The Triathlete Blueprint Newsletter #108-Your First Triathlon Will Be a Mess. And That’s Ok.

Yan Busset
May 25
5 min read

Read time: 5min.

By Coach Yan Busset

Don’t Chase Perfection on Your First Triathlon: Chase Experience

You trained. You bought gear. You followed a plan. You might even have watched every video and read every article out there. And yet, your first triathlon is still probably going to feel chaotic.

You’ll mess up. You’ll feel overwhelmed. You’ll have a moment in the middle where you wonder, what the hell am I doing here? And that’s fine. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

Because triathlon is a sport that you only truly understand when you race. It’s the experience, messy, unpredictable, unforgettable, that hooks you. And if you ask me, that first messy race is the most important one you’ll ever do.

What You Think You’ll Remember… and What You Actually Will

You might think you’ll remember your pace, your transition times, your rank. But in reality, those things fade quickly.

What stays are the emotions.The nerves at the swim start.The sound of your heartbeat on the line.The high-five from a volunteer.The stranger who shouted your name.The moment you realized you were actually doing it.

And for me, I remember my parents’ proud faces. That moment of connection. That feeling of being supported. That sticks with you far longer than your split times.

It’s not the perfect pacing or transitions you’ll carry with you. It’s those flashes of feeling, the effort, the energy, the pride. That’s what makes you a triathlete.

A Few Things I’ve Learned the Hard Way

In a previous blog, I mentioned how I once tried to put on a running top in T1. On race day, it felt like an eternity. I remember the panic, the frustration, the feeling of being completely stuck. But now, with distance, I realise I probably lost 30 seconds. That’s all. It wasn’t a disaster. It just felt like one in the moment. That’s often the case in triathlon.

Another gem from my early days, I used vaseline to avoid chafing with the wetsuit, which is fine. But I also, in a moment of questionable genius, I grabbed my goggles with my hands still full of that cream right before the swim start. Result? I couldn’t see a thing in the sea. Everything was blurry from the moment I hit the water. Not ideal when you’re trying to sight buoys in open water.

Now, if I ever use baby oil for the wetsuit, I remember to bring disposal gloves to apply it and I keep it far away from my goggles. These small mistakes stick ( like vaseline on goggles ) with you. You learn. You adapt. And over time, you build your own little playbook of things that work, and things that don’t.

Triathlon Is a Strange Sport

In tennis, when you train, you play tennis. In golf, you improve by playing golf. But in triathlon? We train by swimming, biking, and running separately. Maybe a few brick sessions, maybe some open water. But rarely do we experience the full picture of what is actually our sport until race day.

Race day is when it all comes together. The swim start. The transitions... The logistics. The race nerves. That’s why races are the best training you can do.

Especially in Northern Europe where the season is short, I always tell my athletes to race often. Every race teaches you something. Don’t save yourself for the “perfect race.” Get out there. Learn by doing. Practice your Triathlon ABC.

A Coach’s Warning: This Might Be the Start of an Addiction

As a coach, I’ve seen this happen over and over. I could almost write the script.

You mess up something. Maybe several things. And in the middle of the race, when it gets hard, you think:Why am I doing this? Should I quit? Never again. Why did I signed for this?!

But then you reach the finish line. And instantly, your brain flips.

Wait. I could have done that better. Why didn’t I push harder on the bike? What if I paced that run differently?

And then you’re online, signing up for the next one...

That’s what happened to me over 30 years ago. One race. And I’ve been hooked ever since.

Be careful. Triathlon is highly addictive. Possibly the best sport in the world, if you ask me.

A Few Rookie Mistakes You Can Avoid

You will mess up, but let me try to help you avoid a few of the most common beginner mistakes. These are simple things, but they make a big difference.

1. Arrive early to the venue There’s a lot to set up before the race. Parking, check-in, transition setup, last-minute nerves. If you’re late, everything becomes rushed. Give yourself time to breathe.

2. Use a checklist Don’t trust your memory. I’ve seen people forget everything from socks to helmets.

Here is a free PDF checklist so you can be sure you have everything you need:

3. Wear a tri-suit Yes, you can finish a triathlon in basic gear. But a tri-suit you can swim, bike, and run in makes the day smoother. No wardrobe struggles mid-race. Just focus on moving forward.

4. Use quick laces You can train for months to gain one minute on your 5K. Or you can spend a few euros on quick laces and save that minute in transition. Just slide your shoes on and go.

5. Walk through the transition zone Know where to go. Where’s the bike out? Where’s the run exit? Where’s your rack spot? Take five minutes before the race to learn the layout. It will save you confusion and panic.

Do these things and you’ll avoid most of the beginner chaos. The rest? Let it happen. That’s where the real learning begins.

Take It Easy, It’s Just the Beginning

Don’t put pressure on yourself. Your first triathlon is not about being perfect. It’s about discovering the sport.

Yes, it will be hard. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll wonder if you can finish. But once you do, that moment of doubt will be replaced by pride. And curiosity.

You’ll think, what if I did this differently? Could I go faster next time?

That’s how it starts. One race. One finish line. And before you know it, you’re not just doing triathlon. You are a triathlete.

Welcome to the sport.

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