5 Tips For Your First Triathlon! | Things You Need To Know

Your first triathlon can be a daunting experience & there can appear to be a never-ending list of things that you need to know about to toe the start line. Fraser is here to highlight five things that you might not have thought of, that will hopefully help you tackle your first triathlon with a little more ease.
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Your first triathlon can be both an exciting and daunting experience. There can appear to be a never-ending list of things that you need to know about simply to toe the start line and get yourself going.
Even if that might be the case, you needn’t be so fazed that you aren’t able to get your head around the concept of giving your first triathlon a go.
Fraser is here to highlight five things that you might not actually have thought of, that will hopefully help you tackle your first triathlon with a little more ease.
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[@lwittrock1]

As a retired dive instructor trainer, using hair conditioner to get your wet suit on, and off after a swim, is much easier. a little on your wrists and ankles will do the trick. The added benefit for men and women, is using it in your hair when donning the cap. again, it goes on easier and in salt water, it also means no tangles or matting of your hair and it smells good.

[@newbluerugby]

It works better than body glide on ankles/wrists?

[@kulebrero]

@@newbluerugby I’d think it would rinse off the minute you get in the water

[@chrisplatten2293]

I did my first and so far only triathlon last year. It was a sprint event with a pool rather than open water swim. The only item I bought for the event was a pair of tri shorts for £20. I used a gravel bike (I don't have a road bike, but I do have a spare set of wheels with narrow tyres and a road cassette) which has flat pedals, so could ride in my running shoes. This turned out to be quite an advantage as the mount line was quite a way from the transition area! My targets were to finish and not be last. Both were achieved, although I was last in the swim. Fortunately I am somewhat better on the bike and as a runner and made up several places! It was a blast. If you are in doubt about signing up, just go for it. Pick a small local event, ideally with a pool swim.

[@ph_hacker_d]

That’s awesome. How long were the swim, bike and run?

[@chrisplatten2293]

@@ph_hacker_d 400m swim, 20km bike and 5km Run. The run actually was slightly short due to building works causing an adjustment. The swim was up an down each lane of a 25m pool, ducking under the lane floats. 8 lanes at 25m makes the 400m

[@kulebrero]

This is the way. Start with a Sprint distance even if you’re in Olympic or better distance shape. You just want to figure out the rhythm of things the first time. Don’t worry about equipment too much. Any bike, helmet, and pair of running shoes will do. A running belt will help, too, since most races require wearing a number bib during the running portion. It’s hard to swim and bike with it on, so you want to be able to put it on when you transition from bike to run. They’re cheap and come with a small pocket for energy gels/gummies, keys, ID, etc. If the swim portion is in a pool, swimsuits will likely not be allowed. If it’s a lake, sea, River and the temps are cool enough to allow suits, they do provide an advantage as they help you float and glide a little better, but you don’t need one if you’re not trying to go 30secs faster. You also don’t have to buy one for your first race. There’s almost always a cycling/outdoor store in every city that rents triathlon swimming suits for a weekend. Just don’t get a normal, scuba/surfing neoprene suit. Tri suits are different. You’ll also need goggles for the swim, and a swimming cap although almost every race will provide one color coded for each group/class. And like the video said, don’t show up with a pair of brand new shoes…or brand new anything. Whatever you’re going to use for the race needs to be worn and tried multiple times before. Race day isn’t the day to break in a new helmet, bike shorts, shoes, or nutritional plan. Other than that, don’t put too much pressure on yourself for your first tri. Also, don’t be shy. Ask the people around you to help you set up your transition area and tips on how to get through your first tri. Just go out and have fun.

[@robstriathlontipsforbeginners]

As someone else said: Body Glide. I learned to put some on my shins and ankles. Your wetsuit comes off much easier.

[@joemoya9743]

Body Glide is excellent for this purpose. It is a water based lubricant and helps protect the wet suit.

[@hungrycollegestudent]

Having broken in shoes is great, but my comfy old trainer broke a week before my marathon so don't let the shoes be too old 😬

[@carlosparacio5679]

When I hear the words tri tips, the first thing I think of is my favorite cut of steak.

