Ok, so I am doing my first Multisport race in a few months, and I need some help. I am doing the Green Bay Duathlon, and don;t really get the concept of changing clothes. I know this is a basic question, but it’s an important one. So it’s run, bike, run. Do I change clothes twice? Where the heck do you change clothes? I plan on seeking out a local triathlon just to see the transition area and how it works, but any kind of insight would be really helpful.
Ok, so I am doing my first Multisport race in a few months, and I need some help. I am doing the Green Bay Duathlon, and don;t really get the concept of changing clothes. I know this is a basic question, but it’s an important one. So it’s run, bike, run. Do I change clothes twice? Where the heck do you change clothes? I plan on seeking out a local triathlon just to see the transition area and how it works, but any kind of insight would be really helpful.
All you need to change is your shoes… unless you plan on biking in your running shoes.
Good luck!
most people wear a pair of tri shorts and a jersey or shirt for duathlons. tri shorts are like bike shorts except with minimal padding which makes them more comfortable to run and swim in. pick a shirt or bike jersey that is comfortable and not too baggy. if you own bike shorts those would work too. since you start off running, just leave your helmet and bike shoes next to your bike on the rack. on race day, figure out where your bike is relative to the finish of the first run so you don’t wander the racks of bikes looking for yours.
you may change clothes as often as you like.
the essence of this thing however is to complete the total distance in as short a time frame as possible.
hence the time spent changing may have a detrimental effect on your overall completion time compared to everyone else. you would be well suited to wear something you are comfortable remaining in throughout the distance.
go the full distance a couple times in advance, only changing your shoes, if that, depending on your shoe/pedal combination, and you’ll be fine.
I wear bike shorts, but never thought I would be running in them the whole time. I might have to check into a pair of tri shorts as I feel like I am wearing a diaper in bike shorts. Thanks for the tips. Any more would be appreciated.
its all a matter of comfort and what you are used to. i agree with the standard bike shorts/diaper routine. not very workable. tri specific shorts with a thinner pad (still sounds bad) is much more suited to what you are preparing for. depending on the distances and your level of comfort on the bike, you may not need or want shorts with any pad.
wear during training what you anticipate wearing for the race.
what shoe/pedal combination are you using?
I am using Shimano shoes and look peddles. The ones with the big cleat on the bottom.
considering the 31.5 mile bike course, i would not suggest anything but using those. i noticed Joanna Zieger’s transition tips on the Midwest Sports Events website. can’t get much better advice than that. those are in the “transition” link.
key word is practice. get used to the process before doing it in the race. i will say however that the idea of keeping shoes clipped in the pedals as Joanna notes, is a process that will either streamline your transition, or break it. don’t do it in a race environment unless you have practiced that tirelessly and know without question you are comfortable with it.
Awesome…thanks so much for the advice. Little stuff like transitions make it diffucult and even put off newbies, or at least me. looking forward to finally getting one under my belt.
glad to help. lots of folks around here will be glad to answer any questions. feel free to post any, or pm if you are more comfortable that way.
btw…any chance of doing any events before early October? weather that time of year can be a bit unpredictable around here.
the padding in tri shorts is a little thin but you get used to it on the bike. the pad is also smaller so you pretty much don’t notice it while running. the best thing to do is practice. leave your running shoes on your front porch, get back from a ride and go run for 10-15 minutes. if you’ve never done this, it feels odd. your sense of running pace is usually messed up and your gait doesn’t feel smooth for a mile or so. one thing that is useful is a pair of elastic laces for your running shoes.
Good advice form others, and your idea of going to a local triathlon and watching the transitions is excellent. In the meantime, go to www.tri-zone.com and look for the DeSoto Power Tri Shorts - a great product! But other companies also make similar shorts, so buy what looks good is is price-friendly for you.
I am doing some running events to gauge my progress, but other than that, I need the time from now to Oct. to get ready. My training got off to a reallly late start, so I need to make up for it. I’ll look around for a few more events, but Lambeau in October is too good to pass up. Even if it isn;t a game. I am only 45 mins away, so hopefully I will be used to the conditions ahead of time.
I’ll have to try that technique. That was another question…the runnign after the bike. Will make sure and do that.
Thanks for the shorts tip…another question answered before I could ask it.
A lot of good advice here already. At last years event the starting time temperature was in the high 30’s low 40’s range with a breeze. I wore tri shorts with tights over for the first run and the bike, and a long sleeve jersey and tight wind jacket. Got rid of the jacket at the second transition, and was comfortable throughout. A couple friends had trouble in the second transition, claiming there nuts were froze to their saddles. Who knows what the weather will be this year, but just keep an eye on the forecast.
Welcome to the sport, and good luck with your training!