The Best Ways to Prepare for a Triathlon
Given their popularity today, you might be surprised to learn that triathlons have only been around for about half a century. This challenging sport first debuted in 1974 when 46 people took part in the first race consisting of swimming, biking, and running portion in San Diego, California. It wasn’t long after that bout that triathlons gained traction. Despite their very challenging nature, these races are beloved by many, as they push athletes and regular people alike to test their physical limits and see how they fare at a dare so versatile.
The magic of triathlons lies in their three portions. Races consisting of three distinctly different activities are a rare sight, so working up to these events takes time and proper preparation to things right. It’s always a good idea to tackle something as big as a triathlon with a smart approach. These races can be insanely physically demanding, so if you’re not ready, you could end up hurting yourself. Alternatively, not prepping could lead to giving up early, which can be disappointing. To ensure none of this happens, we’ve compiled some of the best ways to prepare for a triathlon.
Get Inspired
It might sound silly, but building up the confidence to take up something as big as a triathlon is half the battle! It’s no secret that these races are incredibly intense. They’re a true test of human athleticism, requiring peak performance that you need to keep up for its entire multiple-hour duration. Naturally, this sounds pretty scary to most people, and we can’t say that we blame them. This is why motivating yourself to give it your best and start getting ready is key. There are multiple ways to do this, but it usually depends on personal preference.
One option that seems to work for most people is seeing other athletes perform their best. You can do so by watching sports movies, reading popular athlete autobiographies, or just watching sports! That last one is our favorite. You can pump yourself up by viewing an authentic sporting experience, and what’s more, you can tack on the fun by giving online sports betting a shot! This activity is now just a click away, so what better way to get into the victorious spirit than making predictions on how far your favorites can take it?
Get Some Lessons
This one might seem a bit obvious, but it’s one of the best things you can take from this text. No good athlete has gotten to where they are based on talent alone. Training is key to better performance, and when it comes to things like swimming, lessons may not just be recommended, but mandatory! If you’re not a very good swimmer or don’t have the opportunity to swim frequently, we suggest you take some lessons to learn proper form. This might not be as big of an issue with running and biking, but with swimming, it can be detrimental.
Swimming tends to be the first portion of every triathlon. This means that if you don’t do things right in this part of the race, it can have lasting consequences later on. Mainly, we’re talking about the proper breathing technique. When swimming, it’s important to synchronize your breathing to your strokes. If you don’t, you can tire yourself out easily, leading to low performance in the subsequent rounds. This could lead you to quit the race earlier than expected. In the best-case scenario, you could push forward, but you’d have much less energy than you might have hoped!
Mind Your Equipment
Having good equipment can put you miles ahead of the competition. We don’t want you to misunderstand. We’re not talking about having the most expensive, or even the best gear on the market, we’re simply saying that being prepared with solid gear can make things easier. This portion is most obvious in the biking section. It’s worth noting there are a few rules about the type of bike you can use. Still, this doesn’t mean you should use just anything. A trusty road bike should do the trick. It doesn’t need a carbon frame or disc race wheels, just make sure to wear compatible shoes.
Shoes are an important part of your gear when it comes to running as well. A pair of high-quality running shoes are often more than enough to get you through a race without issue. Accompanied by some comfy clothes, you should have a good time getting through this portion. We feel we should also mention a swimming cap. Not many people are used to wearing these as part of their regular swimming gear. Since they’re a mandatory part of the race, we suggest you buy one to practice swimming in, as it takes some getting used to. A nice pair of swimming goggles are also a good idea.
Work Up Gradually
It might be a bit of a cliché, but it’s a popular piece of advice for a reason. One of the best things you can do on your road to triathlon is to take things slow. We understand that a triathlon is a race, but the lead-up to it should be measured. Don’t dive head-first into intense training that could wear you out instantly, or worse, injure you! Not only could you sustain serious injuries that prevent you from attending the race, but you could demotivate yourself and lose interest because of the intense physical strain.
The best way to train for a triathlon is by taking things slow. Start at a baseline and increase the intensity of your exercises as you get more comfortable. Not only does this make training easier in the long run, but it ensures you’re much safer when performing high-strain exercises than you would be if you simply start at the top. We suggest you take this to heart and plan accordingly. Building up to being triathlon-ready can take time, so ensure you start months in advance, if not longer!
