How to Get Athletes Who Are More Confident, Well-Trained and Knowledgeable on Race Day
As an organizer for endurance events like triathlons, marathons and century rides, you know that athletes sign up for any number of reasons including: peer pressure, a desire to adopt a healthy lifestyle, crossing a line off their bucket list and the desire to compete.
Regardless of the reason, all athletes want to be successful. Although each athlete’s definition of success will vary, all of them will have a better experience if they are confident, well-trained and knowledgeable about the event on race day.
I launched the Luray Triathlon in Luray, Virginia in 2006 and directed the event up until 2014. The triathlon began as a single day event with 400 athletes, the triathlon has expanded to two days and more than 1,400 athletes registering each year. Many of our athletes return year after year and the Luray Triathlon was selected as the “Best Triathlon in the Mid-Atlantic in 2013” by Competitor Magazine.
Here are five ways we helped our triathletes arrive confident, well-trained and knowledgeable on race day:
- Training Programs for the Event
- Open Water Swim Practices Before Race Weekend
- Online Webinars and Videos
- Free Basic Skills Clinics on Race Weekend
- Q&A Sessions with Race Staff on Race Weekend
Training Programs for the Event
Through our website, we offered comprehensive training programs from 10 to 18 weeks in length. We provided two levels of plans: novice and experienced to address different athlete training needs and then offered the plans free to athletes who signed up early for the race. This is an opportunity to partner with triathlon coaching company and cross-promote each other.
Open Water Swim Practices Before Race Weekend.
Except for a few athletes with a background in competitive swimming, most triathletes tend to feel uncomfortable with the open water swim. Providing athletes with the opportunity to train in the lake under lifeguard supervision prior to race weekend helps them become familiar with the swim course and more confident on race day. A coach was present to offer tips for sighting buoys, staying relaxed and exiting the water. We used online registration service Eventbrite to easily create registration pages, invite athletes and manage the communications to participants.
Online Webinars and Videos
Webinars and videos are an inexpensive way to inform and educate large numbers of people who can view the videos from their computer. We provided a number of short training tips videos to help beginners on topics like: how to sight in open water, how to change a flat tire and what to eat and drink on race day.
Free Basic Skills Clinics on Race Weekend
In return for letting local pro athletes race for free, we asked the pros to share their expertise with the athletes. For example, one of our pros gave a transitions tips clinic the afternoon before each race, showing the athletes how to set up their transition area smartly and how to smoothly transition from swim to bike then from bike to run.
Q&A Sessions with Race Staff on Race Weekend
During these optional sessions, I walked athletes through the race sequence from swim start to finish and all the transitions in between. I answered questions about rules, pacing, hydration and logistics.
Please note that although I used the Luray Triathlon as my example, these same ideas can be applied to events like running races, obstacle course races and cycling events, too.
Good luck!
David
