As a beginner triathlete, you need to know a few important things. If you know a few simple steps, you will begin your triathlon journey successfully. This article summarizes fundamental points to triathlon sports and would pave your way to achieve your ultimate targets.
Know the Game:
Understanding the fundamentals of the game is the first thing to do. Besides rules, you have to be well aware of all the triathlon gears that you will need in your career. Try to learn the basic rules of the game. For example, learn how many miles each segment needs to cover in the running segment. What would be the transition? How much time should I spend in transition?
- What penalties can come in my way if neglecting the rules? Understand the list of penalties in detail and train your mind and body on how to avoid penalties in particular circumstances.
- Sometimes failures to follow the rules may disqualify you from the game. Example of some simple rules may be, where to keep your equipment in transition? Or using headphones is allowed or not. Or how much space should be there from the front runner or rider.
- Some rules may disqualify you, and others may have a time penalty. For example, the first offence may result in a one-minute to six-minute penalty. It becomes a two to twelve-minute penalty for the second time, and if it becomes your third time ignoring a particular rule, you have to face disqualification. Therefore, understanding the game’s basic rules is crucial for any beginner triathlete.
Make a Food Menu for yourself:
As humans, we all need to be conscious of our food habits. If you are a triathlete, it becomes many folds important. Therefore take help from a nutrition’s guide and make a menu for yourself.
- Make sure to take a balanced diet containing the required amount of calories. The byproduct of every sport is to remain healthy. Focus on choosing a food containing more fibre and taking food from natural sources.
- Avoid processed food. Plan your supplements for the day of the race, before and after the game. Understand the nutritional value of each food component you take.
- Make a menu list for your daily food intake and display it in your residence to remind you every time about your food and nutrition.
Gear it up with a positive mindset:
Triathlon journey is a journey of positive thinking. You always have challenges initially, but you need to take them as a testing instance for yourself and overcome them. Be consistent in your training. If you miss one day of training with some excuses, you will definitely search for another excuse shortly. Therefore, it is good to be consistent in your training and practice. But what you need to do to remain consistent. Here are some key points for beginners to be consistent.
- Work Breakdown Strategy:
- Think like this if you feel a 10-kilometre run is an impossible task. Let’s do the 5 kilometres first and then see what happens. This is a kind of contract you make with your mind. Convincing yourself in this manner would give you a chance to keep going. Once you complete the first chunk of your work, you find yourself confident for the next one.
- Sort out your tools needed:
- Tools are important in every sport. A triathlete has to work on what and where to buy standard items for the day of the competition or even for practice and training sessions. SUMARPO is one of the best friendly brands for triathletes. You can take help from SUMARPO by selecting your choice.
- Keep the faith:
- Inspire yourself:
- When you are on the way to your training session or have some practice, you will think about quitting sometimes. It is natural to think of quitting. But you need to train your mind and feel excited to enjoy it. It is, therefore, the best strategy to listen to some inspirational stories. Just turn to YouTube or any online content and search for sports-related motivational content.
- Early Risers:
It has scientifically been proven that your mind gets tired in the later hours of the day. Therefore it is always best to get up early for fitness training or exercise. The mind works sharply and is decisive in the early hours of the day.
- Be accompanied to be encouraged:
If you have your mates in training, practice or exercise sessions, try to encourage yourself. Appreciations, and encouragement is like rewarding the brain.
Keep the Transition Simple:
Transition in a triathlon is the duration between one phase of the game to the other. A triathlete has to finish swimming, take transition T1 (Swim to Bike), and then move to race.
Similarly after the race, bike will be staged for the Triathlete to ride and move to the next stage of the game after transition T2 (Bike to Run). The transition must be simple, and the transition rules must be followed. During transitions, you need to be organized, calm and swift.
A triathlete must dispose of all trashes in the designated spots during the transition. Additionally, every Triathlete has to keep their equipment in the designated spots during the transition. Furthermore, it is a good practice to take lesser time in transition. Otherwise, there would be a time penalty as per the situation.
Coaching and Coach:
A coach is someone who has a strong professional knowledge background of the game. Furthermore, a coach should have work experience. An effective coach would be the one who provides equal opportunities of coaching to all participants.
As a beginner, take help from the coach. Select the best coach who has enough experience in each segment of Triathlon.
A coach would be the standard of your accountability and source of inspiration during your Triathlon journey.
Equipment List:
Write the list of all that you need for the triathlon journey. Sometimes seasoned athletes forget things. Don’t puzzle yourself, rather make a checklist and tick mark things once you have it. You may need a wetsuit, helmet, goggles, bike shoes, race belts, etc. Try to have your equipment listed digitally in a mobile application or writing pad. Before leaving the residence, make sure to have a look at that list and tick mark each item.
