I was at a Bike Clinic for Tri for a Cure this weekend, and they reminded all of us of a golden rule of racing; don’t try anything on race day you haven’t used during training.
You don’t want to find out at mile 9 that the cute tank you bought just for race day chafes.
You definitely don’t want to discover that your GI system and GU packets don’t get along.
See this awesome new fuel-belt I got? It bounces like crazy and the velcro gives out. It’s worse on some outfits than with others, depending on how slippery my shirt fabric is.
I ran a half marathon in a cute new jacket one year and had such bad chafing from the zipper hitting my chest while I ran that it actually scarred. It took over a month and a half to heal, and I can still see the mark on my chest.
So I guess you could say not testing my gear has scarred me for life.
Try. Everything.
And in the combinations you plan to race with, too. I can take Vega gels if I have water, but I can’t stomach them without water.
Do your sunglasses interfere with your bike helmet straps? Does the top you’re planning to wear work well with those shorts? Do your tri-shorts fit under your wetsuit? Is the sports bra you plan to wear too absorbent and going to stay wet for the entire bike and run? Do you have room in your pockets or belt for the nutrition you’re planning to use?
Whether you’re training for a 5k, half marathon, or triathlon, now is the pre-season to try it all out.
Write down what works in different temperatures so you remember.
Test your nutrition plan.
Make sure your gear plays well together.
Nothing is worse than bloody feet because you picked socks that can go three miles and didn’t realize they’d start rubbing your feet raw at mile 5!
I know you can’t plan for everything, but if you put a little thought into testing your gear and nutrition on training runs, you’ll increase your chances of a seamless race day 🙂
Always a good reminder!
I agree! I had new tanktop chafing on a long training run. I tried using chapstick as an anti-chafing substitute and it worked! On another long run, I tried a new backpack type hydration system only to discover that it made me run differently. My lower back was so sore that I had to walk the last 2 miles.
Brilliant – and chapstick is much smaller and easier to bring with you so you’re more likely to have it! I remember running home the last 1/5 mile of a run like a zombie because I wore a new tank on a 9 mile run and the chafing was so bad I was more comfortable with my arms out and it was too painful to care about the neighbors (who are all very cool people, luckily).
I have that same belt! I put it around my hips though, pretty tight, and no bounce. The Velcro is definitely not the best, but I really press on it before I go out, and then give it some squeezes as I start out. Funny story: it did pop off right at the start of my first marathon, but after a little adjustment it stayed on for the rest of the 26 miles!
Maybe I’ll have to try it again; I love the size of the bottles and pouch, but it was not working for me!