A few days ago I went on some project management training at work. Believe it or not, we got onto discussing a triathlon gear checklist! One of my colleagues, Annie, used her forthcoming triathlon as a working example of a “project”. It was really good having a non-work example for the group to discuss.
I think most people were amazed at the planning needed to compete in a triathlon: not only the months of training beforehand but the logistics of getting everything sorted in the 24 hours before the race. We could all understand why Annie was juggling list upon list in the final countdown of wrapping things up at work and switching into her triathlon mode of thinking. These are some of the things she had to do in the 24 hours before her event:
Car should be emptied of anything that doesn’t need to be there. Get rid of any work related papers, files and books. Make sure the petrol tank is full. If you plan to carry your bike inside the car, get it ready by folding the back seat down. Alternatively get your bike carrier out and ready to fix onto the car.
Food is really important for Annie. She eats normally the day before a race and ensures she is well hydrated. NO strong coffee to keep her awake as she needs a good night’s sleep. As her race starts at 11am, she will have a light breakfast including carbohydrates. It is important to check she has packed her energy gels which she knows suit her well.
Some light training in the gym the night before seems to suit her. This is aimed at keeping her nimble and fairly stretchy. This will be the gentlest of workouts, nothing demanding at all – months of hard training have got her into being race-ready – she can’t risk getting injured this close now!
Check all the kit which should be clean and neat. This includes everything she will wear before, during and after the event. This should all be laid out the night before and packed (apart from what she wears going to the event). This is where Annie’s lists come into play as she goes through “Running shoes? Check. Socks? Check. Running top? Check. Running shorts? Check. Goggles? Check. Swimsuit?……”. And so the list goes on for each discipline, including transition things like a towel. Don’t forget race numbers, safety pins, mobile phone, money and so on.
The bike! On the big day Annie has a short spin session using her turbo trainer at home. It won’t be too demanding but enough to get her circulation truly moving and her muscles warmed (this is important where a car journey follows). She always gets her partner to check the bike over one last time “Tyre pressures? Check. Clean? Check. Chain lubed? Check. Tool kit for assembling bike? Check. Water bottle? Check. Cycling shoes? Check….”. You get the drift.
Annie is proud of her best race bike – full carbon! It never gets used as a hacking around training bike. She calls it her Sunday Best bike! It’s a women’s specific bike which refers to the frame geometry and how its such a good fit for her. There’s a growing choice these days from a number of brands and include an impressive 12 models from Orbea Bikes which mirror the men’s versions.
Mental focus will be important for any of the triathletes but equally important is relaxing a little and enjoying the whole event! All those lists, Gantt charts and self imposed pressure. “Don’t lose it. Don’t lose your cool. Stay in control” she always tells herself. It works! Knowing everything is sorted, prepared, packed means that she will enjoy the atmosphere, chatting to fellow competitors. When it comes to sorting out the transitional area, everything comes to hand easily and this makes getting out of the water and onto the bike more seamless.
Naturally after the race will be time for truly relaxing and she says “that’s not always as easy as it sounds”. Annie says she will have some money ready to pay for a massage, perhaps some warm food or even a well deserved meal in a restaurant or whole-food cafe. While its nice to have a meal like that, its very wise to have some appropriate post-race food rich in antioxidants and protein – these also will be part of the kit.
By getting all the details right and preparing well, she’s more likely to have an enjoyable, worry free race. Good luck Annie!
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