🗺️ Start to Tri

• Trisuit
  You can do the whole race in a speedo and change into cycling and running kit, but, getting a tri-suit will make your race day experience SO much less complicated and enjoyable.

I highly recommend either a Sprint Distance or, at a push, an Olympic Distance for your first attempt. Not because you can't complete longer distances, but the shorter distances are usually more friendly and fun.

• Sprint: Swim: 750m, Bike: 20km, Run: 5km
• Olympic: Swim: 1500m, Bike: 40km, Run: 10km
• Half: Swim: 1900m, Bike: 90km, Run: 21km (also called Half-Ironman or 70.3)
• Full: Swim: 3800m, Bike: 180km, Run: 42km (also called Ironman)
• 100km: Swim: 2000m, Bike: 80km, Run: 18km (used by The PTO)

Training often but little is far better than doing a few epic sessions infrequently. Try to get into a routine of doing something every day. This could be a 30min run, a 45min bike ride, or a 1hr swim. The more you can do, the better, but don't overdo it. If you're feeling tired, take a day off. If you're feeling good, do a little more. The key is consistency. An example week could look like this:

• Monday: Swim 🏊️
• Tuesday: Run 🏃
• Wednesday: Bike 🚴
• Thursday: Brick: Bike + Run 🚴 🏃
• Friday: Swim 🏊️
• Saturday: Long Bike 🚴
• Sunday: Long Run 🏃

It's SO important to realize this while you're doing it. It's such an EPIC achievement and you should be proud of yourself. You're doing something that most people will never do. You're a triathlete! Don't wait till after the race or the next race. Be present!

There are so many different ways to be a triathlete and it will become important for you to work out what you want from the sport. Below are some stereotypes just for fun and I think i've been in each category depending on the year.

• Terminator 🤖
  Many triathletes get hooked and want to toss aside any semblance of a normal life for swim, bike and run. This all consuming appraoch is great as you will "level-up" very quickly but it can be unsustainable. It can put a lot of strain on your family life, existing friendships and hobbies and even career. It can work, but not all the time.
• Bumble Bee 🐝
  This is similar to the above but less serious. This triathlete will fully embrace being a tri-geek and will train every day but not sacrifice every other part of their life. They will tend to race often because it's fun and put less pressure on themselves.
• Hamster 🐹
  Some triathlets have done a race or two but can seldom do another one. They enjoy training and the balance it brings to their lives but don't feel the need to race and compete.
• Sportsman ⚽️
  They are not defined as a triathlete and triathlon is just one of the many sports they do. They tend to always be fit, seldom injured and frustratingly can do well at a triathlon even on cheap equipment with little specific training.
• Bear 🐻
  There are many triathletes that used to be all in but have tapped out of the "matrix". They still love the sport and follow the pro-racing scene but are focusing on other areas or have taken up gravel riding or stand up paddle boarding. They will often have a comeback year where they go all-in again 😉