Getting Started Part 1 - The Race

Setting a goal is easy. It’s the follow through that separates the ‘be’s’ from the

‘wanna-be’s’. For a person new to triathlons the point where the rubber meets

the road can sometimes feel like driving on black ice.

The process of getting started can seem overwhelming. This is where having the

goal in place is important. As I noted earlier, start slow and work your way up.

Begin with a simple sprint triathlon. Most of these sprint races consist of a swim

that is from 500 to 750 yards in distance, a bike ride that is 12 to 13 miles long,

and usually a 5K run. In some cases there are some races that are specifically

geared to first time racers.

Identifying a race in your area can be as simple as getting on a search engine

and typing in “triathlons in (your town)”. Other sites such as Trifind.com and

Beginnertriathlete.com provide links to races. I’m partial to Trifind simply

because it allows you the opportunity to find races by state.

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for your first race. Yes, there are plenty of

stories of people who did a race after being talked into it the night before by a

buddy, usually after a couple of shots of tequila. If this is a serious goal then

treat it as such. My good friend and coach Jaime talks about enjoying the

process. Getting to the race is three-quarters of the fun and probably 95% of the

journey. Most training programs for beginner triathletes are geared to a ten to

twelve week training window. Identify the race you would like to complete and

then give yourself plenty of time to adequate get ready.

Because you are planning three to four months in advance it may be difficult to

find all the races available. Trifind allows the viewer the ability to go back and

view races from the previous year. If there is a timeframe you are partial to then

see what races are listed. If possible, visit the race website. Unfortunately from

year to year race directors leave or things happen and races get cancelled so

make sure that race you are looking at is still an option. Be sure and look at the

registration information. Usually most races have registration up until the day of

the race but there are also races that have caps on the number of participants

and can sell out. One race I did had the registration begin two months prior to

the race and completely sold out in less than four hours. Make sure you look

over the race information. Is the swim being done in a pool, a lake, or the

ocean? Is the bike or run course fairly hilly or relatively flat? Let this information

factor into your decision. You want your first experience to be a good one.

Another thing to keep in mind is location. Try to see if you can find a race that is

close by where you live. There is nothing better than to wake up on race day in

your own bed.

Once you have settled on a race make the commitment, pull the trigger, get

registered, block off the calendar, tell your spouse, partner, or family, and let the

process start. This is where the fun begins. As with everything, planning is the

key.