As a beginner triathlete, managing all the gear on race day can be intimidating. Preparing a list of race day necessities, in conjunction with practicing your transitions, helps alleviate race day worries. Being prepared will not only ease your mind, but also hopefully result in a faster race time.
Pre- and Post-Race
Think about what you need and want before and after the race. Don't forget your ID and USA Triathlon card, which are often required to pick up your race packet. Other considerations are a pre-race snack, water, hair clips, body lubricant, toilet paper or wipes and any necessary medications. You can wear your race outfit to the venue, along with your heart rate monitor, if that suits you. In addition, bring your bike pump, race numbers, timing chip, sunscreen, and towel or TMAT to the transition area. You will want to remember to attach your race number to the belt or your jersey with pins, and get properly "body marked" with the same number by the volunteers. After the race, you may want a change of clothes and a camera to celebrate your victory.
Swim
The swim preparation is where you have the most time to think. Take deep breaths to focus on your race. For your swim necessities, you'll need goggles (and to be safe, a spare pair) and your race swim cap, which comes in your race packet. If the water is cool enough, consider a wetsuit. Bring a water bottle and washcloth for transition to wash sand or dirt off of your feet after you come out of the water. After the swim, depending on the distance of the race, you may want to have a gel or other nutrition.
Bike
While it may seem obvious to list "your bike" as a necessity, it is certainly worth putting on your list. Do not forget it. On the bike, you should have pre-placed water bottles, gels or snacks, your spare tire tube(s), tire levers, C02 cartridge(s) and multi-tool in a bike bag. Make sure your handlebars have end caps; this is a rule of most triathlons. The transition from the swim to the bike is especially important to practice ahead of time, because riding off without a helmet could disqualify you. Other important necessities for the bike portion of the race: dry socks, helmet (required), cycling shoes, gloves, bike number and sunglasses. Also, you may want to throw a jersey on over your tri-suit.
Run
In the final stage, you most likely will be discombobulated and tired. At this point, you need to rely on your transition practices and be confident in your strategies. Other things you should have in the zone for your transition from bike to run include: an additional pair of dry socks, running shoes, race number belt with race number affixed (clip on after the bike), hat or visor, your nutrition belt with nutrition and water (if necessary). If the race is not USAT sanctioned, you may have the option of running with an MP3 player; but most races disallow it.
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