Let's Do This Team's Top 2025 Event Picks

Why you should sign up to your first triathlon, and why “I can’t swim” isn’t an excuse not to.

Triathlons are fast becoming the new craze, for good reason:

• Your chance of injury is far lower during triathlon training compared to half marathon or marathon training.
• Triathlon training is far more varied and therefore more enjoyable than single-event training. Don’t feel like running today? Go for a ride instead!
• Triathlon training turns you into an all-round athlete.
• Triathlons are really fun (I promise).

And yet, people are constantly finding excuses not to sign up to their first triathlon. Here are six triathlon myths busted.

1. The swim is scary

Triathlon swim starts are only scary if you put yourself right at the front of your swim wave. If you are not a confident swimmer (and don’t want to accidentally get punched in the face), place yourself at the back of your wave and wait 10–15 seconds after the start gun before starting to swim. You’ll have your own space and will be able to relax into your swim quickly.We recommend choosing an event with a pool or lake swim (rather than a sea swim) to begin with.

2. I can’t swim for that long

The swim is by far the shortest leg of a triathlon. In an Olympic (Standard) Distance Triathlon, you’ll spend approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes on your bike and only about 35 minutes in the water. You can also breast-stroke (the entire time) if you need to! Trust me — you won’t be the only one.

3. I need all of the expensive gear

It’s true that you’ll need more gear for a triathlon than for a run, but it doesn’t need to make you bankrupt. Here is our recommended bare-minimum gear-list:

• Wetsuit: You can get good entry-level wetsuits for around £80. Wiggle is a good place to start.
• Swimming goggles
• Bike: You can use any type of bike for a triathlon, as long as it is road-safe. If you are keen to get a road bike, entry-level road bikes from decathlon are surprisingly good value for money, at around £300.
• Cycling helmet: This is mandatory for triathlon events. You can buy cycling helmets just about anywhere.
• Tri-suit: Tri-suits are handy because you can wear them for all three legs of a triathlon, which will save you time in transition. You can get them as a one-piece or two-piece for as little as £40 on wiggle.
• Running shoes
• A number/bib belt: These are used to hold your race number and cost very little.

** Optional extras **

• Cycling shoes and pedals: There are two main options for these — SPD-SL or SPD. Both of these are fine, but make sure you buy the correct shoes to match the pedals. For beginners, we recommend using SPD (mountain bike-style) clips, as they are easier to clip- in and out of.

4. Transitions are confusing

Transitions (the bit between the swim and the cycle and between the cycle and the run) can be confusing to begin with, but, with a little bit of organization and practice, you can take all of the stress out of race-day.There are plenty of youtube videos with tips for practicing your transitions, and you can use triathlon towels to help organize your kit on race-day.

5. Everyone else is going to be a pro

The beauty of triathlon is that it gathers all sorts of people to participate. During a triathlon, you’re just as likely to come across someone riding a hybrid or mountain bike as you are to see someone on a 10 grand TT bike. The majority of people are there to enjoy themselves, and, no matter your level, you will fit right in.

6. Triathlons are hard

There are so many triathlon distances to choose from that there is something for everyone. The shortest option is the super sprint triathlon:Super sprint triathlon: Swim 400m / Cycle 10km / Run 2.5kmTriathlons are not as scary as you think, and they’ll help you discover new places, new friends, and new things about yourself.So… what’s your excuse?Find your next triathlon on Let’s Do This.

No matter how long you’ve been running for, it’s worth reminding yourself that the way you run matters — although of course if you’ve had running injuries in the past you’re probably well versed in them. If you’re a newcomer to the running world, you’ll work faster, more efficiently, and more safely if you make sure you have good running form.

1. Look ahead

Don’t do the natural thing and look down at the ground when you run. You want to look about 10–20 feet in front, but at the same time keep your chin tucked in. That way you’ll stay safe from passing lampposts and cars, and you’ll see the view if there is one. It also just helps in giving you better running form by straightening out your back and neck.

2. Keep yourself straight and lean forwards

Good running posture involves a straight back, low and loose shoulders, and keeping your head up without straining your neck forwards. Staying upright should open your chest and help you breathe properly. You can then lean forwards and run faster and more easily.

3. Keep your arms bent at waist height

With your hands in a loose fist, your arms should be relaxed at the waist in a 90 degree angle. Let them swing back and forth from the shoulder joint (rather than the elbow) and avoid letting them cross your body. Their movement should help push you forward without being out of control.

