St. Anthony's Triathlon Tips and Tricks

*Not a sponsored post

Everyone who gets into triathlon has heard of St. Anthony's triathlon. It is one of the biggest triathlons in Florida. If you are from out of state, you may wonder if it is a good destination race. I recommend experiencing it at least once. There is a pro race, numerous championship races, and even a race for kids and adults getting into triathlon. Having raced this race a few times, I thought I would make some recommendations of things to do and tips to have a successful race day.

On Saturday, Downtown St. Petersburg hosts the Meek and Mighty Triathlon. This race is for kids and adults who aren't quite sure about the open water swim. In this race, you swim in a very nice pool before you embark on your bike and run adventure.

On Sunday, the venue hosts a sprint and an Olympic triathlon. For those of you who are used to sprint triathlons in Florida, most of them are 400 meters, this one is 750 meters.

Tips For A Successful Race Day

1. Give yourself plenty of time. Even if you are racing Sunday, I highly recommend arriving Friday evening. It is more relaxing and less stressful than trying to drive in Saturday and Check in.

2. Do your best to limit your time outside. It is the end of April in Florida and it is warm. You can get dehydrated and hot quickly.

3. Eat well and Hydrate

4. Nothing new on race day. St Anthony's has a great expo, and you can find numerous treasures that you want to show off on race day. Trust me, it can wait. you don't want to experience blisters because of new shoes or unwanted chaffing in a new triathlon suit. Show it off to your triathlon club when you return home, and train in it before you wear it to race.

5. Enjoy the refreshments of Downtown St. Petersburg after the race. It is easy to walk around and want to snack. There are a ton of great treats and restaurants in the area. Just remember, you race in one or two days. You don't want to be racing on an upset stomach due to food your body is not used to.

6. Last but not least, read your athlete guide. If you are racing Sunday, you must check your bike in on Saturday. There are no exceptions. If you don't check your bike in on Saturday, you do not race. Don't be one of the people who miss this very important detail.

7. On race day, get there early. Parking is very limited and you may have to walk quite a bit to get to the race site.

8. Check your transition, one last time and find a spot to sit down and rest your legs. This is especially true if you are doing the Sprint. You are going to have at least an hour and a half between the time transition closes and when you start.

9. Make sure you have something to eat in the morning before you race. Don't start your race on an empty tank.

10. Have fun and enjoy the race.

The Race

1. The Swim

   1. The swim is in the Gulf Of Mexico. Make sure to attend an open water swim session during the times listed on the athlete guide, especially if you are not used to swimming in salt water. You also start in the water. Sometimes you can't touch the bottom. Make sure you are comfortable treading water for a couple of minutes before the start. It can be choppy and sometimes the Olympic swim is shortened due to wind and weather.

2. The Bike

   1. The biggest thing about the bike is to be careful coming in and out of transition. There is a bit of uneven brick coming in and out of transition. Take your time. You are not going to win or lose based on the time you slowed down on the brick.

3. The Run

   1. You've made it. The last discipline. It is a great run. The local neighborhoods get involved serving alcohol, snacks and some even have their hoses out to help cool you off. Enjoy it and smile!

You've finished now onto the fun. What is there to do? Great news, there is lots. There are tons of great restaurants in downtown St. Petersburg. You can't go wrong with anywhere you choose to eat. In downtown, there are museums, shops, and lots to explore. There is St. Petersburg beach which is a short drive away. Whatever you do, the whole family will have a great time.

Thank you for reading. I hope this was helpful. If you would like to subscribe, please do so on the homepage or email swimbikeruntheplanet@gmail.com