FAQ

Absolutely! If you want to have fun and achieve something this is for you. You don’t need to be ‘superfit’ or excel at all 3 sports... or in fact any of them!

Top Tip: If you are embarking on this as a challenge to get fit or you have any worries at all about your health it is always wise to consult your GP or other appropriate health professional.

Not at all! As long as you have some swimming kit, access to a roadworthy bike, a well fitting helmet (required to participate in this event) and shoes you can run in you are all set. Many first time triathletes use their mountain bike and then progress to buying a lighter, racing-style bike once they are hooked on triathlon.

Top Tip: Get your bike checked over at your local bike shop before the event to make sure everything is working well and it's safe to ride.

More experience competitors will use a one or two piece tri suit. However if it's your first triathlon there's no need to spend extra money on special clothing.

Most new people to the sport tend to use their regular swimming kit for their first triathlon and simply pull shorts and t-shirt over the top in transition before getting on the bike. Ladies may find it useful to wear a crop top underneath a swimming costume for support, and to make life easy a lightweight pair of cycling shorts under their costume for the swim too. It’s easy then to add a t-shirt in transition.

Top Tip: Make sure you bring a waterproof top in case it's wet on the day and also some warm clothing for afterwards.

Yes, although it’s not as bad as it sounds! You will not be able to enter transition via the changing rooms and you are not allowed to get naked in transition!  However you will be able to put extra layers over the top of whatever you completed the swim in during transition.

Top Tip: You can place a small towel on the floor in transition to help dry your feet - take your time and make sure you have got everything you need before the next leg of the triathlon.

You will start at one side of the pool and swim up and down that lane before dipping under the lane rope. You will repeat this and gradually work your way across the 20m pool until you reach the end and the exit to transition.

You don't need to be a super-fast swimmer. We start each person at 30 second intervals with the fastest swimmer going off first to minimise any chance of people getting overtaken by another competitor.

Top Tip: When you enter make sure you provide a reasonably accurate swim time, and if you need to update before the big day then please let us know at least two weeks beforehand so we allocate you the appropriate start time.

No there are no cut off times as long as you are still able to move forwards and complete the course safely. However if racing on Saturday evening there could be a light factor, especially if it's a dull day.

Top Tip: It is wise to have at least a rear light on your bike. This is especially so for the Saturday evening race, but may also be a good idea for Sunday morning as it could be a over-cast day or poor weather conditions.

We will post a link to the current British Triathlon rules on this website, but we appreciate it isn’t everyone’s idea of a good read. As long as you read the ‘Race Details’ that will be emailed to entrants and also shown on this website and you attend the pre-race briefing, there is really nothing to worry about. Race Officials will be at the event to help make things run smoothly but they are friendly and will assist you get things right where needed. Most of the rules are common sense, such as having a safe and road worthy bike and wearing a helmet. If in doubt, please contact us beforehand or ask a race official on the day.

Top Tip: Make sure you attend the race briefing to get any last minute instructions or updates.

Drafting relates to the bike section of the event and means you are gaining an advantage by being close enough to another competitor to be sucked along in their slipstream. This event is non-drafting and breaches of this rule can result in a significant time penalty of disqualification for the event - basically you shouldn't be close enough to chat with another competitor for more than a second or two as you pass them or vice-versa. More information on this rule can be found in the Triathlon England Rules and will be covered in the race briefing.

Top Tip: Before the event get used to riding by yourself and practise holding a pace you can sustain for the bike leg that still allows you to run!

Triathlon is fun and a very social sport so feel free to bring all your friends and family along. You can register together, set up in transition and arrange to meet for well earned refreshments after the event. You won’t be able to race side by side however as this is a 'non-drafting' event.

Top Tip: Make sure you submit your own individual swim time rather than that of you friend(s) as this will cause problems in the swim where we seed the start order according to speed.

You don't need to do a huge volume of training to complete a super-sprint triathlon, but some preparation is good idea.

Try to get a few regular swim, bike and run sessions leading up to the event.

If you have a background in one of the three sports you might want to work a little more on the other two before the event.

It's a good idea to practise transitions too as this is often an area people find more difficult as they are not used to moving from one discipline to another.

Top Tip: Keep an eye out on this website and our Can But Tri facebook page for details of some pre-event training sessions coming up in April. The sessions are held at Stradbroke Swim & Fitness Centre and are a great way to build up your skills and confidence before the event in May.

If you have any questions at all please ask - we are hear to help.

Read the race details before the day and attend the pre-race briefing.

Make sure you are familiar with course - we will post maps on this website and at registration as well as having a friendly team of volunteers out on course but it's good to have some idea where you are going.

If it's your first triathlon don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Tou Tip: Enjoy yourself!