I am doing my first triathlon this weekend and I don't know what to wear!  Should I invest in bike shorts? Is it okay to wear my running shoes for the bike and run? I'm really nervous and excited!

Beth B. from Michigan

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Hi Beth,
Thank you for contacting triathaNewbie.com!
We wish you the best of luck in your first mini-triathlon this weekend.

We have lots of information for you on gear:

Swim
Wet Suits and Swim Suits: There are triathlon swim suits and triathlon wet suits you can buy. TYR, Speedo and Hind are the top name brands, but you should choose something that is comfortable, fits well and is within your price range. Remember, you get what you pay for, though!

When you race, you should wear a somewhat tight swim suit or wet suit to avoid dragging too much water with you. Be sure it doesn't impair the movement of your limbs or cut off the circulation to any of your limbs.

When choosing a triathlon wet suit, you should consider the temperature of the water you will be swimming in. This will help you determine whether you should buy a full length wet suit, a short wet suit or something in between. There are so many different types to choose from, but trying them on and making sure that you buy one that fits snug, but is not constricting, will be your best bet! Check these out: women wetsuit; men's wetsuit.

Our pool swimmers say that any ocean swim requires a wet suit, but in fact, that's not so. You have to check with the rules for the event. Some allow wet suits and others don't. Our suggestion is to bring it with the intention of wearing it and then ditch it before the race if the event is a "no wet suit" event.

For Women: Women can choose from many styles when it comes to swim suits. There are a variety of one-piece swim suits with different patterns and lots of options when it comes to two piece triathlon suits. For the well-endowed ladies in the house, you may want to wear a bra under a one piece swim suit. Read more about which triathlon bra is recommended.

For Men: Men have options now too! Back in the day, men had two choices: A Speedo (small swim suit that left little to the imagination) and big loose heavy trunks (that dragged the entire ocean with them). Both made the sport of swimming less attractive to the majority of males at some point because each had their drawbacks.

At last, top brand makers like TYR, Speedo and Hind have a line of men's swim suits that are less revealing and make you more streamlined in the water. They come in different patterns and lengths too. Some lengths end just above the knee and others end somewhere on the thigh. They are comfortable and you can also use them as bike shorts if you don't mind not having the padding in the butt area.

Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must! Put this on before the swim to avoid wasting time during the race. This one won't make your face break out either!

Goggles: Woman and men should wear both swim caps and goggles for best results. There are many different brands out there and the best thing you can do is try on the equipment before you buy it. Goggles come in all shapes and sizes just as our faces do. Go to your local sports store and spend some time trying on the goggles so that you have something that is comfortable and fits well. If you find that the pair you bought leaks when you get in the water, take them off, dry them off, put them back inside the package and return them. If the store does not let you return them, keep them and find another sports store and continue your search for the perfect pair. Fortunately, goggles are rather inexpensive and you can afford to make a couple of mistakes. Having the right goggles makes a HUGE difference in a successful swim.

Good Tip: Never use new equipment in a race. Always try new equipment out during training sessions before using in a race. Old swim suits: This is an old swimmer's trick that's kind to your wallet and your workout. Use old stretched out, holey suits for practice. Put them on in layers, pray that the holes don't match up and you have a practice swim suit/drag suit. A drag suit is something that creates more resistance in the water by catching water in the holes and slowing you down. When you swim in your race, you wear a tight-fitting race suit and you will feel lighter and will go faster in the water!

Swim Caps: Swim caps come in several different materials. There are Latex, Fabric and Silicone caps on the market. The most commonly used cap is made of latex because of its effectiveness and its low cost. Latex Allergy Sufferers should go with the Silicone swim caps. Fabric Lycra Swim Caps are the most comfortable BUT they allow water to accumulate within them and will slow you down a bit. For open water practices, you should wear the brightest most obnoxious colored swim cap to differentiate yourself from the water and avoid collisions of any type.

Bike:
Protect your Noggin: In order to participate in mini-triathlons, you must have an approved helmet that fits properly. Affix the bib number to the side of the helmet on race day before the race starts.

Dress for the Weather: Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather. There are tank tops, short sleeved and long sleeved shirts as well as bike shorts and leggings. Wear clothing that wicks the moisture away from your skin. Cotton gets wet, heavy, cold/hot and really uncomfortable in long races. Clothing that wicks away the moisture will keep you more comfortable through your race. The tag will tell you whether it does or not. Wear a snug tank top, t-shirt or racing shirt to keep the air resistance down and pin your bib number to your chest before the race starts. Wear the same shirt during your run to keep your transition time down. See specific gear recommendations for men and women by scrolling down two paragraphs.

