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Helen's top 12 tips to starting out in triathlon
1. Get the right kit. It can be quite expensive at the outset but it's definitely worth investing in in the long-term as you'll notice the difference if you try and compromise
2. If you are not sure if triathlon is for you, look to hire kit initially. You can hire bikes and wetsuits for a pretty decent rate
3. Join a local triathlon club. This way, you get to meet like-minded people and really find out more about the sport. It also makes it a lot more fun
4. Start small - 'try a tri' is always a sensible option and allows you to test the water with smaller distances
5. Make sure you prepare for each race. That means resting too - don't over-exert yourself. But you need to go into the event feeling relaxed, fit and fresh
6. And don't forget to prepare mentally too! Triathlons are tough whatever the level - it can often come down to a battle of the minds
7. Pace yourself - it's always tempting to go all out at the start but this doesn't always pay off. Set yourself small targets (and times) that are realistic and achievable and build on this over time
8. Always wear a cycle helmet! It?s an obvious one but I've seen a lot of people not doing this and it's so dangerous not too
9. Enjoy it! Triathlons can be tough and unforgiving at times so you have to have a certain kind of passion and natural drive for it
10. Try and achieve a good balance between each discipline - it's easy to focus on the one you most enjoy but you need to aim for a strong, overall balance. That?s what wins races!
11. 'Brick sessions' are a crucial part of your training - you can gain or lose important seconds in transitions between the different components
12. Surround yourself with forgiving friends and family! It's important to enjoy your downtime and really relax and have fun as training can be tough. But you need to surround yourself with people who will support the super early starts and early nights.
View also Helen's photo album on Train Smarter - Powered by Suunto Facebook pages.
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