4. Keep yourself loose and relaxed

Staying loose is key to preventing tension. If your shoulders start rising towards your ears or your fists begin to clench just shake yourself out whilst running. Especially if you’re running downhill you should let your arms loose to stabilise your movement.

5. Try to land in the middle of your feet

If you land on the front of your toes you’re putting your calves to work and you’re more likely to get Shin Splints. It’s also a pretty inefficient way to run as it will encourage bouncing. But if you land an your heel you’ll slow yourself down and risk Runner’s Knee. So landing in the middle of your foot and rolling onto your toes is the best way forwards (literally). If you’re struggling, barefoot running naturally guides you to landing in the middle so could be a good way to practice.

6. Keep your strides short

Long lunges are not necessary. Light, short steps will help you land in the middle of your foot. Your feet will stay beneath you rather than well in front and it will also lessen the impact of your strides. Aiming for 180 strides a minute sounds impossible — but even if it is then at least you will do more than normal so it’s worth a try.

7. Don’t bounce

Bouncing wastes unnecessary energy and makes it harsher on your knees as you have further to ‘fall’. If you keep your strides low it will also help keeping your strides short and light.

8. Keep checks on yourself

Set yourself up in the habit of checking your running posture and style. You can set yourself milestones throughout your run as monitoring reminders. If you’re running with a partner, you can both try and encourage each other. Hopefully after a while it will become second nature and you will be running as efficiently and as well as possible.

You wouldn’t go on a long drive without filling up your car with the right fuel, so why treat your body any differently? Follow these simple cycling nutrition tips to keep your wheels spinning as the miles rack up.

With cycling, as with any endurance sport, it’s important to keep your body properly fuelled before, during and after the ride itself.

Before the ride

Nutrition before a big cycling race is fairly standard and in line with the sort of things you would be eating for any other kind of endurance event.

• Keep your carb intake up. This means healthy amounts of pasta and rice and cereals to keep your energy stores stocked up during your long training sessions. You don’t want to overload your body with stodgy carbs, but a good dose of pasta will give you the energy you need to get the miles done. The idea of ‘carb loading’ is a slightly outdated concept that has been proven to impact on the quality of your sleep so don’t over-do it on the pasta.

• Hydration is key. Making sure you keep your water intake up is just as important as what you’re eating. Try and stay consistently hydrated in the few days leading up to the ride so that you don’t have to try and catch up on the day and risk losing time in toilet stops.
• Race-day breakfast.You will want to get your breakfast in 90–120 mins before you start riding. This is to give your body ample time to digest the food and get all the energy that you’ll need from it.
• Porridge is the perfect pre-ride meal, giving you the perfect level of energy, without overloading you with carbs, fats and fibre. If you’re going for a longer ride then why not add in an omelette to give you some extra slow release energy to keep you ticking over.
• Again, make sure you’re keeping hydrated. The trick is to take sips of water at regular intervals over the day.

The Race

You will start to make your way through your energy and water stores as you go around the course so make sure you keep topping these stores up.

• Keep sipping your water as the race goes on. Aim to have a sip of water every 5–10 mins so that you can aim to get through around 500–1000ml each hour depending on water stops, your build and the weather.
• Carbs need to be taken on board early and in small amounts. Although 30 mins into the ride may feel too early to start chomping down on an energy bar, 15–20km later when your legs are really starting to work, you’ll be thankful that you did.
• If you’ve got energy gels or bars with you, you’ll want to get one down you every 60–90 mins to keep your energy intake consistent and efficient. Bear in mind they are often stuffed full of sugars so don’t go crazy unless you’re planning a visit to the dentist.
• Make the most of the feed stops. Most cyclosportives will feature a feed stop around the halfway point (longer rides will have multiple stops) and make sure you stock up when you’re there. They’ll often have lots of jelly babies and flapjacks, both great stores of energy that will keep you going and going.

After the race

Recovery food is just as important for your body as pre-ride food. If you’ve paced yourself right and fuelled yourself properly then when you cross the finish line you should be pretty hungry, but not starving. If you can, get your hands on some kind of protein and carb-filled drink to really kickstart your recovery stage. This will help give your muscles what they need to start their recovery.

• Try not to get caught in the trap of ‘I burned all these calories so I can eat what I want’. Your post-ride lunch wants to be nice and healthy and have good amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. Be sensible and don’t overdo it.

If you haven’t yet been converted to realise that three sports in one can be just as good, if not better than one, then have a read and let us try our hand at changing your mind. We’d hate to think you were missing out.