Protect your Backside: Choose bike shorts for padding on the backside. Not only will they keep the inside of your thighs from chaffing and your butt from aching, they also keep your backside moisture free.

For your Feet: There are all different types of shoes to wear on a triathlon bike. Some bikes require shoes that clip on. These shoes should not be worn for the run. Some peddles look like regular peddles, only they have straps over the tops or baskets that hold your feet in place. With these basket peddles, you can wear your running shoes and not have to worry about changing shoes for the run. These moisture-wicking socks are fantastic!

Suggestions for men:

• 2XU Men's Endurance 3 Pocket Tri Top
• MEN's Pro Bike Shorts Cycling Bicycle Biking
• ASICS GT 2130 Width 4E Cushion Running Shoe Mens (you can wear these during the bike if you don't have a bike with clips)
• Pearl iZUMi Men's X-Alp Seek Cycling Shoe (shoes for bikes wirth clips)

Suggestions for women:

• TYR Women's Singlet
• Women's Padded Classic Bike Shorts Cycling Bicycle Biking (you'll wear the same shorts you have on from the bike portion)
• DeFeet AirEator 2.5in White Top Cycling/Running Socks - AIRWHT(these keep your feet dry and they don't move around inside your sneaker)
• ASICS Women's GT-2140 Running Shoe (you can wear these during the run if you have a bike with clips)
• Pearl Izumi 2009 Women's Quest Road Cycling Shoe - Black/Diablo Red - 5720-512 (shoes for bikes wirth clips)

ID: You should always carry some type of ID and a small amount of money while training in case of an emergency.

For your Hands: Bike Gloves are a great way to help grip your bike and avoid nasty blisters on the palms of your hands.

Protect your Eyes: Sun glasses make a huge difference on sunny days.

Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must! Put this on before the swim to avoid wasting time during the race. This one won't make your face break out either!

Run
Be kind to your feet: Be sure that you have moisture-wicking socks for your feet. Always wear socks that fit and do not move around inside your sneaker. Squirmy socks are the leading cause of blisters.

Some people walk on the outside of their feet, some walk on the inside of their feet and others distribute their weight directly down the middle. If you are walking on the outside or inside of your foot, you want to find a sneaker that has extra support to force your foot to distribute your weight evenly. Otherwise you risk ankle, knee and/or hip pain. If you're not sure how your foot distributes weight and you've been experiencing pain, you can ask your doctor or make an appointment with a local Physical Therapist who can evaluate you. Marathon Sports in Boston, for example, offers free consultations by very knowledgable staff and they fit the right shoe to you. A proper diagnosis will lead you to the proper sneaker and a pain-free run! Remember, running sneakers only last for 6 months.

There are also sneakers that are better suited for trail running verses pavement running. Finding the right sneaker makes a HUGE difference!

Dress for the weather: Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather. There are so many kinds of clothing: long sleeved, Tank Tops, Shorts and long leggings. For races, you should wear snug fitting clothing, but for training, you can wear looser fitting garments. See below for gender-specific suggestions.

Keep yourself dry: Wear clothing that wicks the moisture away from your skin. Cotton gets wet, heavy, cold/hot and really uncomfortable in long races and training. Clothing that wicks away the moisture will keep you more comfortable through your race. The tag will tell you whether it does or not.
Suggestions for men:

• Louis Garneau Shark Power Cycling Tank - Men's
• Eastbay 1/2 Split Short - Men's
• ASICS Mens Core Run Shirt
• ASICS GT 2130 Width 4E Cushion Running Shoe Mens (you can wear these for the bike and run or just for the run if you have a bike with clips)

Suggestions for women:

• TYR Women's Singlet
• Champion Women's Cotton Blend 7" Fit Running Short
• DeFeet AirEator 2.5in White Top Cycling/Running Socks - AIRWHT(these keep your feet dry and they don't move around inside your sneaker)
• ASICS Women's GT-2140 Running Shoe (you can wear these for the bike and run or just for the run if you have a bike with clips)

Hope it helps!!! If not, shoot us another email and we’ll help you find the answers.

Be well.
~Niki

Niki Jamieson
TriathaNewbie.com

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