The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves

Welcome to the second article in my Beginners' Guide Series, so far we've discussed why you'd want to race and now we'll look at how to pick that all important first event.

Race Type

There are a lot of different types of multisport event and choosing the right one will make all the difference to your first impressions.  If you're not sure you want to complete a full triathlon, there's always an aquathlon (swim / run) or a duathlon (run / bike / run) if you'd prefer not to swim.  Once you've chosen the type of race it's worth looking for a larger event, the smaller ones tend to be real enthusiasts and that could be a bit daunting for a first attempt, it's not very encouraging to see the strong triathletes running off into the distance, believe me, I know.  Large events, particularly those with a staggered start in the pool enable you to race at your own pace with no risk of being left way behind the field.  There are many good events for beginners around the country, of the ones I've run I'd recommend the Stratford, Derby or Cheshire triathlons or the Fun2Tri Swim Run Race Series as particularly good introductions to multisport.

Pool Swim or Open Water

If your chosen event includes a swim you'll need to consider the type of swim that you'd feel most comfortable with.  Do you want to swim lengths of a pool or would an open water swim in a lake, river or the sea suit you better?  There are a number of things to consider:

• Pool Swims
  • Good if you aren't feeling especially confident about your swimming, you will always be able to get to the side easily if you need to
  • You'll simply be swimming lengths like you can do at the local pool and will be able to grab a few extra breaths at each turnaround
  • Easy to do race specific training, you don't need to find a lake
  • You won't have it to yourself as there are always others in the lane with you
  • Be realistic on your entry form about your expected time and you will find yourself swimming with others of a similar ability
  • Competitors are set off at sensible intervals, you will have space to swim
• Open Water Swimming
  • Allows you to get into a good rhythm and keep it going without the breaks caused by turning round at a pool wall
  • If you're swimming outdoors in the UK, you'll need a wetsuit.  Everyone else will have one and they tend to make swimming easier so you'll be at a disadvantage if you don't
  • Current or waves will affect your ability to swim so you should train for these conditions, local tri clubs often have access to open water training locations
  • The water is very cold and often dirty, full of plant life or deep be prepared, it's not like a pool
  • In a mass start people will be jostling for position, this can be unpleasant, if you're not keen on this hang back and give yourself some room until you build your confidence
  • There will always be water support, usually people in canoes ready to come to your aid.  Help will always be at hand if you need it.

Choosing the Distance

With race and swim type chosen it's time to consider the distance, the choices can be bewildering.  I've listed some of the more common distances below, due to factors such as pool length and suitable routes for cycling and running these tend to vary from race to race.

• Fun triathlons are run by many organisers as a good way of allowing people a taste of racing, with short bursts of each of the three disciplines.  Usually about 200m for the swim, 10k on the bike and 2.5k run at the end.
• Sprints are the 'standard' shorter distance attempted by many amateur triathletes.  These generally include a swim of somewhere between 400m and 750m, followed by a 20k cycle and a 5k run.
• Olympic distance races appeal to a lot of competitors, especially with the popularity of races like London and Salford which attract good elite fields and large gatherings of more 'ordinary' folk.  These tend to be a 1500m swim with a 40k cycle and a 10k run.
• Half-Ironman is the next standard length event.  Usually about 1.2 mile swim, then 56 mile cycle followed by 13.1 mile run (a half marathon in fact).  Don't ask me about these, I've never ventured this far and wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.
• Ironman comes next.  You can double the above distances, no surprise there.  So you'd be taking on a 2.4 mile swim, then a 112 mile cycle followed by a full marathon.  Please let me know if you complete one of these as your maiden event and I shall be suitably impressed.
• There are even greater distances but my head will explode if I think about them!

Hopefully this gives you some idea of what's out there.  A good place to start would be fun2tri as they offer races at the first four distances and are very good at catering for the newbie.  See you out there when the season begins!