[@canadian7494]

Great video, going to try my first triathlon this upcoming summer. Super excited and nervous.

[@TheHutch000]

Great tips from GTN as always many thanks guys

[@ovechkin102]

First tip is huge, never try something new on raceday, it's always tempting when you get a kit upgrade or new nutrition right before a race but you have to train with it first

[@mitchellatkins9701]

Thanks, I didnt know about the drafting box rule

[@ja9438]

I too would really like to know how to pass on the bike without getting a drafting penalty

[@MaskedOG]

so maybe you need to pass them at 2.0...1 meters wide starting rom 10.0...1 meters behind them^^

[@spencerrutherford1476]

for ironman, you can enter the draft zone to pass, must maintain progression while in the draft zone, and must be in the draft zone no longer than 25 seconds.

[@cianodonovan2447]

Great video as always Fraser!

[@Papa-Bogey]

No Vaseline! No petroleum jelly! No baby oil! This stuff will ruin your wetsuit! You need anti-chafe lubricant, like Body Glide. Body Glide is designed as safe for neoprene. Anything petroleum based will melt neoprene if you don’t rinse it off immediately. All the other tips are great ...

[@Papa-Bogey]

No, for lubricant to prevent chafing and helping get your wetsuit on and off use non-petroleum based products like Body Glide ... petroleum and petroleum based products are the enemy of plastics, rubber and neoprene ... The plastic bag trick is great for getting the wetsuit on ...

[@jonathanzappala]

Nicolae Ceban I don’t think baby powder would work when it gets wet in the water. Body glide is what you want.

[@jonathanzappala]

Haha sofa king just noticed your name. I heard a good bit once of a sofa king commercial. He had deals that were sofa king good 😄

[@Papa-Bogey]

Jonathan Zappala also, my acronym for SOFA is Slow Old or Fat Athlete ... you can be SOFT in season ... Slow Old or Fat Triathlete

[@jonathanzappala]

SOFA King gotcha. Well if you say it fast, it comes out different

[@KtL1772]

the plastic bag wetsuit hack... genius 👌

[@brianharris706]

Great job! Learned a lot 👍

[@amandastephen4318]

Thank you! I grew up a competitive swimmer; and I enjoy running but bike is giving me most anxiety as of right now. Think I’ll just give my current bike a little face lift

[@evwbb]

I have one an Saturday and am still a bit anxious about the swim, I wish I had your problem lmao

[@AngrySkipperGC]

I’m 5 weeks out from my first and didn’t even think about training gels. Sheesh. I’m a bit behind the 8 ball for this one.

[@ja9438]

On adding gels to water bottle; what ratio of gels to water do you recommend?

[@astroguyco]

The only thing that makes a huge difference is your bike, agree you can do it with any bike, but for your first triathlon it will be hard to do it if your bike isn’t good

[@teplak4805]

On my first traithlon I got yelled at for cycling through the transition zone 🤣😅

[@bryanotero123]

You need to drag your bike?

[@TheHutch000]

Add Electrolyte Powder into your drinks to keep hydrated throughout the day.

[@outcomeworkout2039]

Thanks

[@itarry4]

If it's your commuter/shopping bike I'd take the basket and carrier off maybe.😉🚲💨💨

[@janhorak7317]

It has to stay on for all the water and snacks :D

[@Nessunego]

Just know this: pain will end

[@rrosomasa]

Uuuh I love me some tri-tips! 🥩

[@DHRbarnett]

Is there a video on how to correctly pass when cycling on the course? I would've loved if Fraser could've gone into it in greater detail. That is, if there is more detail. If its just, go round quickly, then I'm just a fool

[@jonathanzappala]

DHRbarnett no that’s a good question they should make a video about that. Rules vary, but it is always only pass on the left (well at least for everyone who drives on the RIGHT side of the road hehe). And you have 15 seconds to complete the pass (that time varies), and after you have been passed you have to get out of the draft zone before you can attempt to pass that person. The draft zone would need a vide to explain.

