Planning Your First Triathlon | How To Become A Triathlete!

Are you ready for a new challenge? How about a triathlon? Putting all three sports of swim, bike and run together for the first time is quite daunting. We are here to guide you through the process so you know how to go about becoming a triathlete.

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. 👍

Submit your content here:

Watch more on GTN...

Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound:
ES_play along - shamgang
ES_BuzzWorthy - _91nova
ES_Tiny Room Bop - [ocean jams]
ES_Toast - Dylan Sitts

Photos: © Triathlon / Getty Images

The Global Triathlon Network (GTN) is the world's biggest triathlon YouTube channel, with new videos every day! GTN is for anyone who loves triathlon: from seasoned triathletes to first timers – and everyone in between!

With the help of our former pro and Olympic medal winning team, we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better triathlete; including videos on:

- How to swim, bike, and run faster with expert knowledge
- Try our session ideas
- Investigations into wide ranging topics
- The best triathlon bike tech and gear with pro know-how
- In-depth, entertaining features from the heart of the sport
- Chat, opinion and interact with us across the channel and on social media!

Join us on YouTube’s best triathlon channel to get closer to the sport and to become a better, faster and fitter triathlete!

Welcome to the Global Triathlon Network.

Thanks to our sponsors:

[gtn]

What are your 2021 goals? Share them with us - we'd love to know!

[jennyy]

For beginners feeling interested but that it's out of reach, I am not and never have been great at any of the three events but fell in love with tri, anyway. I sort of knew how to swim, barely knew how to bike and had never run more than 3 consecutive miles in my entire life. Working out in one discipline always became tedious or boring and I was never able to stick to any program or routine. I started VERY small and worked my way up and still do not have a great wetsuit or bike but I can't explain just how much fun I have anyway. I've only competed for two years and have a blast with the positive energy of everyone at the few events where I've participated. I was incredibly nervous for my first races and asked plenty of strangers for advice--all of whom were lovely and very helpful. I won't go as far as to say tri has cured my depression or solved all my problems but it has become a lovely and stable way to stay as well as possible. I don't race to win, I just race to surprise myself and continue to have the time of my life.
I hope you will give it a shot.

[samw]

I've been doing triathlon for 10+ years, and I'm still watching this

[iggalan]

For the first triathlon I recommend you read the rules well in advance, it's important. Make sure you're wearing your helmet always that you're touching your bike (in the transition area). Be sure that you check in with plenty of time, lines are expected and you don't want to rush. Sometimes the briefing is mandatory. Double check the schedules! And then just enjoy it and don't worry about time 💪 .

[rustydagon]

Doing my first tri this weekend! Really excited!

[jaydizfishing]

Just completed my 1st Triathlon last weekend. Thank you GTN for the inspiration. I'm down 75lbs since February and looking forward to many more tri's in the future.

[thegrayadventure]

I've been watching GTN for a year now and just finished my knee surgery a few months ago. Once I get cleared for full activity it will be time to train and complete a race! Thank you GTN for all the content.

[Bluefrenzy]

2021 was supposed to be the year I do my first triathlon but didn't get enough swim practice in last year. 2022 will be the year for me!

[callumnotman]

Did my first triathlon (S) this sunday in the south west of France.
1h22min (finished 73rd out of 171... not great but really enjoyed it)

French Paralympian Ahmed Andaloussi was there (his club organized the race) which was brilliant. Knowing that he just came back from Tokyo 2020

I binged as many GTN videos in the months before the race which helped my nerves. Your channel is brilliant...as is this sport.

Cheers again, keep the videos coming! 😁

[corecreekproductions]

Just did my first triathlon two weeks ago. I was already biking up to 100 miles a ride, ran a marathon (20 years ago!) and swam on a competitive team (30 years ago!). But I wasn’t able to train for the run or swim parts and went for it anyway. So glad I did…. Beat my goal time by 15 minutes, and am now looking to do an Olympic next summer. I got the big….

[gmdado]

Thx for all the videos GTN team, they are a great help for me... actualy I started training by myself for my first triathlon -modified olympic distance(1, 5/50/10) three months ago. I had no "endurance" sports experience, but have almost two decades in gym/strength training so it is interesting to see gradual body transformation. Looking forward for each of Your youtube videos!!!

[callumwarner]

Found a real love for the outdoors and pushing myself in 2020 and after coming across channels like GTN I’ve been on a one way path to setting challenges and smashing them!

First triathlon booked Aug 2021 in Copenhagen and it’s Olympic distance. I wanted something to look forward to and long enough to psyche me up 💪🏽 🏃🏽‍♂️ I’m really excited for it!

Love the channel 👊🏽

[AccountingCycling]

My brother and I are going to do a triathlon this summer, first for me but he's done many in the past. Very excited to give it a go! I'm a strong cyclist, okay runner, and can survive swimming.

[johnpedersen]

I have been in triathlon awhile now but I still love to watch your videos

[paddywiggle]

I think I’m going to go for olympic distance first for the challenge. The swim is the most daunting for me! It’s not a new year’s resolution, but it’s about time for me to get into the pool and start swimming. My brother is a swimmer and I’ll start training with him. My goal is a half ironman in the next 2 years!

[infmzze]

I watch tri videos. Particularly the ironman motivational type and literally come to tears and have a feeling that I am supposed to be doing one.... I cannot explain it. I hope that doesn't sound weird. I do have some running, biking and swimming experience. I love the three. I have gotten out of shape recently over the past several years. Life got very complicated and I turned to drinking to cope and in the process I am not anywhere near ready. I have started back in the gym but I need to get started. I'm just not sure what to do !

[thepalefox]

Planning my first tri event here in Singapore in April (Sprint distance in open water!). Have been self teaching myself to front crawl by following the Total Immersion technique. Am not fit but getting there by using Strava as an accountability tool and looking forward to the future and more triathlon adventures.

[dimrub]

Thanks for posting this - and at such an auspicious timing too. I think 2021 will finally be the tri year for me.

[spandexcore]

Great video, did my first standard distance in November, my friend gave me her old pink Wetsuit which made me a Lil self conscious as I'm a dude but no one judged (gotta save up) . The swim was terrifying as I clearly didnt train enough, especially on breathing I've since been in the pool and getting more prepared for my second the end of the month 😊. Thanks gtn for great content

[jenslingspaint]

Great video. I've been training for my first Triathlon since October and unfortunately had a setback last week, I shattered my ring finger last week playing with my dog at the beach. I needed some surgery to put things back in place. Hopefully I won't lose too much of my fitness base as I recover. I'm definitely going to give this video a rewatch as I get closer to my first Triathlon in May.