Whether you are about to compete in your first triathlon, your 100th triathlon or a big marathon swim there is one mistake that is almost guaranteed to prevent it from going the way you want. What is that mistake made by so many? They try something new on race day!

Race day is not for trying new equipment, a new nutrition plan, a new strategy or really anything new that you haven’t tested out in training at least several times! You train hours every single day for months for this big race or swim and adding in something new could have a devastating impact on your big day.

You may think that new race kit or swim suit will make you faster but then on race day after the gun goes off, after never having tested the suit, you realize it is very uncomfortable. Now your entire day is focused on how uncomfortable your suit is which will cause you to be distracted and go slower.

How many times do you get to a race or race expo and vendors are handing out all these new tasty products? The answer is all the time! These products may be amazing but you will only do yourself a disservice if you give them a try for the first time on race day. You have no idea how they will settle in your stomach or how they will make you feel. These new products could give you severe GI distress and you will have no clue because you never tested it before. This will 100% ruin your race day when you are stuck in the porter potty at every aid station. I promise you will be kicking yourself after the race because that one decision that ruined your race was totally preventible!

Testing out new equipment, strategies and products are all part of triathlon, swimming and really any other sport. You should be trying new products and tactics but the key is knowing when to test them out. The short answer is to test them anywhere other than your big race, swim or game! Not following this one piece of advice is almost guaranteed to ruin your entire race! This is one of the only mistakes out there that is totally preventible! Don’t fall victim to the trap that so many other athletes have fallen prey to.

Next time a vendor hands you an awesome new product at the race expo, put it in your swag bag and save it for a training swim, ride or run! Then if you really like it and find it helpful, start training with it regularly. Only after feeling comfortable in training with this new food, equipment or strategy should you be adding it in to your race!

We hope you found this tip helpful! If you have any mistakes that are easy to avoid that will save your race, please drop them in the comments to help others just like you!

Successful swims are built with Endurance!