Rising to the occasion

YOU have taken the plunge, given into the peer pressure, paid your money and signed up for your first triathlon. Well done!

For many of us just signing up is a big step and for a lot of readers you will have chosen to undertake the immense task of competing in Challenge Bahrain, a middle distance race (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run), as your first triathlon.
After the first few days of elation in signing up I am sure this elation turned to panic. 

What have a done? Why? What do I need? I do not even own a bike.

Triathlon initially can be one of the cheapest sports around but be warned it also can be one of the most expensive possible! Take bikes for example, you could buy a functional bike for BD200-300 or you could go all out and spend upwards of BD5,000.

I have lost count of how many triathletes I have seen that go out and buy all the most expensive kit when truthfully it is not needed. It is an easy trap to fall into as a beginner. 
 
There is a common saying in sport: ‘All the gear, no idea!’

So what are the key things you need if entering the sport for the first time? If we break it down into the three disciplines:-

Swim

* Swim suit – It goes without saying that a good, sensible swimsuit is needed. Baggy Beach/board shorts for men and bikinis for women are out.  Tight fitting one piece swim suits for women and lycra shorts/speedos for men are in.
* Goggles – Buy what fits! If they leak, they are no good! They should suck to your face/eye sockets without the strap in place. For those with funny shaped faces, mask type goggles are best.
* Wetsuit – Not essential in Bahrain but for a half distance race a wetsuit helps a lot. A wetsuit makes it easier to swim due to the buoyancy so you use less energy.  It should, however, be a swim/triathlon specific wetsuit (these are thinner and more flexible than diving suits) and it should fit well.  Start with an entry-level suit for your first few seasons until you are comfortable swimming long distances, after this the choice is endless and expensive!

Run

* Trainers – Buy a reputable make (Nike/Asics/Newton/Adidas etc.) and ensure they fit well and are comfortable.  There are three different types of running style/gait; Neutral/over-pronation and under-pronation. It is worth finding out what you are as there are different trainers for each type.

Bike

* Helmet – You will see all the pros (and a lot of beginners!) wearing the odd looking pointy, teardrop shaped aero helmets.  Don’t buy one! For beginners these can be hot, uncomfortable and will actually make you slower if you cannot hold your head in the correct position for three hours! Try a few normal road cycling helmets on and get one that fits well and is comfortable. Helmets are compulsory in races. No helmet, you are a ‘DNS’ (Did Not Start)!
* Bike – The big cost with a massive amount of choice. Tri bike or Road bike? Truth be-told for a beginner it does not really matter.  Most start on a road bike for a few seasons with clip on Aerobars, they are more comfortable and easier to ride (I did my first three years including two Ironmans on a road bike). Again fit is essential and it must be comfortable. Buy the best you can afford but be aware that buying that BD4,000 Tri bike as a beginner will not make you faster, fitness will!
* Tri suit/bike shorts – Bike seats are uncomfortable, fact! You will need bike shorts or a tri suit with padding for the bike.  One thing is for certain, if you don’t like lycra, triathlon is not the sport for you. Ideally a tri suit that can be worn for all three disciplines is best.

Optional extras

* GPS watch – I am a firm believer that you should learn to run/ride by feel first. However, with modern GPS watches and bike computers they can be very useful for pacing during races and training effectively. Be warned though, they can be expensive toys. You can become obsessed with numbers and speeds when you should be worrying about just getting round.
* Good sports sunglasses – We are in Bahrain with perpetual sun. Tired eyes can ruin a race.

The general rule of thumb is make sure you are comfortable with anything you buy for triathlon. This means for up to six hours, on average, for Challenge Bahrain and possibly 10-17 hours for a full Ironman race. That BD2,000 triathlon bike that is your pride and joy could become a modern torture instrument during a race. If you have the money to go all out, great, spend away! If you don’t, then do not worry, buy what you can and get quicker by training.

Triathlon is an addiction and as you progress you will find yourself buying anything to gain a precious few seconds.

Triathletes believe that having everything in carbon fibre is essential and red always makes you go faster (or so I am told!).
Enjoy your purchases and remember: train hard, race easy!

* Bahrain Triathlon Club is grateful to its sponsors for the 2014/2015 season: Apache Capital, Elian, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain, InTouch Clinic, McLaren Group, Propel Consult, Reza Hygiene and Trowers & Hamlins. For more information on the Bahrain Triathlon Club email bahraintriathlon@gmail.com or visit www.bahraintri.com For more information on Challenge Bahrain visit www.challenge-bahrain.com.bh