[@fallingstars9496]

Jamie Fraser 😂

[@PoetWithPace]

I think i should of watched this before i completed my first tri the other week.....

[@rafiyantin5657]

If I'm doing a mini sprint should I take gels

[@jacobwright9383]

How do you overtake someone if you're not allowed in the 2x10m box on open roads?

[@DM-kj3gb]

Do you have a video on the Ironman rules and on course etiquette? Also, how do you take in calories in a 3.8km swim?

[@jonathanzappala]

D M you don’t take in any on the swim, you would start once you are on the bike and moving. The swim is not too long that you need to.

[@markstacey2906]

I could be wrong but if your first triathlon is Ironman they won't let you use a mountain bike...

[@nickvandam1214]

Won't petroleum and baby oil damage a wetsuit?

[@Syedshah-md5yi]

Sport shop

[@joemoya9743]

WOW !!! - you're recommending using petroleum based lubricants instead of water based lubricants .... overtime that will break down the neoprene and ...worse... any glues used in the seams. This has been common knowledge for decades. NOTE: This negative effect takes place over time and is reduced if you wash and thoroughly rinse your suit. Best to never store a suit with petroleum based lubricants in the material or better yet... never use petroleum based lubricants with neoprene suits. But, the biggest negative effect is that what makes it good for neoprene as for friction reduction frequently gets tacky on cloth fabric (especially solid based lubricants) and increases friction for parts between skin and the tri-suit.... so, it is best to use solid type water based lubricant sparingly around synthetic cloth material layered by neoprene and avoid all petroleum based lubricant.

[@taylor1991]

WOW!!!

[@briandeal8927]

When I swam competitively, we always used plastic bags to get suits on and soap to get them off. The general rule of thumb was if it didn’t dig into skin and leave a mark, the suit was to big. For us guys, we wore 1-2 sizes smaller than our pants size (32 pants 28 swim suit), so the only way it was coming off was with soap.

[@righttok]

👍👍

[@heban01]

Never use Petroleum Jelly on rubber. NEVER. There are products that are specially made for use on wetsuits or else you will ruin an expensive piece of equipment. Also never pull on your wetsuit without gloves when putting it on, your nails will go right through the rubber. Woh. I am very surprised that GTN didn't corect those beginner mistakes in this video.

[@redjacc7581]

i still don't understand how you are meant to pass someone on a bike?

[@jonathanzappala]

Redjacc as long as you complete the pass writhing the time limit, usually like 15 seconds, you are not guilty of drafting.

[@redjacc7581]

@@jonathanzappala right ok, that's not a lot of time if you are of similar pace. Can you ride along side so you are not drafting?

[@jonathanzappala]

Redjacc yes it’s not a lot of time at a similar pace. That’s why lots of videos are turning up of drafting packs in Ironman races. They are choosing to let it slide probably because they know that. Riding along side someone is also not allowed, but that’s where it depends on the race and what they let slide.

[@redjacc7581]

@@jonathanzappala It did say they allow drafting in certain events, i just wonder how they decide. You would think rules are rules.

[@jonathanzappala]

Redjacc yeah Ironman brand races have their own rules, separate from the ITU rules, USA triathlon has its own rules that are close but not the same as ITU.

[@andyheilmann1656]

I hate hate HATE when people recommend a wetsuit as a necessity for a first triathlon. They are not necessary. I live in the North East of the US and have never *needed* a wetsuit. I have only warn one once

[@lydiaalmeida5046]

In some places it's actually regulated that you must wear a wetsuit for safety purposes. Here in Australia, we're forced to wear wetsuits if the water is below a certain temperature!

[@mackenzieusher8025]

Especially if your triathlon takes place in late summer or early fall.

[@Microbit0]

Pffff then you haven't done enough races! Sometimes the wetsuit is mandatory and you're not allowed to compete if you're not wearing one

[@jameshoey303]

Go pull yourself off

[@jameshoey303]

I have a huge flute which makes getting the wet suite difficult to remove...any tips

[@kymclinton3140]

Just a bunch of idiots getting in peoples way especially in a village I've just turned a load of signs around this morning

[@akselklok9904]

First