my bank account says the biggest mistake is taking up triathlon at all :D

Best of luck and massive respect to all those tackling Ironman UK in Bolton tomorrow 🏃🚴🏊

I did my first Triathlon in 2019, it was a test for me. I have a few tips and suggestions to share. If you can try and see what distances are involved with your Triathlon as some are quite challenging. I chose the Newbury Triathlon as I had in the past done a few half marathons and knew I was a decent swimmer. My cycling was probably not my strongest point but could be worked on. The swimming was 300 metres so I chose breaststroke as gentle warm up for the rest of the race. I had swum in the pool before so it was a gentle but essential thing to practice. My cycling was on my old mountain bike and I made a point of adding a few extra miles on the training so I could go a bit beyond the race day distance. My mountain bike is old and heavy but so am I. The main thing with a bike is to try and ensure the basics are ok, don’t forget to use the right tyres and Inflate them properly. Be prepared for a puncture and makes sure you have a kit with you. A water bottle is always worth having, for training I had a spare water bottle in my small backpack so if push came to shove I was not dehydrated. You don’t want to be out riding and drop the water bottle only to have a lorry run over it,.A helmet is essential and I would say don’t rush buying one and take time. I made a point of being able to secure mine with my eyes shut as on race day you can’t look in the mirror! Cycle glasses are not essential but recommended, they keep the insects out your eyes and for £5 you can get a cheap pair for the day. I prefer clear ones as it means I see everything naturally. I would say the running is important too and should be done in a few different ways. I was fortunate that the Triathlon run was 5K which is a Parkrun distance, that said you can’t just go off and run. The transition is important and in some ways I was fortunate as I knew that doing a brick run would be a great test for me, I made a point of attending a spin class and then before the cool down I went straight off to do my run. It’s important to know and understand what you are aiming to achieve, for some they suffer when they go running straight after their bike ride. You must gently start off for the first few minutes and then you can give it a decent pace. I bought 2 pairs of identical shoes (different colours) and wore them for all my running and cycling, by alternating them I gave one pair a rest but ensured I was still comfortable with the other pair. I would suggest for each discipline you practice in the kit you will be wearing on your race day as it will feel natural and hopefully you will feel more comfortable with it. Socks are important and you might be best to have 2 pairs of identical socks and wear them with your shoes too. Only wear clean socks and make sure they fit properly as you don’t want blisters. I never had blisters with my half marathons or in training for them. Foot hygiene and health is important. Hydration is a bit of a personal thing but should not be overlooked. Water is ok for most things but the fizzy tablets can help with your electrolytes and make sure you are not going to suffer. For training have a standard routine and know it by heart, I have porridge for breakfast and know it will sustain me. I do find organic peanut butter will make a decent sandwich and is satisfying after training. I would advise having a plan for your triathlon and use it well. Know where the bike area is and make sure you lay your kit out in a small but neat area. I practiced by putting my stuff on a newspaper and seeing how it worked. I didn’t have a vest with me on race day and having done my bit in the pool I struggled with my top, a vest would have probably helped things a bit. It was my mistake and we all make them on our first go at something. I would also suggest you consider the area you will be running in as you might find that it’s quite mixed and if you have only run around a flat area it could be a shock. Nearly every athlete will tell you of things they should have done differently, we all learn by experience. Start of gradually and make progress, it doesn’t have to be a mad rush. Plan ahead and remember to take a rest day and listen to your body.

Just watched this before my race today. Make sure I don’t make any mistakes.

Love the latest content and news!!! Really helping me prep for my races. I can honestly say that GTN has been my trainer to make it through my Triathlons 💪🏽. Heather n Mark… Y’all are awesome.

I am training for my first ever triathlon next month (Olympic in London) and I am loving all the content. Thank you to the GTN team, especially Heather for the videos on training as a female! I’d love a dedicated video on pacing and managing one’s effort on race day - how to start, when to increase the speed, etc. Have a great day!

Or have the saddle rail clamp bolt fall out 2 min into a 10 mile bike leg and have to do the rest either standing or sitting on the top tube. That happened to me last month. :(

Great reminder, thanks 😀

I did most of the don'ts this weekend at Ironman UK and suffered for it haha, compared to the gatoraid sport i'd trained with the mix on the course really didnt work well with me and i didnt even consider it being an issue before the start. rushed check in and to the start and as a result had no run special needs no compeed and no dry socks for the run! cost me hours over the full course!.

Jealous of that weather. We middle of winter here in Melbourne

Ha! Did the new trisuit mistake in my half distance IM on the very same day this video came out! I'm giving the excuse that it became very hot on the race day and my tried and tested suit has sleeves, whereas the new suit doesn't. But the final 15k on bike was painful and my bottom still looks rather bad a week after the race, so I should definitely have heeded to the advice! Frankly I was rubbish on the bike, but the suit wasn't the only reason.

Ignoring nutrition is so easy. “I’ve just ate like 6 gels, I don’t need more, I feel great and it just a half marathon”, oh yeah…

Yes I have lost a lot of time with transitions. PALM trees in England? Global warming is present. Love your videos.

Is This video is film in Quinta do Lago in Algarve?

I made a lot of mistakes, and i learned from it

I suck at nutrition

Name of the bike on the cover???

А так всё по факту

That’s Lanzarote? 🥰🥰

Опять она футболку не погладила!

Woaw... never heard these before..... (being sarcastic)