Tips and Tricks as the season starts....
As the triathlon season starts, E11 wanted to share some tips and tricks to help the racing process run a little more smoothly. Please email us to share any other tips and tricks you have and we will run a follow-up post!
#1 MY TRI TOP KEEPS RIDING UP!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- About 2" of strips of velcro (The kind you have to sew on, not the kind w/ the sticky back. You can buy by length at JoAnn Fabrics. They should have white and black - maybe pick a color that blends well w/ your kit. But either works, as you won't see the velcro when wearing.)
- 4 safety pins
- needle and decently strong thread
STEPS
1) Cut yourself 2 strips of velcro, about 1" in length
2) Get yourself 4 safety pins.
3) Put on your kit.
4) Pull the top down to where you would like it to comfortably be all the time.
5) Pull the velcro strips apart and safety pin them where you think they would work best, on both your shorts and then your top. I think it might work best to put the hook part on the shorts and the fuzzy part on the top. For reference, the velcro on my shorts sit just about over my hip bones. The velcro on the (outside of the) shorts is maybe 3" down from the top of the waistband, and the velcro on the kit top is just along the hem (on the inside), just inside the vertical seams that run along the sides of the front.
6) Safety pin all 4 pieces of velcro down.
7)) Take off the kit, and then sew the velcro in place. You can adjust the pieces as necessary if they are super caddywhompus. On my shorts, the velcro on the shorts has a bit of an angle. The ones on the top sit right along the bottom hem. I use just a basic whip stitch to tack down all the edges.
And voila! No more tops scooting up!
#2 WHAT SCREEN AM I LOOKING AT?
Double-check and triple check Garmin screens to make sure they're on your preferred race display/auto-lap settings/etc. You don’t want to spend time fiddling with your Garmin on the bike and wasting valuable time.
#3 MY NAILS TORE A HOLE IN MY WETSUIT!
Use lightweight gloves when pulling on your wetsuit to prevent fingernail tears in the delicate neoprene. One at a time, put each foot in a plastic bag to ease step-in access to the suit. And be sure to use generous amounts of Body Glide or another lubricant on your neck to prevent the suit’s collar from chafing—especially in saltwater swims.
#4 HOW WILL I FIND MY GEAR IN TRANSITION?
If allowed (check each race’s rule book), tie a balloon to your transition rack or use a brightly colored towel to easily identify your place. On race morning, familiarize yourself with the transition layout and the “in” and “out” entrances and exits for the swim, bike and run. Toward the end of the swim, rehearse in your head what you’ll do when you reach T1. Likewise, toward the end of the bike, rehearse for T2.
#5 I DIDN’T KNOW THE BIKE/RUN COURSE WAS SO HARD/HILLY!
Study the course maps and elevation profiles well in advance of the event so that you know what you will be up against on race day. A hilly bike course? Potentially muddy or even technical trails on the run course? This can help you focus your training on the aspect of the race that will be most challenging to you, and can inform you of specific gear you might need, such as a different cassette on your bike or more stable shoes for the run. Drive the bike course and ride the run course to find out what you are up against.
#6 OH MY HAIR!
Pick one hairstyle. The last thing I wanted to do was worry about my hair during the race and in transition. I settled on a low braided ponytail – it was easy to tuck into my swimcap, under my bike helmet and under my visor for the run. Figure this out BEFORE race day
