I have my first sprint tri tomorrow and I have a couple of questions. First, what do you use to mark your body for the swim? Do they do it or do I need to do it? Also, how do I set up my transition area? Both transitions will be in the same place so should I set everything out on a towel or in a box? I have seen some pics of transition areas but just need some advice. Thanks.
Jason
You will be marked by race volunteers.
I set up everything on a towel, helmet is on the bike’s handlebars. I also make certain to put on the helmet first and have it as the last item I remove when going through T2 (after bike).
Have you practised having your shoes on the pedals of the bike? If not, now is not the time to try it …
If they want you marked, they will provide the markers…Sun screen will take that off anyways.
Setup your trans how you think YOU should - set it up tonight at home, go thru the steps and gear, line your gear up - put it ALL in one bag…go from the swim to the run in your mind
Swim goggles cap
Bike socks shoes helmet glasses towel to dry feet water bottles on bike
run race belt? fluids? hat? Shoes
This is only a sprint so dont get to complicated…go thru the steps tonight and you will do great in the morning.
Good luck
there will be a body marking area so no worries
i set thing up in order of use on a towel
Pre race - make sure you use body glide (if you have it) so the wetsuit comes off fast. It is bad for the suit, but I use PAM to ensure no problems and the wetsuit comes off so fast you will not believe it. Make sure to put your goggles on first then your swim cap - I see a ton of people who do not do this and they risk them being kicked off.
T1 sunglasses in helmet and everything else on the bike - for your tri first I would not recommend shoes pre clipped in so just have em next to your helmet.
T2 - running shoes and racing belt and roll - some people put on the racing belt under the wetsuit but it bugs me on the bike so i grab it and put it on heading out of T2
The first one is a little nerve racking, so take some deep breaths and go out there and have fun!
socks for a sprint?
Wow. Awesome. Have a great race tomorrow and be careful. I hope you really enjoy it.
The other guys did a good job of answering your questions so you are good to go. Have a good 'un!
Don’t forget to give your buddies on Slowtwitch a report!
Tom.
Thanks guys. I wasn’t too sure about the marking. I never use sun block as I consider myself a poster boy for skin cancer:) being it is a 0630 go, shouldn’t be in the sun that long anyway. I am thinking about swimming in my run shorts as my tri shorts I bought over the net were a little to tight! Looked like 10lbs of potatoes in a 5lb bag. The top was white and too tight as well. I have about a 48-50in chest and a 36-38 in waist. I guess the tri clothing companies think most tri people are 15-180lbs. leaves us bigger guys out in the wind. So, run shorts to swim, T1 put bike shorts over run shorts, T2 remove bike shorts and run in run shorts? Sound o.k? I will be in hawaii end of august and will actually try on clothing there as there are no tri shops here on Guam.
Jason
as long as you think it’ll be comfortable. Not sure what it is like with wet run shorts underneath bike shorts - doesn’t sound too good. I thought you aren’t supposed to wear anything under bike shorts so a wet pair of running shorts might be iffy.
I did my 1st tri last week and wore a pair of board shorts for the entire race. Bit of a sore butt afterwards but a short race so not too bad.
I’m not nearly as formal with my transition area. I just lay the 2 pairs of shoes on the ground (both open and ready to go), helmet on the ground next to them with the sunglasses sticking in the holes of the helmet. I also have a bike bottle with gatorade near the running shoes since I run with a drink.
Thats it…that all I do for sprint races. The only thing I do for longer races is …carry food!!
Oh…and my wife uses the black magic marker and does my body marking!!
Oh…and my wife uses the black magic marker and does my body marking!!
I heard she only writes “stud” instead of your number though…and that she likes about your age on your leg…
Good Luck,
Did you get a bike. Sorry I was not much help on that one.
First of all, good luck and have fun!! I hope you have a smile on your face from start to finish. One transition item you may want to consider is an extra water bottle to squirt your feet with…clean any sand or crud off before you jam them in your bike shoes.
Spot
“…and that she likes about your age on your leg…”
Yep…your correct, thanks…she does “like” my age : )
: )
.
I know the “stud” is not true…I’m too old to be a stud!!!
: )
I meant “lies” but I type bad and spell worser.
I knew that…about the lies…and…about your spelling!!
: )
Just do the whole thing in your run shorts. For a sprint, you will not “damage” your naughty bits by riding 20k in run shorts. At least not enough to affect the remainder of your race 
You could waste 2minutes trying to put bike shorts on. Fuggeddaboudit.
Good Luck,
Did you get a bike. Sorry I was not much help on that one.
How did you do? How did you do? How was it? Report! Report please!
I have it in 2 hours. It is 4:10am here in Guam as we are a day ahead of you guys. I should be sleeping but the butterflies have kicked in:)
Jason