How to choose your first multisport event

Multisport events are a great way to improve your fitness and health, and a Duathlon event is a great place to start. You will always remember the first time that you cross that finish line so you want it to be a good experience, especially if you plan to continue with the Duathlon events. With that in mind, here are some tips for choosing your first Duathlon event.

Distance

Regardless of your current fitness, your first duathlon is a learning experience. Ceejae Miller, a biokineticist, says that a sprint, or even a supersprint distance Duathlon is the best way to go for your first event. ‘Sprint’ refers only to the distance of the event and not the pace at which the event should be completed. For instance, the Discovery Duathlon Sandton has a supersprint, sprint, and a standard distance event.

Health and fitness

Whether you’re currently physically active or not, getting a health check to determine your health and fitness status is very important. Assessing this objectively and honestly can be tough so it is a good idea to consult a professional. Discovery Vitality has several tools available for you to do this, from the Vitality Age tool which offers a general overview of your health and wellness and the Vitality Online Fitness Assessment, to the Vitality Health Check  conducted at a Vitality Wellness Centre pharmacy in the Vitality Wellness Network, or at a Discovery Wellness Day. You can also visit a biokineticist in the Vitality Wellness Network, Vitality Wellness Centre, or Planet Fitness or Virgin Active gym to get a Vitality Fitness Assessment. These measures can go a long way to helping you decide how long you’ll need to train for your first triathlon and what areas you’ll need to improve on.

Furthermore, it’s always important to visit a doctor before starting a new fitness routine, especially one that is as intensive as multisport training. If you have a chronic condition of any kind, this becomes essential. A biokineticist can also help you to determine whether you’re over committing yourself; the fitter you are, the less time you’ll need to train for your first event.

Weather

Your first Duathlon is likely to be a very big learning experience so ideally, you don’t want to have to worry about the added factor of weather. Therefore, it’s probably a good plan to choose a Duathlon in which inclement weather is not a factor. Choose an event that’s at a time of year in which you feel most comfortable training.

Event-specific rules

Take a look at the rules for specific events. Some events allow for drafting during the cycle leg. (Drafting is when you can cycle quite close to the bike in front of you to reduce drag; making the cycle easier.) Draft-legal triathlons may be easier for beginners as maintaining a 10m distance from other riders may be difficult for the first event.

Team and individual considerations

Whether you prefer to compete by yourself or in a team, the Discovery Duathlon Sandton is perfect. The support of a team can be very encouraging in your first duathlon and can make the experience all the more enjoyable. Competing in a team may also make training easier as you know that your team-members are counting on you to be at training sessions, making it more difficult for you not to train.

The Discovery Duathlon Sandton is taking place on 24-25 October 2015 and has a superprint, a sprint distance, and a standard distance option. All distances are draft legal, have a team entry option, as well as entries for school pupils and corporates.

Take the plunge; enter the Discovery Duathlon Sandton here: http://www.discoveryduathlon.com/enter/.

“What are you waiting for? Go enter the Discovery Duathlon Sandton now and #RUNCYCLERUN!”