,

10 Things Beginner Triathletes Should Watch out For

Posted by

Here are 10 things that beginner triathletes should watch out for:

  1. Overuse injuries: Make sure to cross-train and vary your workouts to reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
  2. Dehydration: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially during hot weather or long workouts.
  3. Poor nutrition: Make sure to fuel your body properly with a balanced diet that includes enough carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.
  4. Skipping recovery: Allow your body to recover between workouts by getting enough sleep, stretching, and using recovery tools like foam rollers and massage.
  5. Neglecting strength training: Incorporate strength training exercises into your routine to improve your overall fitness and help prevent injuries.
  6. Not following a training plan: Follow a structured training plan that gradually increases your volume and intensity to avoid burnout and overtraining.
  7. Not practicing transitions: Make sure to practice transitioning between the swim, bike, and run portions of the race to become efficient and smooth.
  8. Not testing equipment: Test out all of your equipment during training to make sure it is in good working order and to get comfortable using it.
  9. Not practicing race nutrition: Experiment with different fueling strategies during training to find what works best for you during the race.
  10. Being too fixated on numbers: Hitting all your workout paces and figures each session is great, but too many triathletes become slaves to the numbers and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Next Steps

If you’re just getting started and you need guidance here are a few things you can do:

  • Watch lots of triathlon-related YouTube videos – start with my channel, IronmanHacks.
  • Join a local tri club. There are also plenty of swim, bike, and running clubs or groups.
  • Read a few good books on the subject. The king of all triathlon books is Joe Friel’s Triathlon Training Bible. (Affiliate link)
  • Hire a coach. A coach will be able to guide you on everything you need – equipment, training, racing, nutrition, much more (I’m a certified triathlon coach – email me directly or click here for more info).
  • Get a training plan – you can search for free plans online, paid plans, or you can have me customize a plan to you and your exacting needs (go here for more info on custom training plans).

Leave a Reply