Triathlon

• Equipment
• Tips
• Events
• WWW Links

Why Tri?

UP & RUNNING is a running specialist, first and foremost. But if you're into running, you're aware of triathlon. The sport is huge, and has forced some great innovations in kit design.

What can triathlon do for runners? Many of its benefits stem from its multi-discipline nature

• a broader training regime (swim/bike/run), and the fact that you will need to train more, will make you a stronger all-round athlete ...;
• this, and more variety in your training, may help prevent injury;
• variety in training and racing, and developing technical skills, will also keep you mentally fresh;
• you'll meet a new crowd at events (as well as a lot of your current running mates, most likely)!

Also:

• it's a young, energetic sport with something for everyone: kids and older athletes too;
• it's a fast growing sport;
• it's a great spectator sport too, and an Olympic Sport.

Equipment

Shoes

You've swum the swim, biked the bike, and now it's all down to the run. At this stage in the race you want the lightest training shoes that are are appropriate for your foot type. And you'll need light shoes for speed training too.

Triathlon has pushed forward the development of equipment for all its three disciplines.

Vests

You may wish to wear your normal club vest. But a proper tri vest is a shorter version that looks the part - feeling good contributes to performing well.

Shorts

Many (most) triathlons won't give you an opportunity to completely change clothing. One option is specially made tri bottoms - OK to swim in, with a little padding for the bike, and OK to run in.

Tri Suits

Really going for it? Done the training, practiced your transitions, and looking to slice off those last few seconds? How about a tri suit? Or, for the ladies, a racing one-piece suit?

Open water swim? To be competitive you'll need the buoyancy of a wet suit.

Training gear

We have shorts, tops, and shorts - plus all the warm up and warm down garments you'll need...

Accessories

Number belts, elastic laces, a good training diary - we have Kineli's excellent triathlon-specific diary, as well as the respected Kineli Guides.

Bikes

It's swim, BIKE, run, isn't it? Our Birmingham shop has its own branch of Evans Cycles in store!

Tips

New to triathlon? There are some great tips on the sites below, but here are a few pointers from our own experience....

Planning is key - for your training, and on race day itself.

Training

• Pick your triathlon a few months in advance.
• Build up your training program slowly - peak for race day.
• Get some advice on swimming technique - there may be huge gains to be made here.
• Practice your transitions. e.g. rehearse the layout of your bike kit and practise the start and end of the bike leg.
• Do some "brick" training sessions - doing at least two of the disciplines. • The first time you do bike-run your legs may feel like jelly at the start of the run, but it will get better!
• Get your bike in good order! You don't need a hugely expensive machine. But make sure that it won't fail mechanically, that the wheels run freely with no brake binding, and that the tyres are sound and pumped up hard to have less rolling resistance and to reduce the risk of puncture.

Racing

• Recce the bike route before race day if you can
• Make sure you know all the race rules and have all the required kit in advance - check the bike safety equipment rules
• Taper your training, and rest before the race
• Prepare all your kit the night before
• Arrive in good time to suss out the transition areas
• Make sure your bike is in a good starting gear
• Lay out your kit in the transition area and secure it if it's windy
• Enjoy the race!

Some Events

We support local tri events through our shops - here are just some of the superb events we're proud to have been associated with ...

• Hartlepool Marina Sprint Triathlon, by Hartlepool Triathletes
• Coniston Triathlon & Relay, by Westmorland Triathletes
• Helvellyn Triathlon - link
  ¤ Swim - 1 mile in Ullswater (England's most beautiful lake)
  ¤ Bike - 38 miles including the Kirkstone Pass
  ¤ Run up Helvellyn 8 miles and 3118 feet (England's 3rd highest peak)
  
• Ilkley Tri - run by U&R-sponsored Leeds Bradford Tri Club
• Kendal Duathlon, organised by Westmorland Triathletes
• Cleveland Tri Series - link
• West Midlands Race series, by www.blackcountrytriathletes.co.uk

WWW links

	www.triathlon.org	Home website of the International Triathlon Union
	www.britishtriathlon.org	Home website of the National Body
	www.triathletes-uk.org	The Triathletes Home Page
	www.220magazine.com	220 Triathlon magazine
	www.ultra-fitmagazine.com	ultra FIT magazine
	www.triathletemag.com	Triathlete - international Tri magazine
beginnertriathlete.com	www.beginnertriathlete.com	US site for tri newbies
	www.rightzone.co.uk	UK tri site - tips and tri resources
Local clubs and resources
	www.burntwoodtriclub.org	Burntwood Triathlon Club, kit sponsored by UP & RUNNING
	www.cheltenhamtri.co.uk	Cheltenham Triathlon Club, kit sponsored by UP & RUNNING
	www.derbytriathlonclub.co.uk	Derby Triathlon Club
	www.enduroman.com	Including the Chesil Challenge/Dorset Marathon assisted by UP & RUNNING
	www.lbt.org.uk	Leeds & Bradford Triathlon Club, kit sponsored by UP & RUNNING
	North Yorks Police Tri Club	Ripon Tri
	Yorks and Humberside BTA
	www.swim-masterclass.co.uk	Monthly swim classes in the Midlands

---