
Purchasing a waterproof iPod can make all the difference in the world for your triathlon.
You will have all the gear you need but you’ll also have the added bonus of your favorite songs playing and motivating you through the entire race, especially when you start to get tired.
It’s great because you can use it in the swimming portion of the race, but also in the running and biking portion because it’s a regular iPod, when not used in the water.
It’s a win-win! You can head over to Underwater Audio’s store and pick out your very own! They have a wonderful, wide collection of waterproof iPods so you can pick the one that suits you the best!
 

TELL US!

What is some gear that is helpful in a triathlon that wasn’t mentioned above?
What are some of your favorite tricks and tips that you’ve learned along the way?