SARA’S SPIN
By Sara McLarty
Preparing for a triathlon does not start on the morning of the race or when you arrive at the transition area. Good planning and smart training in the days, weeks and months before the race are critical to how you perform on race day. Long before the morning of the big race arrives, it is important to sit down with your parents or coach and design a race day plan.
A good race day plan lists all the tasks you need to do on race day (and maybe even the day before the race). Some examples of important tasks for the day before a race include setting an alarm, packing your race bag, charging a camera battery and going to packet pick-up. On race day, make sure your list is in the order you will do each task. Eat breakfast, drive to race, get body- marked, set up transition and warm-up are just some of the things you might want to do before the race.
Another part of your race day plan should be a checklist of all the items you need to take to a triathlon race. The easy ones are: bike, helmet, shoes and swimsuit. Don’t forget to list those small items that you need: race belt, water bottle, energy gels, goggles and sunglasses. Write this list on a piece of sturdy paper and keep it somewhere safe. When you are packing your race bag, use your checklist to make sure you remembered everything!
The final part of your race day plan is your race strategy. This is kept inside your head! Talk with your parents or coach before the race and discuss the enti re race course. Know where the swim start and swim exit are located. Examine how far to run to your rack. Ask which way you leave the transition area with your bike. Use a map to see the run course and find out where the finish line will be set up.
After the race, think about how the entire day went. If you tried something new and it made your race better, write that in your race day plan so you are prepared next ti me. Learn from your mistakes and successes so that your next race will be even better.
A smart athlete also will observe and learn from his or her competitors. Don’t forget to watch the elites and see how many tricks and tips you can pick up!
Sara McLarty is an elite U.S. triathlete.
Learn more about Sara by visiting
www.usantc.com and www.
saramclarty.com.
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