Here’s a list of random tips and tricks that make my life easier. Please add to the list in the comments below!
For the Home Chef:
- Buy your spices and non-perishible food items in bulk. It’s so much cheaper than the packaged stuff.
- Make your own salad dressing. It’s easy and tastes much better!
- Mason jars are excellent food storage containers. I use the quart-sized jars for dry lentils, beans, flours, etc. Pint-sized jars are great for smoothies. I use the small jars to store homemade spice blends and salad dressings.
- Set aside a couple hours to prep your food for the week. I usually bake a few sweet potatoes and cook large batches of brown rice, quinoa, and a couple kinds of beans every weekend. These foods take a while to cook but don’t require much effort, a perfect task after a long ride or run. When it’s time to eat, I chop some fresh veggies and cook them while reheating a serving of starch and protein. I found this strategy greatly reduces the urge to eat random crap or pick up Chipotle for dinner.
For the Triathlete:
- Be safe! Carry cash, ID, insurance card, and a phone on you when you ride and run. Consider wearing a RoadID.
- Wear sunscreen. If you don’t, this will happen (scroll to the end).
- If you haven’t done so already, join STRAVA!!!!
- Potatoes and bananas are great fuel for for your long bike rides.
- If you wear contact lenses while training, buy a cheap extra pair of glasses and keep them in your car. You never know if you’ll lose a contact during a swim, bike, or run.
- Vitamin C powder is great for removing chlorine from your hair and skin after swimming. Check out this post for more details.
- Bike/tri shorts are not meant to be worn with underwear (holy chafing, Batman!). I thought this was an obvious one… Apparently, it isn’t. 🙂
- Ladies, your sports bra makes and excellent place to stash your race nutrition during the bike and run. It may sound weird, but it’s a lot easier than digging through your jersey pockets.
- Another one for the ladies (probably TMI)… When you use the bathroom wearing a one-piece swimsuit, you don’t need to bother taking the whole thing off. Just pull the crotch of your suit to the side before sitting down and enjoy the hassle-free relief!
Malnourished Triathlete 