Entries Tagged 'Swim Bike Run' ↓
December 9th, 2008 — Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run
You have probably spent months if not years preparing for the upcoming triathlon race, so in all honestly, the last thing that you need right now is to have your mind wandering to things that you may have forgot. Why worry about whether or not you forgot something, when putting together an effective packing list takes so little time? There is no doubt about it, if you want to get a new personal record, you need to keep your mind on the race rather than on other things. This unique packing list is designed to help you remember everything that you need to bring for your triathlon so that you can prepare your gear and be completely prepared in time for the big day which is probably just around the corner.
You may not need to use everything on the list, but being over prepared is always infinitely more beneficial than being under prepared. These items are listed individually, but you may need more of a certain item depending on the distance of the race and other factors. For example, when we mention ‘water bottle’, what we mean to say is ‘enough water to get you through the race’, and the same goes for electrolyte drinks and energy gels as well.
Personal Items to Pack:
- Identification, race registration papers, and other important documentation. Be sure you have your USAT Card.
- Clothing, including a jersey, tri-shorts, socks, shoes and anything else you may need before and after the race.
- Towels for the staging area, make sure to bring two or three, more if you like.
- Body Glide Skin Lubricant
, in order to prevent chafing.
- Sunglasses, in case it is too bright outside to manage. Plus the UV protection is good for your eyes.
- Energy Gels
, to keep your energy up between events.
- Electrolyte Drink
, excellent for restoring electrolytes more quickly than water.
- Watch, with timer or stop watch function is best.
- MP3 player, should the event happen to allow the use of them. Very good for getting into your groove and staying motivated.
Swimming items to pack:
- Swimming cap.
- Swimming goggles.
- Swimsuit/Swim Trunks/Wetsuit.
Biking Items to pack:
- Your bicycle, obviously. Can’t do this portion of the event without one.
- A sturdy helmet,
- Water bottle - make sure your bike has a water bottle cage or it’s too difficult to juggle.
- Spare tire.
- CO2 Bike Pump
and CO2 Cartridge
.
- Hex Bike Tool
for repairs. Hopefully you won’t need it, but if you do it’s easier to have this on you than not.
- Cycling Gloves
to protect your hands. Full-finger is especially useful in events that happen during the winter.
- Road Cycling Shoe
Running Items to Pack:
- Running hat or running visor, something to protect your face.
- Proper running shoes.
- Fuel Belt
with water, energy gels and other vital equipment.
As this is a lot of stuff you need to make sure that you have a bag that is big enough to carry everything in. The only thing you won’t need is the cat! You should take a few weeks to get everything ready so that you are completely prepared in time for the event. Knowing that you are prepared for the race so long in advance should help you focus on your training.
Photo Credits: 1
Related Posts - First Triathlon Fashion for Women Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It's easy enough to dress to go running, but you'll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so......
December 8th, 2008 — Clothes and Gear, Just for Women, Swim Bike Run
Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It’s easy enough to dress to go running, but you’ll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so you want to minimize it as much as possible.
Unless you’re terribly fashion conscious or very modest, you can probably do the entire race in a simple one-piece swimsuit, or a top and bathing suit bottoms. You’ll want to wear a sports bra, no matter what you wear on top, just for adequate support. And you may choose to wear tight-fitting shorts like biking shorts even for the swimming portion. It’s mostly a matter of personal preference, depending on how you feel comfortable.
Some things to consider are whether or not you’re comfortable cycling in a swimsuit, or you’d rather slip on bike shorts for that portion of the race. Alternatively, do you want to go running in the triathlon in bike shorts that you wore swimming and now are wet? It doesn’t take that long to change, and it’s much better to be dry and comfortable as possible instead of distracted by your clothing as you forge through the race.
You can purchase special triathlon shorts
, if you’d rather avoid time spent changing, that can be worn the whole race. They’re similar to biking shorts, but are designed to be worn during the swimming portion while protecting you from chafing during the cycling and not weigh you down during the running part of the triathlon race.
