TRIATHLON are races that
consist of three different legs: running, swimming and cycling. These leg
lengths vary per triathlon, from short and quick to incredibly long and
grueling distances, like in the iron man races. As this is a race, there is
little to no time to change clothes between legs, beyond taking on and pulling
off shoes or a shirt. So what you wear you will most likely be wearing the
whole race, making it important to have exactly what you need.
For competition, men and
women triathletes may want to invest in a Tri-suit.Trisuits can be worn through
all three events, as they are made of quick-drying, moisture-wicking material.
Tri-suits come in one or two-piece suits.
Swimming. When you race,
you should wear a tight swim suit or wetsuit 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
wetsuit, you should consider the temperature of the water you will be swimming
in. One of the benefits of wearing a wetsuit is to keep the body warm, but also
it helps the athlete to swim
significantly faster.
The suit must be comfortable
from crotch to shoulder; it must not limit your mobility on shoulder/arm reach.
Cycling apparel. Tri shorts
have more flexibility than traditional biking shorts to accommodate the greater
range of motion of both biking and running. Shirts are required for a triathlon
during the running and biking portions. The best shirts are tight, lightweight
shirts that absorb and hold onto perspiration and other liquids to keep your
upper body cooler. It is preferable that they are lighter in color (as this
will keep you cooler in the sun) and are sleeveless so that your arms will have
freedom of movement while you run and there will be no chafing under your arms.
Running apparel. Lots of athletes
will wear socks, and almost everyone will use elastic laces. Every athlete
needs to wear their race number during the run and a race number belt is the
best way to bring it along.
Improve your performance What you wear on race day can play a critical role in how well you perform. As well as carrying accessories like anti-chaffing Body glide, energy gels and drinks, sunglasses and fuel belts, you will want to invest in some essential triathlon gear to make each leg of the race as comfortable as possible. Swimming gear.
The swim is usually the first leg of a triathlon. For this phase, a
wetsuit, cap and goggles will make your swim a lot more enjoyable and
efficient. Cycling gear.
Most types of bikes—mountain, road or triathlon-specific—are fine to
compete in a triathlon. Cycling shoes (those that attach directly to
the pedal) provide the most pedaling efficiency. Any helmet can be used
. A mid- to upper-level road bike helmet offers more vents and is more aerodynamic—2 qualities that are useful for triathletes. They'll block wind, UV rays and glare. Sunglasses
are also needed .Some sunglasses have interchangeable lenses for
different conditions. Along the race yoy may need some Tools for the
bike like extra tubes, tire levers, CO2 cartridges and cages for
bottles. If you don't want to mess with safety pins, use a race number belt and shave off some seconds, too. Attach your race number to this elastic belt when you set up so it's ready to grab and go. Running gear. Consider using a running pack or hydration belt. These come in a wide variety of styles, with bottles and flasks that are lightweight and runner friendly.