1. The variety makes it interesting

If you’ve ever complained that running — or any sport for that matter — is too repetitive then you’ll find relief in signing up for a triathlon. Your training will be a switch-up of what you feel like and when. You’ll barely have the chance to exhaust yourself of one sport at all.

2. You’ve probably forgotten you like one of them

It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that you’ve not swum since school. Or not swum more than a lap on holiday at least. But as soon as you get back into it — even if it takes a while — you’ll probably remember how much fun you found it (particularly when you swim competitively). It really can be therapeutic, and if nothing else it’ll just be a change that you can enjoy from time to time.

3. Training doesn’t depend on weather

You hate the gym and it’s raining. There’s really nothing more disappointing than wanting to get rid of some excess energy by training for your running or biking event and not being able to. But with a triathlon you have to fit in swimming anyway, so there’s always good, productive exercise to get your endorphins going even when nature’s set against you.

4. It’s amazing for your body

Everyone knows exercise is good for your body. But triathlons particularly are fabulous ways to exercise. You’re unlikely to strain a muscle from overuse, because (of course) you’re never just using one muscle. You’re unlikely to risk the knee wreckage that comes from the repetitive pavement pounding of only running training. Instead, as each sport uses different parts of your body, the physical stress is distributed across different parts of your body too. And with both cycling and swimming particularly you’ll reap the benefits of such low-impact sports and protect yourself from the debilitating injuries you usually suffer from.

5. You’ll tone up even more

It’s definitely an exercise step-up from other training you’re likely to have done. It’s no mean feat training for a triathlon, but you’ll be able to see the physical effects on your body in no time. What’s more, you’ll see it everywhere. Just as there’s no one muscle you’ll overuse, no one part of your body will be targeted either. You’ll get that body you’ve been dreaming of without even really realising it.

6. The transition zones are exciting

Switching between swimming, cycling and running involves an attempt to move from one sport and one station to the next as quickly as possible. It’s almost childish how satisfying it is to try and beat your previous time for popping on your cycling shoes, clipping your helmet and finding you bike. But nobody can deny that they’re not an exciting part of the race as all your spectators cheer for you to do it faster.

7. You’ll get a completely different level of fitness

You might already be fit. But if you haven’t yet trained for a triathlon, you will be about to achieve a completely different kind of fitness. Being able to do three sports, one after the other, and for that long, is more than the methodical plodding of running. Triathlon’s are absolutely about endurance and being able to work different muscles in immediate sequence. It’ll feel great to actually just be able to keep going and you’ll probably feel it in other parts of your life too.

8. You’ll be outside even more

Open-water swimming is unbelievable. Cycling outside in the elements is overwhelmingly energising. And running in the hills can really be show-stoppingly beautiful. You won’t always be outside, but to train properly you’ll need to try your hand at some simulations of the real deal race day.

9. It’s a life achievement

You tell anyone you’ve signed up to a triathlon and it will be pretty impressive. Whether it’s written on your CV or its telling your family and friends, there aren’t that many people who have matched that kind of training and commitment. Even triathlon training itself racks up pretty amazing distances. And crossing the finish line on race day is just another amazing demonstration of perseverance and hard-work.

Tips and tricks for tackling your first marathon running race.

So you’ve decided to run a marathon. 26 miles is a very long way and not just something that can be done on a whim. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts to help you conquer this momentous challenge.

Talk to people.

You’re not the first person to run a marathon and you certainly won’t be the last! So don’t be afraid to ask someone for advice. Seasoned marathon runners will have a vast vault of tips and tricks to give you a more personal insight into the challenge you’re taking on.

Check you’ve got the right gear.

You may not think it but running equipment requires more thought than you’d think. As part of your training, you will want to work out what clothes you feel most comfortable running in.

Running shoes especially can contribute massively to your enjoyment on the run. Do lots of research to ensure that the shoes you run in have the right amount of support and are comfortable enough that you would be happy to spend 4–6 hours running in them.

Check out this handy guide on all the other equipment you may need to tackling the 26 mile beast!

Train!

Make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared. You should start your training at least 16 weeks before the big day to give your body enough time to get accustomed to running for such a distance.

Make sure you taper for 3–5 days before your marathon. You won’t lose any fitness or conditioning in this time and the last thing you want to do is go into a huge run with fatigued legs!

A short and gentle run the day before your marathon is also a good way to calm any last minute nerves and relieve any tension in your legs from your training.

