Firsts are exciting!

Your first triathlon. Your first 70.3. Your first Ironman. Or… your first TT or gravel race after years of racing triathlon only, or a marathon on its own - even if you’ve done one in a 140.6. Firsts are exciting!

We’ve even seen folks do long course for years before completing their first sprint or oly, or a seasoned ultra runner truly racing a 5k.

Each type of event has its place in racing. Even if it’s shorter than what you’ve done, it doesn’t mean anything is a “less than” or a “just.” Shorter doesn’t always mean easier- each event takes a different skill set to do well!

No matter the distance, the type of event, or what has been previously completed, firsts should be celebrated. And a nice bonus here- each first is a PR 😉

Each distance and event type has its own different vibe, new rules to remember and new intensities & discomfort levels to get used to working in.

Giving yourself a new “first” is a good way to keep racing fresh, especially if you’ve been at the sport a long time. Exploring new event types and distances- even terrains- keeps us challenged and often gives us a fresh perspective on racing when we go back to our “normal.” Switching it up gives us access to another gear we may not have known we had, whether that’s endurance for a bigger distance or a huge push in a sprint.

So find a new first- if it both excites you and scares you, it’s probably the right thing to try!