Race Previews

Transition Faster...

Saturday, 12 December 2015 00:10

By Kathleen Johnson (triathlon.competitor.com)

Keep your transition area simple and clutter-free. Only set out the gear you need to use, and stash everything else back in your transition bag. You should easily be able to set everything up in an area the size of a hand towel.

Organize your things in the order you will use them, with cycling gear in front of your running gear. Lay things out so it takes as few motions as possible to put them on.

Place your helmet upside down with the back end facing away from you on the ground beside your bike or balanced on your handlebars. Have the straps open and tangle free. Open your sunglasses and put them inside your upturned helmet....

Whether or not you do a flying mount, keep your cycling shoe straps open for quick entry, and ride without socks.
In T2 put on your run shoes, grab your race belt and cap and run toward the transition exit. Keep moving; don’t stand still to perform a task if it can be done on the go.

Before the start, acquaint yourself with the flow of transition and do a run-through. Go to the T1 entrance and run to your bike, noting landmarks such as trees, signposts or rack numbers that will help you locate your bike. Go through the motions for T1 then run to the bike exit. Next go to where you will enter the transition area after the bike, run to your rack again, noting landmarks to help you find your spot. Practice what you will do for T2, then run to the exit to start the run. This dress rehearsal will help you not get lost in transition once you’re in race mode.

Kathleen Johnson is a USAT-certified coach (Level II and youth/junior) from Franklin, Tenn., the owner of TriSuccess Multisport Coaching, head coach of the Southeast Junior High Performance Team, and the 2013 USAT and USOC Developmental Coach of the Year.