Event prep.

You’ll need to make sure that you’re got all your logistics sorted before you leave the house. Do lots of research on the event website so you know exactly when and where you have to be to ensure you don’t get left behind!

Make sure you plan your travel to the start line so you can get there in plenty of time. The last thing you want to do is get to the start line with 5 minutes to spare and no time to relax and compose yourself before the big run.

Plan your run.

If your training has all gone to plan, you’ll know what sort of performance you can produce on the day. Set yourself a realistic goal and plan how you can achieve it. You don’t want to go off too fast and risk expending all energy in the first few miles of the race and then not being able to complete the run. But at the same time, you don’t want to finish the run with energy to spare. Leave everything out on the course! It also helps if you have a running buddy so you can stay with each other and keep one another on pace.

‘Don’t be an idiot in the first half, don’t be a wimp in the second’

Let's Do This Co-founder, Sam Browne

Fuel.

You wouldn’t go for a long drive without properly fuelling up your car, so don’t treat your body any differently. Running nutrition is crucial to ensuring a comfortable and sustainable run. Many runners will eat too much on the night before the run — this can be counterproductive! The trick is to have your last big meal 36 hours before the big run so that your body has time to process it and get all the energy from it.

Carbs are key. This means lots of pasta and potatoes and rice to make sure you give your body all the energy it needs to complete your marathon.

Your final dinner before the run should just be a normal balanced meal, meaning a healthy combo of protein, carbs and some fats. You’ll also want to avoid caffeine and alcohol or other drinks that will dehydrate you or interrupt your important final sleep.

Enjoy it!

And last but not least, enjoy it. The atmosphere at these events is always electric. Try not to be too nervous, you won’t be only first-timer so don’t get intimidated by all the keen beans. So just stay positive, believe in yourself and enjoy it. Good luck!

How to enjoy your run and start feeling like a runner

When I tell people I’ve just gone for a 30 kilometer run and loved it, the two most common answers I get in response are:“I wish I liked running”and“That sounds awful”.If you like the idea of running but you find running too painful, feel lethargic, or can’t get the motivation you need, here are five top tips to get you out the door and back with a big smile on your face.

1. Throw away your first mile

The biggest mistake most runners (beginners and experienced alike) make is to go too fast too soon. When you start a run, your muscles require more oxygen, but your heart and blood vessels need time to respond to the increased demand. This means that for a while, you are working anaerobically (your muscles are turning glucose into fuel without oxygen), which is an uncomfortable process.Next time you head out for a run, spend the first five or ten minutes easing into the run.

2. If you’re in a lot of pain, you’re going too fast

If you’re finding that each step is a struggle and you are simply counting down the distance back to your house, you are running too fast. Try running a little bit slower, at a pace where you can hold a thought that is not simply ‘I am tired and want to go home’. If you’ve reached the right pace, you’ll find your brain starts to wander, and, with your higher levels of endorphins, it usually wanders to very happy places.

3. Have fun with intervals

Now that you’re running at a far more sustainable pace, you can start having fun with intervals. Pick out a tree in the distance, and pick up your pace until you get there. Instead of starting at a sprint, start by lengthening your strides (taking bigger steps) and gradually picking up the pace, aiming to reach a sprint before you get to your end point. Once you’ve reached the tree, slow right back down (but try not to stop), and focus on your breathing as you work your way back to the sutainable pace you’d found before. Repeat as many or as few times as you’d like during your run.

4. Run at sunrise or sunset

There is something very magical about running as the sun is rising. As you head out, streets will be quiet, parks will be empty, and birds will be singing (yes, you can even hear birds in London if you’re up early enough!). As you’re running, the city will wake up around you, and by the time you get home you will feel like you got a little bit more of the day than anyone else. Breakfast will also taste amazing.Sunsets are fun too —try to find a hill near your house or work, and head up to the top of it to watch the sun set over your town. The run back down will feel cool and breezy, and you’ll be left with quite a high.

5. Run with pals

Everything is more fun when you’re with friends. Running with a buddy will not only motivate you to actually put on those running shoes, but if you’re talking during your run you’ll also be forced to run at a sustainable, aerobic pace, which you’ll see is far more comfortable and fun!Remember, you don’t need to run fast or far to be a runner.Slow down, ignore others around you, make the most of nature, and you’ll find yourself buzzing to get out on your next run.

Running faster is not just about training more, it’s a lot about how you train as well. So before you jump in and commit huge amounts of extra time and effort into improving your running time, it might be worth checking out some tips on the best ways to do it.