You can also opt to wear special swimming gear, like a wetsuit. A wetsuit will keep you warm, but unless the water is strangely cold that day or the triathlon is in an usual place, water temperature usually isn’t a factor. Wetsuits can also help you stay above the water. If you opt to wear a wet suit, wear your running clothes beneath it to make the transition easier—just peel off the wetsuit and go.
If you want to wear a wetsuit for the swimming portion, be sure you purchase a triathlon wetsuit, not one designed for scuba diving or other water sports. Triathlon wetsuits have slicker outside which promotes faster swimming, and they’re much more easily removed than other wetsuits.
Also, some prefer wearing socks, some blister without them. If you can manage without them, you’ll save time when it comes to the swimming portion. Elastic laces eliminate the need to tie and untie the shoes, as well. You can wear the same shoes for both running and cycling—special cycling shoes clipped to the pedals aren’t necessary.
The most important thing, though, after figuring out what triathlon clothing you prefer, is to train in that clothing. Don’t wait until race day to wear that wetsuit or shed your socks for running. You’ll swim, bike and run faster and better if you’ve practice in your triathlon clothing for quite a while already.
Photo Credits: 1
Related Posts - Triathlon Gear If you are going to participate in a triathlon, having the best equipment is vital. Experience and endurance are important, but those will only go so far towards being at the top of your game. It will vastly depend on the athlete the sort of equipment needed, since every human......
- Curious About What is Involved in Training for a Triathlon? For people who are not professional athletes but are still interested in training for a triathlon, the concept of training ahead of time might seem like a lot of impossible work with no guarantee of any rewards. In reality, training for a triathlon is something that is well within your......
- How to get to the Finish Line There are many different reasons that a person may decide that they would like to compete or participate in a triathlon, do one of the multiple types of cycling, swimming or running and more. These are all activities that many people find enjoyable but are also all activities that take......
- What to Pack in Your Bag for a Triathlon You have probably spent months if not years preparing for the upcoming triathlon race, so in all honestly, the last thing that you need right now is to have your mind wandering to things that you may have forgot. Why worry about whether or not you forgot something, when putting......
November 10th, 2008 — Motivation, Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Training
There are many different reasons that a person may decide that they would like to compete or participate in a triathlon, do one of the multiple types of cycling, swimming or running and more. These are all activities that many people find enjoyable but are also all activities that take training. One of the main reasons that many run triathlons are the programs themselves they may be participating in.
Some triathlons or other related evens are for causes such as breast cancer or aids and more. This can mean a great deal to a person morally and emotionally especially if they have had a family member or have themselves had to deal with the cause that the event is for. Many of these events have proceeds that go to victims or to help these things not happen to more people and for many people this is very important and is there way of making a difference. In addition, it means that each person who participate counts and each person who can make it till the end also counts, to some their speed may count but to most it is simply having the endurance to be able to make it to the end.
As mentioned above the main thing a person will need to be able to complete a triathlon is endurance. For many people they prefer to say stamina is what is needed but no matter what way you chose to look at what is needed what a person’s main goal should be is to be in good enough shape to be able to make it across the finish line. This is true for running, swimming, cycling and triathlons. When competing in order to win you still should make sure to make a point of strengthening your stamina or endurance because these are what you need to be able to make it through a triathlon or a competition in any of these areas.
When training for endurance or stamina you need to be able to make time for yourself to be able to train and you need to start early. When you find out you will be entered into one of these events you should try to start building endurance as soon as possible. It can be helpful if you use the activity itself to help you build this endurance. This normally starts with setting a timed limit for these actions such as swimming for one hour or more or running for an hour and not allowing yourself to stop.
Some individuals need to start at much lower amounts of time such as five minutes or even fifteen, and then you work yourself to longer amounts of time. When you do this you are helping to make sure you will be able to pass that finish line. While some people compete simply to win others simply enjoy the feeling of knowing that they did it and that they achieved something that others have not been able to.
Photo Credit: 1
Related Posts - Curious About What is Involved in Training for a Triathlon? For people who are not professional athletes but are still interested in training for a triathlon, the concept of training ahead of time might seem like a lot of impossible work with no guarantee of any rewards. In reality, training for a triathlon is something that is well within your......
