A Practical Guide For A (Triathlon) Race Abroad
Finisher's pride. Two of the many keepsakes Alex received during race day.
Whatever sport you’ve chosen for focus on, whether it be running, swimming, biking or all three together, there may come to the point where you’ve gained enough confidence and challenge yourself to participate in an endurance race. Once you’ve boldly accomplished some lokal runs, the idea of joining a race abroad shouldn’t be far behind. If you’re fit, focused and well informed on what you can expect from it, then by all means, take the bull by the horns ... and just do it! Indeed, it is an experience of a lifetime. Here are thirteen guidelines that may help you jumpstart that thought and make it a reality.
1. Find a reason for the race. Are you celebrating a momentous time in your life or is it a part of your bucket list? Once you've decided on a goal to participate in that (triathlon) race abroad, it will allow the competition to be more meaningful.
2. Choose a (triathlon) race that will fit into your vacation plans. Since you’ll be traveling anyway, why not plan a trip around the race instead of just flying in for that reason alone?
3. Try it out in Europe. If you’re going to join a race abroad, might as well join one in Europe. There is a different vibe amongst the people, and you can see and feel the difference, not just as a participant but also as a spectator.
4. Ask around. Ask other participants who have experience in racing abroad, find out what you need to know about it and what to expect from each leg of the race.
5. Plan your trip wisely. Make sure to plan your travel arrangements at least 6 months before the race. Find out what requirements you’ll need for the visa application and schedule the appointment. You’ll want to be well informed as to your accommodations and transportation to and from the race site and hotel. When in doubt contact the race organizers directly if you have a specific question that needs answering.
6. Know your logistics. Make sure you know where to place your bike or other race materials when you’re not actively racing, or when you’ll be taking that side trip with the family. Find out if your hotel will store your paraphernalia while you’re touring elsewhere.
7. Double check with your airline for luggage allotment. Make sure that your luggage will accommodate all your race equipment. It would be a waste to plan the trip only to find out that you won’t be able to bring your bike on the plane. Qatar Airlines, for instance, considers your bike as one of your luggage allotments.
8. Get a coach. Make sure to hire a coach to train you six months before the race. Booking one longer than that may be too tiresome, you may even lose your dive along the way. The idea is to keep that focus at all times.
9. Check on the weather. Be informed on how the weather will be like during race day. As the weather is quite hard to predict, it's best to have an overall temperature gauge on the highs and lows, so you know what to look out for.
10. Train with your wetsuit, or other training gear. If you’ll be joining a triathlon and know you’ll encounter some harsh weather that your body isn’t used to, make sure to train with your wetsuit, as most races in colder climates require one. You can condition your body using your wetsuit during the colder months of the year or hit the pool before dawn during monsoon season. It’s also good to take long and frequent cold showers to help acclimatize yourself to icy waters.
11. Find a way to train for severe weather. If you can manage to train in cooler weather and go to places like Baguio, it is highly encouraged that you do so. Doing this will help you adjust to the cold during the race.
12. Try to study the course. If you have the chance to look and explore the path before the race, make sure to do so and try to get a feel of what you’ll be facing during race day.
13. Above all, enjoy the race. Participating in a (triathlon) race abroad can be challenging, but it can also be very fulfilling. This opportunity may come along only once in a lifetime, so enjoy and savor every minute of it. As Alex puts it, ‘Try to think beyond the pain and focus on the finish line. The sense of accomplishment isn’t like any other!'
Anything I've misssed? Please feel free to add on to the list in the comments below.
