One of the most important tips for race day is to not try out new equipment on race day. This doesn’t just mean you shouldn’t try something out that you’ve never tried before. It also means you shouldn’t use new equipment even if you’ve used the same type of equipment before (i.e. a new pair of shoes that is the same model as your last pair of shoes–this still qualifies as “new equipment” even if you’re familiar with it), and as I found out in my first marathon, this also means not using equipment or a set up that you haven’t used recently (i.e. running with ankle socks after five months of training in long socks = really bad blisters in the achilles region).

My second half-Ironman (does half-Ironman + half-Ironman = full-Ironman? Answer: No) is on June 12th, in 10 days. This will be my first race with a tri-bike and an aero-helmet, and I’ve only used the former once and the latter not at all (about to go try it right now). I should have been training with both of these at least two months ago, but that’s how it goes sometimes. But in an effort to minimize race-day complications, I am going out right now to do a 1-hour ride with my race day gear. That is, my one-piece race suit, my aero helmet, my tri-bike, and a pair of heavily padded bike shorts over my race suit, since I’m adjusting to this new bike/new position/new saddle and still will be come race day.

This gives me the opportunity to test everything and find out if something doesn’t work. For example, I have no idea how wearing bike shorts over my one-piece race suit is going to work out. I’ve worn the bike shorts plenty–by themselves, and I’ve also worn the race suit in two races, but I’ve never worn them together. Maybe it will be just fine, but maybe I’ll find out that I’ve got too much material down there and it causes skin to chafe against other skin, or that some of the seams line up and rub in the wrong place, or something else I haven’t thought of. At least I’ll have time to correct the problem and try other solutions, which you can’t exactly do on race day without ruining your triathlon experience to one degree or another.

In a triathlon you’ve got two choices for getting into your biking shoes after you finish your swim; 1) put them on in the transition area, or 2) already have them clipped onto your pedals, and when you jump on your bike and start pedaling then you can work your feet into them and make sure they’re secure. There are pros and cons to each method, and I don’t know which is best so I’m looking for input.

The pros of putting them on in the transition area is that once you get on your bike you’re ready to go. There’s no fiddling with your shoes, trying to get your feet in and then reaching down to get the straps right–you can stand up and get moving fast.

On the other hand, if it’s a long distance from your spot to the area where you can mount your bike you might get there faster if you’re running in bare feet vs. bike shoes.

But then again, if you’re running in your bare feet you risk stubbing a toe, stepping on something you don’t want to, etc.

My preference is to put my shoes on at my spot and run out of the transition area with them on. I think I can run just as fast with the shoes on as in bare feet, and it reduces the risk of any transition-area foot or toe injury that might be a liability on the bike or run. And then of course I can get off to a fast start once I mount my bike. But I’m not entirely convinced that’s the best way, because I’m a newcomer to the sport and all sorts of experienced people seem to be doing things differently. So what’s your take on it?