Staying on Track, Envisioning a Successful Race Day

 

Once the newness and excitement of training for your first triathlon wears off, you may occasionally struggle to stay motivated and on-task with your training.  This is normal and to be expected.  Remember that the tremendous sense of accomplishment that you will feel when you cross the finish line is directly related to the hard work that it took to get there.  If it’s easy, everyone could do it!

Some very effective ways of recharging your batteries include talking to experienced triathletes, watching inspirational videos, looking back at your training log to gain an appreciation of how much progress you’ve made, and taking time to visualize what race day will look like, feel like, sound like, etc.

Once race day comes, it helps to have some understanding of what to expect.  This will help reduce anxiety and allow you to stay focused on the race.  Let’s review how your dream race day will unfold. 

It all starts at 5 AM when you wake up from a good night’s rest.  The first order of business is to eat a healthy and light breakfast.  Next, grab a shower, use the restroom and then put on your race day clothing which you laid out the night before.  All of your race day gear should already be packed or in the car.  You’ll arrive at the race site at approximately 6:00 AM.  Immediately place your bike and essential race gear at the assigned bike rack in the transition area.  Don’t worry about setting everything up just yet.  Instead, go to the registration table to do several things:

  • Pick up your timing chip and place it on your left ankle. 
  • Get bodymarked so that race officials can identify you on the race course.
  • Check your assigned swim start time, which will be posted in a visible area.

Volunteers will be available to assist you if you have any questions.  Go use the restroom and consider doing an easy warm-up swim once the pool opens at 7:00 AM.  Otherwise, a quick jog will help to loosen you up.  Remember, however, that the transition area is closed to everyone at 7:45 AM.  That’s also when the pre-race announcements will take place.  You don’t want to miss them!  The race starts at 8 AM, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to be in the pool area by then.  Make sure you bring some warm clothing to avoid getting cold as you wait.  Take an occasional sip of water and eat a small snack, especially if you have a later swim start time.  You’ll arrive at the pool area 15 minutes early where volunteers will ask you to form a line in the order of your assigned race number.  Before you know it, it’s your time to jump in the pool!

When you hear the command to “go” you push off the wall and begin swimming the first of ten lengths of the pool.  Any nerves that you were experiencing are now gone and you’re feeling focused and determined to have a great race.  Once you reach the end of the swim volunteers will be there to guide you out of the pool area and to the transition area, where you’ll easily find your bike because you made a mental note of its location prior to the race.  Put on your helmet first then your socks and shoes.  You may also want to put on sunglasses, a t-shirt and/or shorts.  Walk or jog with your bike until you have exited the transition area and crossed the bike mount/dismount line.  Now you may mount your bike and begin pedaling.  The 9 miles of cycling that lay ahead will include hills, sharp turns, and of course other participants in front of and behind you.  Do your best to pedal hard, but always be cautious and remember that the bike course is not closed to automobile traffic.  The race site and bike mount/dismount line will be a welcome sight and before you know it you’re back in the transition area.  Rack your bike, remove your helmet and put on your running gear.  Off you go for the final leg of the race: a 2 mile run.  The first thing you might notice is that your legs are a bit wobbly from cycling.  Not to worry because you’ll find your stride.  Take full advantage of the aid station at the 1-mile mark and then bring it home!  The finish area will be abuzz with great music, the sound of cowbells, and of course cheering spectators.  As you run down the finish chute, the PA announcer will call out your name to officially recognize your amazing accomplishment.  You’ve done it, and chances are that you’ll do it again some day!

Remember, what the mind believes, the body achieves!