Some answers to questions about participating in triathlons

Susan Roberts is writing a six-part, weekly column about getting ready for the Crescent City Triathlon and Duathlon in August. This is the fourth installment.

Your race is just over a week away (remember to taper your training down after this weekend).  Are you excited? Nervous? Confident? Scared? Got questions?

Here are a few Q&As culled from local comments, emails to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and asked at Back Country Bicycle, 465-3995.

Question: When I do the swim, do most people wear the same clothing for the rest of the race — such as shorts and T-shirt?

Answer: Typically a swimsuit or triathlon suit is worn in the swim and kept on for the bike/run.  You might wish to add a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for the bike, especially as you need to pin your number on the front of your T-shirt for the run. Some will pin their number on a “race belt” or their water belt.

Q: What kind of bikes do people use?  I have a basic mountain bike, will that suffice?

A: Every kind of bike imaginable is used in the race, from a cruiser to a BMX to a race bike.  Just go out there and bike!

Q: Is there is cut-off date for entering?

A: You may register up to and including the morning of the race.  Remember: If you commit early, you’re nearly to the finish line.  If you dilly-dally, you might flake out!

Q: What are the cut off times?

A: There are none.

Q: Do you have a map of the courses?

A: Yes, on our website crescentcitytriathlon.com. At registration you’ll receive maps in your goodie bag and we’ll have big map boards. Come out Tuesday evening at 6, in front of the pool,  for more information and a walk/run of the run courses.

Q: What if I haven’t trained enough?

A: If you ask any athlete at the start of a race, I suspect most will say they hadn’t trained “enough.”

Q: Can you sign up as a team, when each person is competing in the whole duathlon/triathlon?

A: No, a team is a combination of participants where each person takes one of the legs of the race.   The times are combined for the total team finish time. However, if several people want to identify themselves self as a “team,” which I’ve seen a lot, you could do matching T-shirts or hats or something like that. Then each person runs their own full race but enjoys the spirit of a team! Your family or friends might also want to wear the team T-shirt.

Q: We would like to participate as a family:  parents and two kids.  Would we be out on the course when the kids race?

A: The adult races start at 8:30, in swim heats based on their estimated swim time. The kids' triathlon starts at 11, to encourage parent involvement, encouragement and supervision.  You might want to talk to us at registration, if you have questions.

Q: Can my boys run as a relay team in the kids’ triathlon.

A: No, children do all three legs on their own. The logistics for operating it along with our current offerings and location would make space/planning much more complicated and spread our volunteers even thinner. It could be considered in the future. It is offered in a kids-only triathlon down in Arcata in the spring. 

Q: Also are we allowed to wear headphones during the run?

A: As with most running races and triathlons, headphones are discouraged, if not banned.  We do not have a policy (yet), but we’d recommend that you not wear them as you need to hear traffic, other runners, and any directions from volunteers. Get your energy from the runners around you!

My favorite comment, from a 63-year-old woman: “I’m so glad to remember how to swim after 20 years not doing it! ... thank you so much for getting me ‘training’ again.”

Bring spectators, encourage volunteers! Staying injury-free and having enthusiasm are important goals for a successful finish on race day! Train hard, rest well, fuel sensibly, laugh often!

Susan Roberts, who could neither swim nor run six years ago, placed fifth in her age group last November at the 70.3-mile triathlon World Championships. She started at the Crescent City Triathlon and has since become an ISSA-certified personal trainer.