Get Faster in Triathlon – Without Doing More Training!
Every athlete trains hard to shave seconds off their times. Another swim session? That’s 50 hours a year. Add a weekly 30-minute run? There’s another 25. That’s 75 hours of extra effort… all for a few seconds’ gain.
And yet—on race day—you hit T1…
Wetsuit stuck. Helmet won’t clip. You forget your number belt. You fumble at the mount line. That’s 75 hours of training... gone in 60 flustered seconds.
Whether you're chasing a sub-5 IRONMAN or aiming to PB your sprint tri, transition time is free speed—if you know how to use it.
Here are five no-training-needed ways to get faster today:
1. Practice Transitions Like You Train Don’t just swim—practice getting that wetsuit off, fast. One athlete ran stairs in his suit just to rehearse. Looks odd. Works wonders.
2. Nail Your Brick Sessions Turn bricks into transition drills. Limit your changeover time. Rehearse mounts/dismounts. Make it fun, make it competitive.
3. Simplify Your Setup Less is more. No need for a suitcase in transition. Helmet, shoes, glasses. Run kit ready. Keep it clean, keep it consistent.
4. Fuel on the Move Save the picnic for after the race. Hydrate and fuel on the bike—don’t lose precious time at the rack.
5. Walk the Course Know every path: swim exit to bike, bike exit to mount line, dismount to run. Athletes lose races because they simply go the wrong way.
Your fitness got you here. Your transitions can take you further—without a single extra training hour.
READ YOUR NEXT ARTICLE: Triathlon Swim Starts
Professional Coach Paul Jones is a British Triathlon Federation Level 3 Coach and a Triathlon Australia Performance Coach.
He is also an IRONMAN Certified Coach
F4L Triathlon Coaching – Powered by Passion, Driven by Results. With over 20 years of experience, Coach Paul delivers elite-level triathlon and endurance training tailored to you. From first-timers to seasoned competitors, we know every athlete is unique — and your coaching should be too.
