Preparing For your Triathlon With the Right Gear

bikingMost people who are facing the concept of their first triathlon are wondering what type of gear and equipment will best suit them. Depending on your skill level, your budget and what equipment you currently own, your needs for the right gear will certainly be difficult. Assuming that budget is a concern and you are dealing with a relatively short triathlon rather than an ironman competition, here are some considerations that you need to keep in mind:

Swimming –

You are definitely going to want to have a good pair of goggles, so do not be afraid to drop $20 or $30 dollars here. You do not want to go cheap when it comes to a nice pair of goggles, because these really go a long way. Visit a real sports store and buy a pair of rubber sealed goggles. As far as swimming attire goes, you can go the wetsuit route, or you can choose a triathlon in a climate that allows you to dress more casually. If you do decide to go the route of the wetsuit, then you are going to need to learn how to get in and out of the wetsuit quickly in order to perform well during the competition. If you own biking shorts that have a pad built in, then you may be able to swim in them, negating the need to purchase a separate swimsuit. Girls may aim to wear a one or two piece with a T-back, making sure to choose something that is light and comfortable.

Biking -

A bike can certainly blow a budget, so don’t worry about getting a good bike until after a few races. Right now, just worry about using whatever bike you can borrow, or already have stored in your garage. Road bikes, ten speed bikes and mountain bikes are all acceptable in these types of races. Make sure at the very least, however, that you have cage pedals. Biking helmets are also a complete must because you cannot participate without one. Padded bike shorts or a soft, gel pad seat are also vital so address these issues sooner rather than later.

Running -

Do not skimp when it comes to good shoes. Spend a little money here and it will certainly pay off in the end. Make sure that your shoes are being fitted properly. As far as running wear goes, make sure that you are choosing something comfortable, light and airy in order to best survive your run. Many people throw lightweight running clothes over the attire they wear for biking and swimming, and this makes the transition from one sport to the next much more fluid. You may want to consider this, but ultimately it is up to you what you choose.

There is also a lot of fun gear that you can buy to customize your experience during each triathlon race. Just don’t go too overboard at first until you know what you really need.

Photo Credits: envisionpublicidad

Originally posted 2009-06-14 12:26:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Triathlon Nutrition Tips

caloriesWhen it comes to triathlon competitions such as the Iron Man, fitness alone is not going to be guarantee enough that you are going to win. It is absolutely vital that you develop good nutrition habits as well. This is one of the most important parts of planning for the ironman. The bicycling section is one of the hardest parts of the ironman competition, and preparing nutritionally is vitally important to your success. Here are some triathlon nutrition tips that will steer you in the right direction toward success in your endeavor.

1 – Triathletes are aware of their maximum heart rate, their power output, their average speed and many other arbitrary numbers such as these, but for some reason they fail to address how many calories that they are going to require per hour during their bicycling. You need to know how many calories you need as well as how many calories will be provided by a gel or a bar. If you are falling behind in your calories, those calories will add up and you will suddenly find yourself running on fumes at the end of a long race.

2 – Another vital part of preparing yourself nutritionally is knowing and meeting your fluid requirements during the bicycling portion of the triathlon. The maximum amount of fluid that you will be capable of using efficiently during the race is going to be based upon your race. You must be aware of how you can use or consume fluids based on your body size, body type and weight. You are going to need 10ml of liquid per 1 kilo of your body weight. If you weigh 70 kg, for example, then you need 700 ml of fluid per hour. This means that you need to be prepared to have and use this kind of fluid. 20 ml of fluid is about one gulp, so how many gulps are you going to need to consume in a period of an hour in order to keep yourself properly hydrated? The best way for you to plan is to try sipping a 750 ml bottle to see how long it takes you. Can you reasonably drink this much fluid in an hour? This is vital because learning how to keep yourself properly hydrated is vitally important as part of training to succeed in a triathlon competition.

3 – You also need to be aware of your calorie needs at all times. How much are you consuming in the span of an hour? Putting these calories back into your body while you are cycling is vital. There are gels and bars that you can consume to make this happen. You need to make sure that you are planning and preparing yourself to burn and regain the calories that you need throughout the process in order to perform at your best possible level during your triathlon.

Photo Credits: kisekino01

Originally posted 2009-06-18 17:42:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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