You’ve done all the
planning, training, and prepared for the race ahead; but during mile 10, you’re
experiencing chafing. Chafing is a common problem in marathons and triathlons,
but no one told you to prepare for it. Well, today you are in luck, here are
some common problems no one tells you before entering the sport, and how to
treat them.
Race Numbers
Your race number is how the
organizers identify who you are while you are speeding away on your bike. What
people don’t tell you is that during the cycling portion, your race number will
be the most annoying piece of paper you’ve ever encountered. It will flap up
and flap down and react to every little gust of wind. To fix it, crumple up
your race number and flatten it before the race. The crinkles in the paper will
help it stay put and you will not be bothered with it during the race.
Swimmers Ear
It’s going to happen, water
will enter your ear. It’s okay though, because during training you’ve figured
this out. Make sure on the day of your race to wear wax or silicone earplugs to
help prevent this common annoyance. If you don’t like the feeling of ear plugs
in your ear, try an over the counter ear drop designed to help swimmers ear,
and remember ear wax is your friend, not foe, so don’t clean your ears with
cotton swabs.
Know the Course
If you have access to where
the race is going to be held, use it. Train on the course, so come race day
you’ll remember the pothole to avoid, or that there is a blind curve at the end
of the running portion. Knowing the course will also benefit you mentally.
Since you’ve already trained on it, you will know what to expect, so on race
day you won’t run into a mental wall thinking that the end is just around the
corner.
Painful Blisters and Chafing
Everyone has had a blister
in life, and everyone knows the pain of one. Do not be fooled, it will happen
on race day if you are not prepared. The easiest and simplest solution is to
wear moisture wicking garments. Not only do moisture wicking garments prevent
blisters but they also prevent chafing. Clothes are not the only solution
though; consider buying a skin lubricant and applying it on your feet and
thighs before the race. These products are easily accessible and affordable. Worst-case
scenario, wear some Band-Aids. All these solutions work well for preventing
chaffing as well. If you find yourself in a rough spot and chafing has already
become a problem, the first thing to do after the race is to treat it. Clean
the affected area with warm water and soap.
Make sure that you let the
affected area recover before training with the affected area and make sure that
it gets plenty of air, so it can heal.
Common Race Injuries
The big two injuries on race
day are heat stroke and hyponatremia. Heat stroke is when your body overheats,
so if you start feeling dizzy and overheated during a race, slow down and find
a medical tent. If you are experiencing a heat stroke you need to cool your
body down fast and hydrate yourself. Hyponatremia is when your body has too
much water and is too low on sodium. Sodium is an electrolyte and helps
regulate the amount of water in and around your cells. Hyponatremia can happen
if you drink more water than your body needs. The cells in your body begin to
swell because the sodium in your body has become diluted. If you are nauseous,
confused, feel weak, and your body is swollen find a medical tent. To prevent this
condition try not to over hydrate yourself and make sure that when you hydrate
to take small sips.
After the Race
Get out of your gear.
Staying in your workout clothes after a race is a dream come true for bacteria,
not so much for you. Changing into clean, dry clothes after the race will prevent
sores from forming, chafing issues, and can prevent you from getting sick.
Besides, you want to be comfortable on your way home from the race; so changing
out of icky, sweat drenched clothes for fresh, dry clothes will improve your
mood.
Remember that trying
anything new is difficult and comes with some surprises. If you have a friend
who is experienced in triathlons ask for their advice, or find a local
triathlon group who can help you step by step. Hopefully, these common problems
will not plague you on race day, because you are prepared for them.
As Always, Happy Racing!
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