August 26, 2020. A few days before my first triathlon competition, I’m feeling ready and have prepared all my gear. While texting with a fellow triathlete from my club they made me realise that I need to have a triathlon belt otherwise I would not be able to hang my race bib … I felt stupid and was happy that I knew that on time. It would have been stupid not to be able to race just because I have nowhere to hang my race bib. Because of that I messaged other people to ask them what I needed and realised I forgot other things that aren’t mandatory but can be quite useful. So here I share with you a checklist based on my first triathlon and that was later improved thanks to the help of others and with the experience of other races.

TO GET THE RACE PACK:

⦁ Triathlon licence

⦁ Registration certificate / Email confirmation / Transfer certificate

TO PREPARE OR TO PUT ON THE TRANSITION AREA:

⦁ Bike (with race sticker on it)

⦁ Helmet (with race sticker on it)

⦁ Drinking bottles (water and isotonic drink)

⦁ Large bicycle pump

⦁ Chain lube

⦁ Spare items (goggles, bathing cap, swimming pants …)

⦁ Tools in case of:

 – Tissues

 – Adhesive tape

 [- Scissors]

 [- Elastics]

FOR THE MORNING OF THE RACE:

⦁ Fleece to go to the start

[⦁ Crocs / Slippers]

TO WEAR RIGHT BEFORE SWIMMING:

⦁ Tatoos (provided by the race)

⦁ Swimming pants

⦁ Heart rate monitor / Chest strap

⦁ Trisuit

⦁ Fully charged watch

⦁ Bathing cap (often provided by the race)

⦁ Goggles

⦁ Chip (provided by the race)

⦁ Pre-race nutrition to eat 15 min before the start of the swim (gels, energy bars, solids, electrolytes)

⦁ Wetsuit

[⦁ Anti-chafe stick or cream (for irritation in the neck when wearing a wetsuit)]

[⦁ Waterproof sunscreen]

[⦁ Earplugs]

[⦁ Nose clip]

T1 (SWIM —> BIKE) BAG:

⦁ Towel

⦁ Nutrition (gels, energy bars, solids …)

⦁ Socks

⦁ Cycling shoes

⦁ Triathlon belt with race bib (bib provided by the race)

⦁ Sports or sunglasses

⦁ Repair Kit:

 – Chain oil

 – Small bicycle pump or CO2 bombs

 – Spare tubes

 – Tyre levers

 – Spoke key

 – Multitool

[⦁  Raining clothes]

[⦁  Gloves]

SPECIAL NEEDS BAG:

⦁ Extra nutrition  (gels, energy bars, solids, electrolytes)

⦁ Wound dressings / Band-Aids

⦁ Tissues

[⦁ Extra repair kit]

[⦁ Waterproof sunscreen]

[⦁ Pictures of loved ones]

[⦁ Extra pair of socks]

[⦁ Arm warmers]

T2 (BIKE —> RUN) BAG:

⦁ Running shoes

⦁ Nutrition  (gels, energy bars, solids …)

[⦁ Raining clothes]

[⦁ Head Lamp]

[⦁ Extra pair of socks]

[⦁ Hat / Visor]

POST RACE BAG:

⦁ Fleece

⦁ Dry clothes

⦁ Recovery nutrition

⦁ Small towel