Beginner Series 2 - Selecting your first triathlon
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Jun 28, 2025
Selecting your first triathlon can be daunting. The choice of race distance is crucial—shorter races often work best for beginners. Consider factors like swim format, race location, and timing. Personal stories from newcomers reveal valuable lessons learned and highlight the importance of local events for a smoother experience. Avoid common pitfalls to make your first race enjoyable and rewarding!
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First Race Shapes Your Future
Your first race shapes your relationship with triathlon more than its prestige does.
Choose a race that fits your current ability to build confidence and long-term momentum.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Begin With Short Distances
Start with a super sprint or sprint as your first race to make preparation manageable and fun.
Aim for 6–8 weeks of focused training to be ready without long sessions or burnout.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Short Races To Learn Fast
Use short races to learn race skills quickly since mistakes matter less over shorter durations.
Do multiple sprints to accelerate your learning curve before attempting long-distance events.
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In part 2 of the Beginner Series, we discuss what you should think about and take into consideration when selecting and signing up for your first ever triathlon.
HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY TOPICS:
Why the choice of your first triathlon matters
Picking the right distance (the most important variable)
Swim format, course type, local vs. destination races, timing and season, and other important considerations
How and where to find a good first triathlon
Common mistakes related to first race selection
Athlete stories
DETAILED EPISODE SHOWNOTES:
We have detailed shownotes for all of our episodes. The shownotes are basically the podcast episode in written form, that you can read in 5-10 minutes. They are not transcriptions, but they are also not just surface-level overviews. They provide detailed insights and timestamps for each episode, and are great especially for later review, after you've already listened to an episode.
You can find our full episode archives here, where you can filter for categories such as Training, Racing, Science & Physiology, Swimming, Cycling, Running etc.
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