During a triathlon, where do you change clothes?

By Heather Fuhr

I am training for my first sprint triathlon. Assuming I will be doing this in the summer months in southern California, what should I wear for the swim? Also, I need a running bra. Are there usually places to change clothes? How does that all work? HELP!!

Answer:Congratulations on joining in on the triathlon mania!!! Even though you will be racing in Southern California during summer months, the water can still be pretty cold. If possible, I would suggest getting yourself a wetsuit (or possibly renting one from your local bike shop). It is not totally necessary, but will make the swim portion of the triathlon more enjoyable. If you are using a wetsuit, then you can wear your other clothes underneath the wetsuit for the swim portion. Generally for the sprint or Olympic distance races they do not have change tents available, so you need to be able to change into whatever you are wearing out in the open. A great option for you is to wear your running bra and maybe some tri shorts under your wetsuit. Then when you come out of the water, you can take your wetsuit off, slip on a top over your running bra and be off on your bike. You can then wear the same thing for the run portion of the race. There are also great tri-suits available should you choose to not wear a wetsuit. You would wear the tri-suit in the swim and then continue to wear it for the bike and run portions of the race - this eliminates any need for changing at all.

Heather has been racing in the sport of triathlon for the past 17 years. Throughout her career she has specialized in Ironman distance racing. With 15 Ironman victories to her credit she is second only to the great Paula Newby Fraser on the all time Ironman Win List. Included in those 15 Ironman victories is a World Championship title at the 1997 Ironman World Triathlon Championships in Kona, Hawaii.