2 MASTER TRANSITION
Transition is the place where you can shave full minutes off your race time. Multiple 70.3 and Ironman age-group winner Andy Greenleaf explains how to master the sport-to-sport swap over…
Once you’ve registered, stick your race numbers on your bike and helmet, and prepare your number belt. Then make sure you put your timing chip somewhere safe where you won’t forget it.
Next, get to know the layout of the transition areas so you’re familiar with how to enter and exit them. Doing so can be hugely benefical, especially for Ironman events as you often need to pick up and drop off bags of kit and get changed in different locations. Leave yourself enough time on race day (or the day before if you have to rack then) so you can walk your route through transition and so you don’t waste time trying to figure it out during the race.
Set out your kit in the order you’ll need it. So if you run with the bike on your right, put your run shoes on the left of your bike so you don’t have to run around it in the second transition. And make sure the laces are loose enough so you can pull your shoes on quickly.
The key to a fast transition is knowing the location of your slot, so that when you come in from the swim or bike legs you can go straight to it. Memorise the number of rows your slot is from the transition entry or pick out some immobile route markers to help guide you to your slot when coming in from the swim and the bike. Being able to pinpoint your position can save you minutes in age-group racing.