Mid-season gear check
There’s no denying that the triathlon season is LONG here in Texas. Races start in mid March and run through early November. With such a long season, it is important to make sure your gear is in top notch shape as the season progresses. Here are my tips for checking to make sure all your gear is in tip top shape as we approach the second half of the season.
Check your wetsuit for wear and tear. Water temps in North Texas in June are usually in the 80s, so it’s probably been a long while since you wore your wetsuit. But you likely will be pulling that wetsuit out of the closet for those late season races. Inspect your wetsuit for cuts and if you see any cuts that are less than a couple centimeters in length, you can repair at home by yourself with Neoprene Contact Cement. For any cuts larger than a few centimeters, you may need to get your wetsuit professionally repaired or buy a new one.
Look over your swim gear and replace anything that’s broken. Lots of pool time, means chlorine damage to your swimsuit, swim cap, goggles, snorkel, etc. If you are seeing mildew spots or damaged rubber, it’s time to get some new gear.
Bring your bike in for a mid-season tune up. Long hard hours of training and racing have already gone into your bike this year. Before the beginning of the season, before your big “A” race of the year, and at the halfway mark, it is a good idea to get a tune up. Although we offer maintenance options at Ironman races, it’s better to get it done before you travel. Before your “A” races, get a Race Ready tune-up and before the season and at the mid-season mark, get platinum care for your bike.
How many miles are on your run shoes? Generally, we want to replace our run shoes approximately every 300-500 miles. However, carbon plated shoes need to be replaced more often. If your shoes are nearing that mark or they are showing significant wear on the bottom or feel like you are running on bricks, then you need to get new shoes pronto.
Stock up on perishables. Bike tubes, Co2 cartridges, gels, hydration mixes, socks, tri kit, bike shorts… all of these get used up or need to be replaced. Mid-season is an excellent time to buy replacements.
Reflect on the first half of the season and plan for the second half. Very rarely do we have perfect seasons as age group triathletes. Family illnesses, work commitments, travel, and life in general impact our training and racing in a variety of different ways. At the midway point of the season, it is incredibly helpful to look back to see what went well and what needs to be improved. If you are working with a Playtri coach, then the midseason check in can be done with your coach. If you aren’t and want to set up a coaching consult to talk things through with one of our excellent coaches, is a great option.
I hope you found this article helpful! Click on these links to learn more about our coaching programs, or email me at jim.rowe@playtri.com if you have any questions. Happy training and racing this year!
Jim Rowe is a Playtri Level 5 Coach and Coach Education Lead, a USAT LI Certified Coach, an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and an Ironman and 70.3 World Championship Qualifier who works with adult athletes who are chasing PRs, moving up to long course racing, or want to qualify for a world championship. Learn more about Jim at www.playtri.com/jim-rowe.