1. Do regular Interval Training

After a 5–10 minute warm-up, choose a distance between two marker points (lamp-posts, trees, etc.) and then run fast/ sprint between them. Then slow down and jog for the same distance. Recovery periods are important — focus on your breathing and try not to stop running. Interval sessions are hard work, but you’ll feel the rewards fast.

2. Do race-day pacing & fartleks to build endurance

Work out what speed you want to run your race at, and train at that pace for shorter distances, with a slower warm-up and cool-down. That way you can build endurance at your desired pace, whilst getting used to how fast it is as well. You can also do fartleks (running at different speeds throughout a run). These can be random and should help with your anaerobic breathing.

3. Learn to love the hills!

Endurance and the ability to run faster rests on core strength. Training uphill will condition your body while also force you push yourself where you might not normally. The views are (almost) always worth the climb…

4. Shorten your strides

If you can work at upping your step count to 180 per minute (or at least make headway in that direction) you’ll be making shorter, faster strides. Your feet will be lower to the ground and you will be running at your most efficient. Top tip: Spotify has running playlists with a set bpm — use these to help improve your cadence.

5. Work on your running technique

If you have good running posture it will just make it that bit easier to run faster. It will also help with injury prevention which could of course stop you training at the outset. Try landing with your foot below your hips instead of too far in front of you, and focus on pushing yourself forwards, not up.

7. Cut out those really sugary foods

We all love a post-run donut, but sugary junk food before a run will give you a high and then an unwanted low which will slow you down in the end. High-carb, low-fat, low-fiber snacks provide the best energy to allow you to run at your best. A banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter about an hour before your workout will do the trick.

8. Be prepared to push yourself

It’s pretty simple but you can’t expect to get fitter or run faster without being willing to workout a little hard. But once you’ve achieved what you’ve set out to do it all becomes worth it, so don’t give up.

Why not sign up to a race to put all the hard work to use? Find your next challenge at www.letsdothis.com

There are some things that people only know after actually running a half marathon. Other things just don’t cross anyone’s mind beforehand. So here are a few pointers that might help you avoid any unwanted surprises on race day.

1. Your running time won’t be double a 10k

Even if you’ve already completed a running event like a 10k before, don’t expect to just double your time for a half marathon. It’s a completely different kind of race, and obviously your endurance has to run out at some point.

2. Training for a half marathon doesn’t require you to have already run the whole thing

There is absolutely nothing to worry about if you haven’t run 13.1 miles in your half marathon training. It’s actually expected. If you can do between 10 and 11 miles then you will be fine.

3. Walking is fine

Walking in your half marathon is nothing to be ashamed of. You’re doing an absolute trek of a run, and you are allowed a rest at times.

4. You can go for a short run the day before (if you want)

If you have a bit of pent up energy it’s fine if you need to head out for a quick 20 minute jog the day before your half marathon. Don’t necessarily push yourself but if you think it’ll help then go for it.

5. It’s not a big deal if you don’t sleep well the night before

Most people don’t manage to sleep well when they’re nervous. So it’s likely that people have smashed their timings and races on less than a full night as well. Aim on sleeping well the night before that and you’ll be fine.

6. They’ll tell you not to listen to music

The race organisers will probably tell you that music is forbidden. But if you’re a rule abiding citizen you’ll probably kick yourself when you see everyone else with their headphones plugged in. Just be careful to take them out when road running.

7. You have to forget your ego

People will pass you. People who you don’t think ‘should’ be passing you. But you can’t let it worry you. Everyone has their own strong points in a race — especially one as long as a half marathon. Or maybe they really are just better than you or have done a bit more specific endurance half marathon training. Don’t let them dictate how fast you run though as it might jeopardise your race.

8. You’ll get to a point where it really is tough

Lots of people cite mile 10 as the marker point in a half marathon for when it gets really bad. Wherever it is for you, if you know it’s coming you can know it’s not because you’re not fit or fast enough. Remember that and push through.

9. There will be a great atmosphere

Enjoy it. It will feel absolutely amazing having people cheer you on. But at the same time try not to get carried away with it. Don’t go at a pace that you can’t manage just because the crowds are egging you on.

10. You need to think about warm clothes

Before and after it’s worth making sure you keep yourself warm. A pretty good running tip is to do a bit of charity shopping beforehand. You can throw away your outer layers as you are running. Just make sure you are met by somebody at the finish line who will give you something else to wear.