I would bet there are some things to avoid in my first few triathlon races. What are some of the more common traps to watch out for?
Going out too fast in the swim – just peruse our July 2008 article titled “How to avoid a Panic Attack” and you’ll know why we recommend going out slowwww. It’s much easier to pick up the pace as you get in a swim groove and the wave thins out then it is to get your composure and catch your breath because you went out too quickly. Accelerating your training program too quickly – competitiveness can help cause you to want to go faster and/or farther too soon. You can give it a shot but your risk of injury is probably commensurate. Try and incrementally add to your speed and mileage throughout your season at a practical and comfortable rate, e.g. 10-15% is a reasonable increment. Trying something new on race day – sometimes it’s a wetsuit, nutrition gel and/or piece of equipment. It may work out but it will increase added complexity or stress. So, we recommend to stay in your comfort zone and mimic race day everything prior to the race. Try new things in training before making them part
