Five Triathlon Race Day Rituals
Happy Friday and welcome to the Friday Five! We are well into winter here in Maine, in fact we got over a foot of snow here yesterday thanks to the "Bombogenesis" weather pattern. Despite it being bitter cold outside, my triathlon training is in full swing! In fact, I have less than five months until my first race. As I realized this during a long ride on my trainer, I started to think about how I would prepare for my Half Ironman in Chattanooga at the end of May. I have a pretty standard race day routine that I always do, no matter what the distance. So this week I am sharing my Five Triathlon Race Day Rituals.
Five Triathlon Race Day Rituals
1. PREPARE: Get everything ready the night before and lay out your gear to make sure you have everything. I start with the Swim: Tri Kit, TIMING CHIP, Wetsuit, Glide or Tri Slide, Race Swim Cap, & 2 pairs of goggles, watch, & heart rate monitor. Next up the bike: Bike Helmet, Bike Shoes, Place Race Numbers in all the appropriate places (typically helmet, top tube, & stem). I set my tire pump by my bike so I can pump up my wheels in the morning. At this point, if it is a longer race, I organize my nutrition, which includes a boost from Alert Caffeine Gum. Last the Run: Sneakers with fast laces, visor, fuel belt (if using one), & number belt with race bib attached.
2. ENVISION THE DAY: I go through everything and visualize the race, getting in & out of the water, heading to transition, getting on my bike & heading out on the run. Envisioning the process, helps me make sure I have everything I need and prepare for any obstacles that I may encounter.
3. ORGANIZE TRANSITION: Arrive early so you can set up your transition. Try to keep it neat and put out only what you need. I use a small towel to place everything. I set my bike shoes down first with my glasses placed on top ready to put on , then I put my helmet over them. This setup allows me to put my helmet on first, as this is the Most Important Item & you can not leave transition without it on & snapped! Next, I put my race number belt down and place my sneakers on top of it. I open up the shoes and put a little glide on the heels to make them easier to slip on. I also sprinkle my socks (if wearing them) with baby powder. Then, I place my running visor on top. Again, this is all methodical so that when I come into T2, I put my visor on, next my shoes, & last my number belt.
4. REVIEW THE COURSE: In a perfect world, we would be able to swim, bike, & run on the course we are racing on before the event. However, this is not always an option when we are traveling to events out of town. I like to review the course on a map or drive the bike & run course before, just so I am a little familiar with the roads and can plan for anything that could catch me off guard on race day. I also like to familiarize myself with the swim course on race morning once the bouys are in the water and I can check out what land marks are good to use for sighting.
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5. GET EXCITED AND ENERGIZED: I try to calm my nerves and let myself get excited about the event ahead of me! After so much training, I really try and focus on enjoying the race itself. I also like to give myself a little boost with Alert Caffeine Gum. Alert is a caffeinated chewing gum for adults. 1 piece of Alert Caffeine Gum is equal to half a cup of coffee. I find that chewing this gum gives me a boost for the event. It is the perfect portable boost as it is easy to tuck in my transition bag or bento box on my bike. I also keep a piece in my fuel belt in case I need a dose of extra energy on the run!
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