If you are a beginner or just getting started in triathlon, here are 7 more tips on how to train smart for triathlon: 1. Try the distance – Do a "practice event" at your own pace a week or two before the event. You will learn a lot that will help you during your race. Think about things like:
- Pacing (for example, what pace do I need to do the swim in so the bike and run are doable?)
- Practice your transition strategy.
- How will you feel after riding and then transitioning to the run?
- Can you do the entire swim without resting? (most pool swims will let you rest at the wall but get out of the way of other competitors)

2. Do some "brick" workouts – Practice switching from the bike to the run by following up a long bike with a short run every once in a while. Yes it’s uncomfortable. But you can teach the body to adjust and it can get more comfortable (well, at least everything hurts the same.)

I met with one of my new triathlon clients recently and noticed 7 things during a quick 5 minutes review of his triathlon bike (this was after I begged him to bring his bike to one of his swim training sessions). Hopefully you can learn from these 7 issues: 1. Basic triathlon bike maintenance. The first thing I noticed was his chain - it was rusty. Six drops of chain lube could have prevented this rust. Beginner triathletes often know little about basic bicycle maintenance. The chain should be cleaned when dirty and lubricated. Your local bike shop can give you some great suggestions about cleaning solutions and lubricants you can use on your triathlon bike.

Rounding that last corner like a bat out of hell you hit the straight away in a full sprint, the pain is intense and you just focus on holding that stride, even increasing it. You can hear the other top runners with the same goal breathing down your neck ready to pass on the slightest inclination of weakness. Like wolves in a pack they can sense it. Time Stands Still. You are one with the track, nothing else matters, the World disappears, the heat burning through your thin socks from the friction off the reslite track is blistering, but you cannot feel it yet. Once you stop that pain will be more than real, right now you are in it to win it and this slow motion feeling you will remember for the next 35 years. How would I know?

Recently a gentleman who is a Master Champion in the 400 meter emailed me; he runs an impressive 60 second quarter at Age 60! Giving the young men a little competition are we!!!! Excellent indeed. That is an incredible time for age sixty. He asked what times I ran in the 800-meter as he was considering changing races to the demon of all Track and Field events; The 800 Meter.