October 31st, 2008 — Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Training
For people who are not professional athletes but are still interested in training for a triathlon, the concept of training ahead of time might seem like a lot of impossible work with no guarantee of any rewards. In reality, training for a triathlon is something that is well within your grasp, no matter what your current physical shape or abilities are. If you are serious about training for a triathlon and you are looking for the best way to get started, keep reading.
Many of the people who have regularly competed in triathlons actually began in the same state of inactivity as the next person. Some of these people only occasionally went to the gym or worked out before they decided to participate in these events. Many of these people found the inspiration to try out for a triathlon, and enjoyed the training and preparation process so much that they simply improved their physical capabilities over time. So if you are interested in training for a triathlon, you can be successful in time regardless of your current physical condition.
The real key when it comes to training successfully for a triathlon is to begin slowly, and simply work your way up over time. There are three events involved in the triathlon: swimming, biking and running. You should add elements of training that correspond to all three of these events. You may want to consider joining a health club or a gym for the best results, because this will allow you to get your swimming, your biking and your running all in during a single visit, and you can time yourself as you go.
You should make sure to track your endurance, keeping track specifically of when your energy wanes. Many people find that they need to build up the endurance, stamina and strength in their legs in order to tackle the running and bicycling aspects of the competition. You may also find that you need to build up your upper body strength in order to do well in the swimming aspect of the competition.
Some trainers also find that their best course of action is to lose weight over all, increasing endurance and aerobic activity in the process. In order to achieve either of these goals, you should aim to begin small and slowly increase your aerobic activity and weight lifting over time. If you end up pushing yourself too hard when you are training to compete in a triathlon, you can quickly become discouraged, which will prevent you from accomplishing all that you are capable of achieving. You may also end up hurting yourself if you push yourself too hard without regard for your physical well being.
Pacing yourself is vital when you are training for a triathlon. It may seem slow going at times, but it is worthwhile if you want to train the right way. You may consider aiming for a mini triathlon or a Sprint competition if you feel more comfortable competing before you are ready for a real triathlon competition as well.
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Related Posts - How to get to the Finish Line There are many different reasons that a person may decide that they would like to compete or participate in a triathlon, do one of the multiple types of cycling, swimming or running and more. These are all activities that many people find enjoyable but are also all activities that take......
September 15th, 2008 — Swim Bike Run
If you are going to participate in a triathlon, having the best equipment is vital. Experience and endurance are important, but those will only go so far towards being at the top of your game. It will vastly depend on the athlete the sort of equipment needed, since every human body is different. There are basics that will apply to everyone who chooses to swim, own a bike or become a runner. These will help in choosing the right equipment that one needs to be at the top of your game.
Swimming Gear –
When it comes to swim gear, it all comes down to foot wear and other accessories. In the training stages, there are footwear that is designed to help you train by promoting proper leg posture and tempo while kicking and swimming. These training shoes will help you develop the proper technique to swim like the pros. Goggles and Swim Caps are also important, as goggles will help to maintain vision and swim caps will reduce the drag while swimming. When it comes time to compete, then the proper footwear will be shoes that allow breathing, and provide traction. For a triathlon, it is also important to have shoes that provide arch support for running and will be compatible with bike pedals.
Running Gear –
Once again, it is all about the foot gear and accessories. While training, a very helpful accessory is a pedometer or other means to track your progress. A map may be able to give you an estimate, but you can run over much more ground than can be shown on a map. An easily portable water container that will not throw you off balance is also a plus. When it comes time to choosing shoes, what is important is proper foot protection and support. The shoes have to support the arch of your foot; otherwise you’ll fatigue much faster, and risk hurting your foot. All runners have a specific style that makes them unique, and finding the shoes that fit your running style is vital if you want to do your best on the track. Proper elemental protection is also good, in case of deep puddles, snow rain, or other debris. When in a triathlon, it is very beneficial to have shoes that will also double as swim shoes.
