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Harry Palmer's tips for how to get started in triathlon
Who am I and why does my opinion matter? To be honest it doesn’t, and you should definitely take what I say with a pinch of salt, but since you’re here it’s likely you’re interested in finding out more about how to get started in triathlon, and straight off the bat, I'm going to say congratulations for deciding to take part/race.
My name is Harry Palmer and I’m a 27yr old British Professional triathlete. I have been competing in triathlons for roughly 10 years now and very much started out just for the love of sport before I decided, “hey, why would I use my degree and get a decent job when I can swim, bike and run every day and never grow up”.
So, that’s what I did and wow there have been some highs and a whole lot of lows. I’m finally managing to progress in the pro field and feel like more of a “professional” athlete. I document my journey in the sport on YouTube and also run a coaching business where I help athletes fulfil their own goals and aspirations.
Picking your distance
First things first, it’s a great idea to have a goal in mind. This could be a race, individual challenge or target. This will hold you accountable and give you something to work towards on a specific date.
Next up, it’s important to consider the distance of the event. I see people jumping into triathlon and going straight for the full distance Ironman - By no means am I saying that’s a bad idea, but it’s worth considering what your goal is.
Do you just want to complete an Ironman as bragging rights to yourself and friends? If that’s the case then do it! But, if you see yourself in the sport for a number of years then it’s worth considering starting off smaller at say a sprint distance and then progressing and building up from there as you get more confident.
The next big thing to consider is how much time you can dedicate to this each week. I’m sure most of you reading this have real jobs unlike me so you will be restricted by a 9-5, potentially family commitments, other hobbies etc etc. It’s worth noting that you don’t want to force the training and end up not enjoying yourself. I’ve always said you’re better off being more consistent doing less training and enjoying it, that way you’ll progress a lot faster and likely stick to your goals you set.
triathlon top tips for newbies
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Consider joining a local Triathlon club. The reason for this is because as a beginner you will learn so much from training with others and find some likeminded athletes who will be able to push you on and help you enjoy the training and progress a lot faster. The triathlon community on the whole is really supportive and friendly so you never know, you may find yourself some forever friends.
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Get comfortable being uncomfortable. This is something that I have to remind myself of all the time. Triathlon is hard and for the most part peoples biggest fear is open water swimming in a race with loads of others about. I remember being in that position when I started as well, I hated it. But, if you don’t practice, you don’t get any better. So, instead of fearing it, embrace it, train it and learn to get comfortable in those uncomfortable situations. There’s a saying “The only way to prepare yourself for unchosen suffering, is with chosen suffering”.
- Don’t neglect the small stuff. It’s important to think about swim bike and run, but also think and practice swim exit, transition, bike mounting, fuelling and hydration, running off the bike, bike fitting, correct equipment etc etc. These things individually only add up to a few percent here or there but combined can make a big difference to your overall experience on race day.
do i need a training programme?
In short, yes. To get started in triathlon and get the most out of yourself, some sort of programme is needed. But, that doesn’t mean go off and get a coach.
A programme could be as simple as following the local Tri club programme, or setting up a programme for yourself that suits your lifestyle.
The reason some form of programme is important is because it holds you accountable. It’s easy to train when you feel good and when the weather is nice, but it’s about what you do when you don’t feel like training.
If you’re someone who wants to know how to get started in triathlon and get the absolute best out of yourself, or you know you need someone to oversee what you’re doing then it may be worth considering a coach. There are a lot of coaches out there, some good, some not so good. It’s important to really do your research and have a conversation with a few potential coaches so that you find the right one for you.
I hope this my thoughts about how to get started in triathlon have been helpful and you are looking forward to throwing yourself into the world of multisport - it’s a good place to be!
