TOP 10 LESSONS LEARNED - FROM THE MUSSELMAN TRIATHLON 2017
A couple of weeks ago a group of 15 Team Triumphers went to the Musselman Triathlon in Geneva, New York. After the race, we had a debrief on our successes, challenges and lessons learned. Here is the list of our lessons learned. Feel free to share it with your fellow triathletes!
1) Always ride your bike before your race. If your gears got messed up in transportation, that's a long 90km with messed up gears!
2) When it's HOT outside, take a dip in the lake then keep your core temperature down by waiting to put on your wetsuit, keeping it up only half way and then only put your swim cap on just before you go in.
3) Learn how to change a flat with a CO2 cartridge and be familiar with your pump.
4) Always confirm the distances of the race so you can pace yourself accordingly.
5) Work on speedy transitions, it can make the difference of getting on the podium.
6) Practice your nutrition in training and don't try a new product from an aid station.
7) To train for your 1st Half Ironman, you need at least 6 months.
8) DO your long bricks in training before the race. They prepare you physically and mentally for the real thing.
9) If it's a flat course, be sure to put on aerobars, they save loads of time.
10) When things go wrong stay positive, keep smiling and don't quit unless you're in pain....no matter what.
I have added number 11 having just found out some really happy news......!
11) Learn CPR and recert every year. You might just save a life during the race!
I just wanted to thank you and your team (Gabi! Brenda! Maggie! Dawn!) for making last weekend's event so amazing. I had tried to do a try-a-tri on my own last summer, and the experience was night and day.
Even though I didn't make every virtual session, I felt so prepared... I knew where to go for information, and I knew I had a team of people (coaches and our beginner tri group!) who were all there to support me.
It was interesting to watch Eric train on his own (without access to the TrainingPeaks workouts and without the weekly meetings to ask questions and learn more about proper form and race-day stuff). When we left on Sunday, he looked at me and was like "we're DEFINITELY doing the training with Julia if we decide to go for the olympic distance, right?".
So glad to have found this club and looking forward to many more triathlons in the near future!!! Tai Teleso
Julia is incredible, I once had a coach who told me to get good at biking and running as he couldn't do anything with my swim technique. Then I was introduced to Julia who is so patient and has an amazing ability to translate it all into a way I could understand. I knocked a minute per 100m off my open water swim times after only a handful of sessions with her. The team is also really welcoming, inclusive and most of all FUN!
Triumph is a warm and fun place for every level of triathlete. Whether you’re just getting started and learning all about triathlon or have been at it for decades, like some of us, you will find camaraderie and expertise in this group with Julia Aimers’ support and caring. She keeps up-to-date in so many areas of training, especially for women and including women’s issues whether it be nutrition or menopause. I highly recommend Team Triumph for swimming, biking, running or putting it all together in one package. There is no other place or group, I would rather be training with. So many of my close friends were met in this group.
