How to Choose Your First Triathlon

You will always remember the first time that you cross that finish line so you want it to be a good experience, especially if you plan to continue with the tri-lifestyle. With that in mind, Julia Polloreno, two-time Ironman and editor of Triathlete magazine has some tips for choosing your first triathlon event.

Regardless of your current fitness, your first triathlon is a learning experience. Polloreno and Ceejae Miller, a biokineticist, both agree that a sprint-distance triathlon is the best way to go for your first event. ‘Sprint’ refers only to the distance of the event and not the pace at which the event should be completed. For instance, the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town has a sprint and an Olympic distance event. The sprint distance is a 500m swim, 20km cycle, and 5km run. The Olympic distance is 1500m swim, 40km cycle, and 10km run.

Whether you’re currently active and sporting or not, getting a health check to determine your health and fitness status is very important. Assessing this objectively and honestly can be tough so it is a good idea to consult a professional. Discovery Vitality has several tools available for you to do this, from the Vitality Age [https://www.discovery.co.za/portal/individual/vitality-phr] tool which offers a general overview of your health and wellness and the Vitality Online Fitness Assessment [https://www.discovery.co.za/portal/individual/vitality-fitness-assessment], to the Vitality Health Check [https://www.discovery.co.za/portal/individual/vitality-check] conducted at a Vitality Wellness Centre pharmacy in the Vitality Wellness Network, or at a Discovery Wellness Day. You can also visit a biokineticist in the Vitality Wellness Network, Vitality Wellness Centre, or Planet Fitness or Virgin Active gym to get a Vitality Fitness Assessment [https://www.discovery.co.za/portal/individual/vitality-fitness-assessment-tcb]. These measures can go a long way to helping you decide how long you’ll need to train for your first triathlon and what areas you’ll need to improve on.

Furthermore, it’s always important to visit a doctor before starting a new fitness routine, especially one that is as intensive as triathlon training. If you have a chronic condition of any kind, this becomes essential. A biokineticist can also help you to determine whether you’re over committing yourself; the fitter you are, the less time you’ll need to train for your first event.

Your first triathlon is likely to be a very big learning experience so ideally, you don’t want to have to worry about the added factor of weather. Therefore, it’s probably a good plan to choose a triathlon in which inclement weather is not a factor. Choose a triathlon that’s at a time of year in which you feel most comfortable training. Bear in mind that the time of year and location can also determine whether you will need to complete the swim leg in a wetsuit.

Take a look at the rules for specific events, as some make wetsuits compulsory and others do not. Some events also allow for drafting during the cycle leg. (Drafting is when you can cycle quite close to the bike in front of you to reduce drag; making the cycle easier.) Choose an event that fits with your preference for wearing a wetsuit and for drafting. Some beginners don’t like how restrictive (and expensive) wetsuits can be; while others prefer the improved buoyancy of wearing wetsuits. Draft-legal triathlons may also be easier for beginners as maintaining a 10m distance from other riders may be difficult for the first event.

If you prefer to compete by yourself, your choice of triathlons is wider than if you prefer competing in a team. The support of a team can be very encouraging in your first triathlon and can make the experience all the more enjoyable. Competing in a team may also make training easier as you know that your team-members are counting on you to be at training sessions, making it more difficult for you not to train.

The Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town is taking place on the 25-26 April 2015 and has a sprint distance or Olympic distance option. Both distances are wetsuit compulsory and draft legal. Both distances also have a team entry option, as well as entries for school pupils and paratriathletes.

Thanks to Embark Cape Town for the photograph.

Take the plunge; enter the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town here: http://capetown.triathlon.org/enter

To find out more about Discovery, click here.