10. Get to the race 1/2 hour earlier than originally planned. Something always comes up. There’s traffic, or you have to park a mile from the race site, or you get a flat in transition, or you forget your helmet at the car. The peace of mind gained by sitting quietly in a corner for 15 minutes before the race starts more than makes up for the 30 minutes of lost sleep in the morning.

9. Bike the beginning and end of the bike course. Practice the mount and dismount at race speeds. Memorize the landmarks heading into the bike finish, so you know when to unclip. Plan the run from your transition area to the bike start, and from the bike finish to your transition area. Don’t let yourself be surprised by anything as you roll into T2.

8. Run the start and finish of the run course. Again, practice your T2 at race speed. Make sure you know where the run start is. If you are going for an age group placing, the last half mile of the run course is critical–knowing the layout may give you the edge you need to out-sprint your competition! Picture yourself crossing the line powerfully and confidently. No surprises!

7. Keep your positive energy. Don’t let other racers take it from you. Being around other racers can be exhausting in and of itself. Everyone’s busy doing their pre-race prep, worrying about the swim start, waiting in line for the bathroom, posturing, and generally stressing out. Keep to yourself and your support crew. Don’t get involved in any conversations with other triathletes unless that’s your style. Don’t try to “impress” anyone with your super-face pre-race warm-up, and on the other side of the coin, don’t let anyone else “impress” you with their matching race kit, $8,000 bike and lean, tanned physique.

6. Pump your tires at your car. Leave the pump in your car. One less thing to carry with you to transition. Simple as that! (You can also pump your tires at home, the morning before the race, if you live near the race site. Bring the pump with you anyway.)

5. Put body glide on your lower legs and ankles before putting on your wetsuit. Body glide can be purchased at any store that sells swimming, cycling or running apparel. It costs like $6 and will save you time in T1 by allowing your wetsuit to slip off quickly. Plus, Body Glide is great to use on chafe spots, such as your neck if you wear a wetsuit, your armpits and the bottom of your feet.

4. If you have nothing to do, get in line for the bathroom. Trust me. You will have to pee 5 times (and poop twice) on race morning. The lines will only get longer as the race approaches. Get in line. For the.  Bathroom.

3. If anything unexpected happens, roll with it! If they cancel the swim at the last minute because the water is too cold, whatever. If you’re in the last wave and have to pass 800 people on the bike, whatever. If you get a flat 20 minutes before the race start, whatever. Don’t waste energy worrying about the consequences of the unexpected event. Just take any action that is required (fix the flat, take off your wetsuit, etc) and put it out of your mind. You’ll need all the physical and mental energy you can muster for the race itself.

2. Don’t bring all of your crap to the transition area. Your fellow racers will thank you for it, and you won’t be drowning in a big pile of tri gear and confusion. Wetsuit, goggles, cap, bike, helmet, bike shoes, hat, belt, shoes, backpack, a few miscellaneous personal items. For most races, that’s all you need. Leave the rest behind!

1. Don’t do ANYTHING new on race day. If you haven’t practiced it before the day of the race, don’t do it! Don’t try that flying mount if you haven’t practiced it. Don’t put on new running shoes the day of the race. Don’t try a new pair of sunglasses. Don’t switch brands of gels. Don’t even wear a different HAT on race day! The time to try new techniques and equipment is during a controlled training workout. On race day, all you should have to worry about is executing a well-paced race. Not the chafing that you get from that new shirt 2 miles into the run.

With a few notable exceptions (professional and elite short-course racing), it is illegal to draft in triathlons.  However, the specifics of what exactly is considered drafting are a bit confusing.  If you’re a new triathlete, it’s particularly important for you to understand the drafting rules, primarily for your safety and secondarily to maintain the ethics of the sport.

So, what is “drafting?”

• When cycling, riders must keep their bike more than 3 bike lengths of the rear wheel of the rider in front of them. 3 bike lengths is a long distance.  Get out your bike, pace off 3 meters (10 feet) and visualize what that distance looks like.  There is one (AND ONLY ONE) exception to this rule.  See the next point.
• If you want to pass the rider in front of you, you may do so.  You have FIFTEEN (15) seconds to pass the rider. During this time you may enter the 3 bike length draft zone.  ”Passing” is defined as the front wheel of your bike overtaking the front wheel of the other athlete’s bike.
• Once you have passed the rider in front of you, the other rider has FIFTEEN (15) seconds to drop back to the legal distance of 3 bike lengths. To assist in this, continue to maintain your speed as you pass the rider.  That way, the overtaken rider doesn’t have to hit the brakes to get behind you.
• If you get closer than 3 bike lengths to the rider in front of you, you MUST pass the athlete.  If you do not, you will get a drafting penalty. You CANNOT approach the rider and drop back without passing.  There is only one way out of the draft zone, and that’s by passing the rider.  (The reason behind this seemingly unusual rule is this–even at 3 bike lengths, there’s still a noticeable drafting benefit.  If this rule did not exist, an athlete could “hover” between 2 and 4 bike lengths behind a rider for an extended duration, getting a nice draft in the process.)
• If you take longer than 15 seconds to drop back to 3 bike lengths after being passed, you will get a drafting penalty. Men, if a lady is passing you let her go.  Don’t try to catch her.  You’ll only humiliate yourself and get a penalty in the process.
• During your 15 second passing period, you may be anywhere within the draft zone.  It is LEGAL to get right behind the rider you’re about to pass and then “slingshot” around him or her–provided you do it all within 15 seconds.
• During this whole process, you must stay as far to the right as is practicable.  When you’re riding on your own you should be to the right anyway.  When you’re passing an athlete, you should pass on the left, but stay as far right as you can.  Certainly, do not cross the yellow line.  After passing, move back to the right so as not to be in a “blocking” position (riding too far to the left).
• It is polite (but not required) to announce “on your left” as you are passing the rider.  Give the rider plenty of advance notice so they don’t get startled and swerve into you as you’re trying to pass them.

Even if the race you’re doing is crowded and/or flat, if you can follow these rules, not only will you avoid costly penalties, but you’ll be improving everyone’s race experience–including your own!