Training
When it comes to training, Burley says to be sure you give nine to ten hours per week at the beginning. A good break down would be two days of swimming, two days of biking and two days of running. One day can be a rest day. Burley also says to train for at least two months for a sprint triathlon. His break down for weeks of training is to progressively go up for two weeks in distance and intensity and take one recovery week with shorter distance and lower intensity, then repeat.
Gear
The biggest investment will be the bike, Burley says. He suggests getting a road bike for first-time triathletes and equipping the bike with aerobars for triathlons. A triathlon bike is great for people who want to continually participate in triathlons, but for people who are just getting started, a road bike might be more appropriate.
Other essential items for first-time triathletes are bodyglide, a triathlon specific short with light padding, a race belt, a chip strap, Yankz shoelaces, water bottles and nutrition. Women should definitely look for a sports bra that can get wet to make transition easier and faster. The triathlon outfit needs to be specific for wear in all three events.
Transition
Burley’s tip for transition is to practice beforehand and make sure you are organized with all your gear. Get to the site early so that you have plenty of time to lay out your equipment for easy transition. He also suggests putting a balloon at your transition location or bright colored towel so that you can find your area quickly.
Lastly, Burley says to be patient with training. He says to concentrate on technique the most, especially when training for the swim portion, rather than distance or effort.