TRIATHLON TRAINING DADDY : Addicted to Triathlons? Me too. Follow along as I navigate faith, family, work and triathlon in every day life, share some tips and secrets, and help others fit it all in without missing out on life.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Signed up for a #Triathlon // Now what?

You've heard the hype, or your friend conned you into it, but in any event, you signed up for your first triathlon... now what!?

Or, maybe you're thinking "what did I just get myself in to?"

Before you back out or don't show up to the start, consider a few tips and pointers to get you going in the right direction.  With the right information and tools, you can make this maiden voyage a great experience and maybe even start drinking the multisport kool-aid and SIGN UP FOR ANOTHER ONE!

That's the goal of any good triathlete... get your friends involved so they stop making fun of you are think you're crazy.

Plan it out.
  • Are you going self taught, or coached?
  • New to swimming?  Consider a coach, team program or masters swim to have a professional on hand to get your fundamentals down before you hit open water.  No one wants to be pulled from the swim on their first race.
  • Practice in open water before hitting the real thing.
  • Consider an indoor triathlon to get your feet wet, literally. 

Get the gear.
  • When's the race?  If the water will be cold, consider a wetsuit.  www.XterraWetsuits.com is a great start and use code "C-STPM" for a discount for my readers.
  • Invest in a bike trainer.  The cold months may mean no outdoor biking, but riding a trainer in the cold months indoors will put you light years ahead of those without in your training and bike readiness.
  • Consider a triathlon specific racing kit.  They are much different than bike shorts and bike jerseys.  You could have a swimsuit for the swim, bike clothes for the bike and run clothes for the run, but you will spend a lot of time and energy changing clothes in a race.
  • Swim training gear is essential.  Check out SWIM OUTLET for a list of recommended items from flippers to paddles.  Learn to love the pool and have the right gear.
  • Get a bike.  Road bike preferably.  Shop deals at your bike shops and ask for older models in the back they are looking to off load.  Deals deals deals.
  • Bike helmet - well duh, right?
  • Consider clipless bike shoes.  So much energy can be saved with this system.
  • Run shoes (I like ASICS, personally), duh again.
  • Consider good socks and a visor for ventilation and shade along with sunglasses.
  • Race gear may be different than training gear.  Don't want to wear out your tri kit in the pool for race day! 
  • Consider a quality GPS and heart rate tracking device for training and racing.  Racing smarter, not harder in today's time crunched world can pay dividends.  I recommend the Garmin 920XT or the FENIX 3.  Both great options.




Nutrition + Hydration
  • Better figure out now how to fuel and hydrate yourself.  Whether you're doing a sprint or full Ironman race, if you don't know what you can and cannot eat during a race and training, then you're in for some problems.
  • Figure out morning meals before workouts.
  • Figure out best meal planning before races.
  • Figure out what you can digest during a race.
  • Sugary sports drinks and gels may not be the best option, even though they have tons of marketing dollars behind them.
  • I use UCAN personally and love the superstarch and hydrate sticks.  Check it out.
Plan the season!
  • Don't go gung ho and sign up for ton of races before you get the feel for it.
  • Don't race every weekend and wonder why you don't get better.  Train, race, recover.
  • Practice races.  Practice transitions.  More practice!
  • Include the family.  Nothing alienates a person from their significant others like jumping into a time crunching and costly adventure without talking it out.
  • Develop a solid workable training plan and stick with it.  Get a coach involved if you're feeling lost.  Don't download a plan and make a square peg fit a round hole.

Those are just a few of my tips I've picked up over time. Each one could be a post on its own.

Leave a message on the post of you have questions and I can always follow up with a more detailed post!

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

2016 Race Schedule - LETS GET READY TO RACE!

So, first race is coming up this weekend, so I thought better post my signed up schedule and dream schedule...

This weekend kicks off the official endurance race season for me.  First up is a half marathon run in Kansas City that I've been involved with the race since it's inception 6 years ago.  It's a great course, great time of year and traditionally a PR setter for my half marathon distance.  We shall see if the tradition continues for 2016.

Without further delay, the schedule!
Keep in mind I signed up early bird for great price cuts, so even though I am registered, there's always life that happens that may change the schedule.  ;)
  • 4/9/16 : Rock the Parkway Half Marathon
  • 5/15/16 : Kansas City Triathlon Olympic Distance
  • 6/3/16 : Hospital Hill 5k
    • Part of the Re Run series for the 5k Friday and Half Saturday
  • 6/4/16 : Hospital Hill Half Marathon
  • 6/5/16 : Legends Free State 70.3 Triathlon
    • Used to be the Ironman 70.3 Kansas until IM opted not to keep the license.  Not going for any PR here, just racing for fun after a 5k and Half Marathon two days before.
  • 7/10/16 : Shawnee Mission Triathlon Long Course
  • 7/17/16 : Ironman 70.3 Racine
  • 8/7/16 : Matt Mason Triathlon Sprint
  • 8/7/16 : Ironman Boulder 140.6
    • 2015 RACE REPORT
    • Yep, I know, on the same day as Matt Mason.  If things work out, I'll be there, but it's 50/50 at best.
  • 8/13/16 : Age Group Olympic Nationals in Omaha
    • Wish list race.  Lots of travel before this race for races, so it probably won't happen unless the stars align.
  • 8/27/16 : Cedar Creek Triathlon Sprint
  • 10/15/16 : Kansas City Marathon
And that's all I'm signed up for at the moment.  Things could change, schedules could get altered.  Anyone with a new baby at home knows all to well there is no schedule!  :)