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So you want to do a Triathlon: Essential gear
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triathlon - www.themountainculture.com
For those of you who already race at the full Ironman distance, the words “Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run 26.2 miles. Brag, for the rest of your life.” undoubtedly makes the hair on your arms and legs stand on end. (If you haven’t shaved it off.)
But the rest of us neophytes haven't a clue on where to begin.
Not to mention that the thought of self-propelling ourselves 140.6 miles makes a lot of us want to freshen up our life insurance policies.
Most people don’t wake up suddenly one morning and think to themselves, “I know what I want to be when I grow up – a triathlete!” But more and more people are beginning to yearn for the challenge of competing in (or simply completing) the world’s toughest sport.
So how does one get started in triathlon, anyway?
It seems like so much to take in; all of the gear, all of the jargon, all of the technique for not one but three different sports. Let’s lay it all out – a complete beginner’s guide to the first steps you need to take.
For this first edition, let’s keep it simple and focus on the essential gear you’ll need to start training and cross the finish line.
• Wetsuit
• Latex or silicon swim cap
• Road/Tri-bike
• Quality running shoes
• Running shorts or leggings
• Goggles
• Anti-chafe cream/spray
• Tri-suit (or at least tri-shorts and a performance top)
• Helmet (ANSI approved)
• Sun visor or hat
• Lace locks
• Spare tubes
• Tire irons
• Pump/CO2 cartridges
• Nutrition/hydration systems
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’ll get you started. You can find most of this gear at your local bike or outdoor sports store, or at any number of online retailers.
The next step: Check out Part II in this series, where I go over what to do with all of your new gear and how to start training for your first triathlon.
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