This is the third in the series of four blog articles on traveling to an international World Championship event or abroad to any other event. This article follows on from 2. Preparing to travel abroad for a race.
The following prompts will help you with planning
either where you will stay or what you should try and do on arrival in a new
race location. These can be considered before committing to a location on
before arriving.
Food
Plan out where you can get your evening meals, and
lunch/breakfast if it is not included in your accommodation. Work out where you
will have dinner the night before the race, and book it before it is filled up
by a few thousand other triathletes! If you are in a location with a specific
food speciality, look for where you can get food you are accustomed to
– don’t go for the local cuisine if it is not something your normally
have, stick with the standard pasta beforehand! (Go crazy afterwards!) Also
consider your pre race breakfast and how you will get it – room service, a
super market or other means.
Bike Shop
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| Borrowing an electric bike however may be frowned upon... |
Training Logistics
Where are you going to swim, what are the opening times,
what about the swim venue, can you get in before the race? All these are
questions you should find out before you get there. Or at the very least you
can have a list of things to ask a local contact (usually the bike shop is a
good place to start!). It
is worth getting to know the course, but there could be some other more
interesting areas or places to see in the nearby neighbourhood which you can
ride to. Amongst your race preparation it is worth actually seeing the new
country you have visited – just don’t get caught up in doing too much.
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| Has your hotel got a pool that you can use to train in? |
Race Logistics
It is a new location. Make sure you are completely happy
with what is happening on race morning. How are you getting to transition, how
are you getting back, is it a split transition? Are you dropping off bags
somewhere –where? What time is the hotel breakfast will you be able to go? All
this needs to be considered either before arriving or when you arrive for the
race. It is always worth going to the briefing (they are mandatory) as the race
organisers will explain any last minute changes.
Supporter’s Logistics
Do you have friends and family coming? If you do, give them
a head start with the organisation of what is happening on race day. Where
should they stand, what are your approximate timings? Do you want them to help
spot other competitors and give you information? I personally always ask one
person to give me some technical information which will refocus my mind on what I need to be doing. This will help them, but it will also
help you as you will look forward to seeing them on the course and they will
feel more part of what is happening and become a lot more involved.
Try and arrange some time to visit the place you are racing
in. It is very cool to race around the world, but it is no fun if all you see
when travelling around the world is a bit of tarmac and all you can comment on the
water purity of a few lakes. Have a look around as you ride. Visit some of the
touristy places and get a feel for the location you are staying in. You may not
go back, but you will certainly enjoy fond memories of a location and a great
race just by looking up.
I love racing, but I also see racing as an
excuse to travel around the world. It is one of my favourite reasons for doing
triathlon. I look back at races in Thailand, the US, France and South Africa
with very fond memories, but what I like most is that I end up enjoying spending
time with other like-minded people.
Enjoy your next race abroad and I hope I have made your planning a little easier!
Enjoy your next race abroad and I hope I have made your planning a little easier!