ROBING FOR RACE DAY: COMPETITION CLOTHING

In the 1980s swimsuits reigned supreme when it came to race day clothing. The skimpier, it seemed, the better with body parts squeezed into postage stamp sized outfits that left little to the imagination. Nowadays, however, the shelves are flooded with different styles, colours and fabric features. The two basic tri-suit styles you’ll see are a one-piece suit—where the top and shorts are combined and there’s a zip on the front or back—and a two-piece suit, with separate shorts and top. The tops can come with sleeves (short or long) or without (for example, a vest) or, in a two-piece, also a crop top. Tri-specific shorts have a chamois, but it’s much more minimal than in regular cycling shorts—enabling you to run without feeling like you’re wearing a supersized, soggy nappy. It is never necessary to wear underwear under your shorts. Some tri-suits have an in-built bra that may offer sufficient support for some women but, if not, buy one without and wear a separate bra.

Of course, there is always the swimsuit option—but there can be some trade offs, specifically around comfort, coverage and practicalities, mentioned below.

Tri-suits come with a range of features and properties such as compression, chlorine resistance, sun protection, cooling, wicking, quick-drying and more. If you can, head to a shop to try on any new clothing, rather than purchasing on the internet. Some of the key things to think about when making your choice are:

Comfort and fit

Select an outfit that is not restrictive, has the properties you require and minimises the risk of chaffing and general discomfort. The last thing you want is for your race to become unpleasant because your shorts feel like sandpaper on your thighs, your shoulders are sunburnt and your nipples are red raw. It’s a good idea to minimise speed-reducing drag by choosing a suit that fits snugly and doesn’t flap in the wind.

Practicalities

Ideally you’ll wear one outfit for the whole race, rather than getting changed in T1 or T2. You’ll also want to think about how you might perform body functions (i.e. toilet trips) on-the-fly—with a two-piece suit making toilet trips a lot easier; as well as whether you need pockets to carry any nutrition, and where on the suit you prefer them to be located.

Coverage

Think about the weather conditions, sun protection and your own preferences for exposing different areas of your body. Rules exist regarding the display of body parts, with nipple or butt cheek sightings sometimes incurring the wrath of race referees. You can always layer-up if it’s cold, wearing arm warmers and a gilet on the bike for example. On the subject of coverage, remember that opaque white fabrics could quickly become transparent when wet.

Type of swim

If you are not wearing a wetsuit it makes sense to avoid suits with pockets that might collect water or looser clothing that can create drag. If it’s a non-wetsuit swim you could swim in your tri shorts (and, for women, also a sports bra) and then put a top on in T1.

In the lead at the Ironman World Championship, 2007, wearing my friend’s shorts.

Budget

If you’re watching your pennies then it can make sense to simply use a tight t-shirt, vest or cycle jersey that you can also wear in training, and only invest in a pair of tri-specific race shorts. Keep an eye open for end-of-season bargains or even, as I did, borrow from a friend. Indeed, I won my first Ironman and the 2007 World Championship in a pair of shorts that I borrowed from a teammate. It was a long-term rental as I still have them!

Ensure you give your race wardrobe a few practice swim/bike/runs, and wash it to soften the fabric and seams. One last thing about tri-attire, don’t worry about what you look like. Athletes come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s clothing to suit all body types. As I said, it’s a race course not a catwalk so dress for your own success, hold that head high and go out there and strut that swim/bike/run stuff.