Helping ArticlesThe Helpful Article Directory!

You could talk to many triathletes and read countless resources but not every thing will go super smooth come race day for an Ironman triathlon. The coaches at the Rock Star Traithlete Academy have tons of experience and have come up with six highly important things you need to know.

1) Volunteers are not pro banana releaser’s. When you are hammering by on your bike with your arm out to grab a gel, water, banana or any other item, the Ironman Triathlon volunteers don’t always KNOW to let go of their vice grip. This is something you need to be aware of if you are a fast swimmer as you will be one of the first athletes that these volunteers will see.

Be prepared to “miss” a few hand-offs, don’t get angry with any volunteers, and don’t wait until the end of the aid station to go for your fuel, or you may be disappointed.

2) The First 5 miles of cycling, drafting rules are not really part of the race. If you swim anywhere from 55 minutes to around and hour and 20 minutes, you’re going to be in a traffic jam for the first few miles of the Ironman Triathlon, as many will exit the water at the same time. Plan on a tight pack of cyclists and be patient if a pack of people are drafting you. Every one will spread out on the bike course as the day goes on.

4) All pacing rules go out the window in transitions. Remember your nice heart rate graph plan you have to keep every thing perfect come race day? Let it be know that as you go from being in a horizontal position to vertical your heart rate is going to climb a lot. It will calm down after a few miles on the bike.

Stay calm. It will most likely be a good 10-20 minutes before your heart rate starts to clam down to where you want it to be. It can take a good 5-10 minutes on the run before your heart rate begins to fall as well.

4) Your Special Needs Bag Isn’t Always At The HalfWay Point. Did you plan on an exact 50/50 split with your gels, electrolytes fuel or water for halfway through the bike or halfway through the run of the Ironman triathlon? In reality, especially for the bike course, many races do not have your special needs bag exactly at the 56 mile mark or the 13 mile mark. So be sure to study the course and carry enough fuel and water to get you to the actual special needs location.

5) Wetsuit strippers aren’t always the best way to go. Unless you are already half way out of your wetsuit and can see there is no waiting line to get your wetsuit yanked off it maybe way quicker to do it your self. Practice taking your wetsuit off so come Ironman triathlon race day this part of the race will not throw you off.

6) Don’t plan on seeing your expensive tires again. Any thing you put in the special needs bag at an Ironman Triathlon is at high risk of never being seen again. So if you want to propose to your girl friend at the end of the, race don’t put the ring in the special needs bag.

Want to find out more about Ironman Triathlon #1, then visit the Rock Star Triathlete Academy site on how to choose the best Ironman traithlon #2 for your needs.