Bicycles –
Choosing the right bicycle is an important task and depends heavily on the intended application. The first consideration is the terrain; will you off road, or will you stick to paved surfaces? That is the question that will determine if you will get a mountain bike or a road bike. A mountain bike has a wide tire with deep treads, to ensure traction over a variety of terrain types. Built in suspension will reduce rider fatigue, and also ensure good contact with the ground. Conversely, a road tire is thin to reduce friction (and make it less likely to puncture a tire on road debris).There are treads on the tires as well, but they are more shallow, being only designed for riding in wet conditions. Then there are bicycles that are in between, designed primarily for road use, but capable of holding it’s own off the road.
Bicycle Gear –
This includes not only the ever important helmet, but also the appropriate accessories for bicycle maintenance. This includes grease and lubricant for the various parts of the bike, replacement parts for spokes and chains, and the tools necessary to tear down the bike and put it back together. Your bicycle is a precision machine that needs to be well maintained; otherwise it will not run as efficiently or as safely. There are a myriad of different options available to you when it comes to bicycles, including bicycles intended for scaling hills and rough terrain, and those that are meant for the road. Having the right bicycle is important, because each features characteristics that are meant to appeal to its primary applications. A road bike will not stand up against the rugged terrain that a mountain bike is meant to handle, for example. And a mountain bike’s numerous speeds and settings will be useless on the road. Choosing the right bicycle and the right bicycling accessories is vital if you want to get the most out of your ride.
Swimming, biking and running are the three activities that, when combined, form a triathlon. Having the best equipment if you intend to participate in these events is absolutely vital, because it will boost your capabilities and increase your ability to do well. Endurance and experience are both vital statistics, but they will really only go so far when it comes to reaching the top of your game. Because every body is different, finding the equipment and gear that will best suit your needs is going to depend heavily upon testing and trying out different brands, sizes and styles until you find what suits your needs best. A runner cannot win races without shoes that accommodate his or her running style. A bicyclist cannot climb mountains or ride to the head of the pack in a race without the right bicycle to accommodate him or her. And without the right goggles, swimsuit and swim cap, a swimmer cannot efficiently glide across the water to win races.
SwimBikeRunner.com is designed to cater to the athlete who is serious about the gear that he or she utilizes in order to win. If you are serious about improving your swim times, riding faster and further than before or running more efficiently than ever, then the products that you find within these pages will benefit you tremendously. Regardless of whether you are looking for the best swimming apparel, the right running shoes or the best bicycle or bicycling gear to help improve your sport of choice, or all three for that matter, you will only find top of the line name brand solutions here at SwimBikeRunner.com.
Photo Credits: 1
Related Posts - How to get to the Finish Line There are many different reasons that a person may decide that they would like to compete or participate in a triathlon, do one of the multiple types of cycling, swimming or running and more. These are all activities that many people find enjoyable but are also all activities that take......
- Welcome to Swim Bike Run Nature Endurance Recreation As I work to take the bubble wrapping off the website (err… find my running shoes) please take a look around the Swim Shop, Bike Shop, or Running Store.......
- What to Pack in Your Bag for a Triathlon You have probably spent months if not years preparing for the upcoming triathlon race, so in all honestly, the last thing that you need right now is to have your mind wandering to things that you may have forgot. Why worry about whether or not you forgot something, when putting......
- First Triathlon Fashion for Women Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It's easy enough to dress to go running, but you'll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so......
- Curious About What is Involved in Training for a Triathlon? For people who are not professional athletes but are still interested in training for a triathlon, the concept of training ahead of time might seem like a lot of impossible work with no guarantee of any rewards. In reality, training for a triathlon is something that is well within your......
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September 13th, 2008 — Swim Bike Run
As I work to take the bubble wrapping off the website (err… find my running shoes) please take a look around the Swim Shop, Bike Shop, or Running Store.
Related Posts - What to Pack in Your Bag for a Triathlon You have probably spent months if not years preparing for the upcoming triathlon race, so in all honestly, the last thing that you need right now is to have your mind wandering to things that you may have forgot. Why worry about whether or not you forgot something, when putting......
- Triathlon Gear If you are going to participate in a triathlon, having the best equipment is vital. Experience and endurance are important, but those will only go so far towards being at the top of your game. It will vastly depend on the athlete the sort of equipment needed, since every human......
- First Triathlon Fashion for Women Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It's easy enough to dress to go running, but you'll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so......
Online Stores