You did it. You decided to tackle the most complicated race out there, the triathlon. If you’re going to be swimming, biking, and running consecutively, you’ll need to pack a lot of stuff!
So along with being physically able to compete in all three disciplines, you need to pack gear for all of them into your car! It’s pretty complicated, but with some forethought, it doesn’t have to be that hard.
I suggest creating a checklist of all the items you’ll need before, during, and after the race. To help out, I’ve posted mine below. You can use it “as is” or adapt it for your needs.
Pre-race
___ Registration form and/or license
___ Sunscreen
Swim
___ Wetsuit (optional)
___ Pam cooking spray (to aid in wetsuit removal)
___ Tri Outfit (shorts and jersey)
___ Goggles
___ Swim cap (if not provided)
T1 / Bike
___ Transition mat or beach towel
___ Bike stand (smaller races don’t provide racks)
___ Bicycle
___ Shoes (with cleats attached)
___ Water bottle (filled, in cage)
___ Seat bag
– spare tube
– tire levers
– CO2 inflator
– mini-tool
___ Bicycle Helmet
___ Sunglasses
___ Energy gel (on bike)
T2 / Run
___ Running sneakers w/ Speed Laces
___ Race belt (to clip number on)
___ Running cap
Post Race
___ Change of clothes
___ Sandals
___ Post-race food and water
___ First-aid kit
___ Camera (to capture the memories)
___ Towel
___ Baby wipes
___ Money
To make things easier, I suggest printing out a copy of the checklist and checking off items as you pack them into your car.
Want to download and print out a fancy copy of this checklist in PDF format? Just click here. (Right-click + “save as” to save it to your computer.)
Levi Bloom is an experienced endurance athlete who has been training and competing for over 17 years. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer (professional class on the regional circuit), he is now a cycling coach (USA Cycling Level 3 Certified) and sports nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified).
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