10 Things to Do at the End of Triathlon Season

Written by
Gale Bernhardt
You're closing in on your last triathlon of the season, or maybe you've already finished your final race. At this point, some people want a break. Others are still raring to go despite no races on the horizon. We have a few suggestions for both types of people, as well as a couple chores that your future self will thank you come next season.
Century Ride
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Fall is a fantastic time to do a century ride, and there are plenty of rides to choose from around the country or even the world. If you've never ridden your bike 100 miles, challenging yourself to a century might be the right spark for your fall fitness needs. Those that have completed century rides before can ride socially or competitively. A social ride might include a group of buddies that have decided to ride together through the entire distance. For those who've conquered the century and are in need of a competitive challenge, try riding to achieve a fast time.
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Clean your wetsuit.
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It's so easy to arrive home after your last race, ball up your wetsuit, stick it in your tri bag and forget about it until next season. But you'll be cursing yourself in a few months when you pull out the cracked and smelling suit and are forced to drop a couple hundred on new digs. Take 30 minutes out of your ample off time to clean your wetsuit and store it properly.
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Read a book.
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With two-a-day workouts, work and races on the weekend, it can be hard to squeeze in things like reading into your busy schedule. Take this newfound downtime as an opportunity to read that newly released novel you've been itching to get your hands on, or check out that autobiography of your favorite comedian you can't get enough of. No matter your taste, the offseason is the perfect opportunity to throw on the cozy socks, grab a throw blanket, rest your muscles and enjoy a good read.
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Sign up for a time trial.
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Like with USA Triathlon, you don't have to be an Olympian to sign up for a USA Cycling race. Most triathletes are leery of entering a road race or criterium for their first cycling event, but time trials are not as intimidating and are a great way to get your feet wet. Time trial distances are often in the 20K to 40K range. To find a USA Cycling time trial near you, check USACycling.org or search for time trials on ACTIVE.com.
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Catalogue your gear (and throw out anything past its due).
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The end of the season is a great time to take an inventory of all the gear you have accumulated over the season, identify what's still good to go for next year and throw out anything that's past its prime. If you want to get really ambitious, go ahead and make a wish list of the things you might need for next season. The holidays are right around the corner after all.
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Spend time with family and friends.
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You probably turned down a plethora of happy hours and family outings because you had to train or wake up early the next morning. The offseason is your chance to make up for all that lost family and friends time. Do something special for your loyal race sherpa, hand out with your new little nephew or hit up the next happy hour with the work gang because, chances are, you'll go back to being MIA come next season.
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Run a 5K, 10K or half marathon.
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Similar to century rides, there are plenty of running races in the fall and winter. You may want to challenge yourself to a longer distance than you've previously achieved. Or perhaps you want to try to run fast. Either way, training for a run-only event is a nice change, and bolstering your off-season run speed might make a difference in your next triathlon.
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Run a 24-hour team event.
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Most team relays involve 10 to 12 people. Depending on the race distance and specifics, members on the team will typically run three times. The total run distance for each team member changes from event to event, but it's usually anywhere between three to eight miles per leg. The bottom line: Running for 24 hours with friends and co-workers is a surefire recipe for great fun and great stories.
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Go on a vacation (not a race-cation).
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Yeah, we said it. You may have forgotten, but a simple vacation is when you travel without your bike, wetsuit and tri bag. Sometimes, you don't even utilize the hotel gym while you're there. Take this time away from hardcore training to enjoy the beach, go skiing in the mountains or visit someplace new.
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Participate in a swim meet.
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Swim meets aren't just for kids. U.S. Masters Swimming hosts all kinds of swimming events throughout the year. You can do a distance race like the 400 or 1500 freestyle, or—gasp!—consider doing alternate strokes such as backstroke, breaststroke or the Individual Medley. Many swim meets have relays as well. There are traditional relays such as a 4 x 100 freestyle where each member swims 100 yards. There are also fun relays like 4 x 25 feet first. Each relay member floats on their back and then propels themselves toward the other end of the pool—with their feet leading the way. That builds skills!
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Find:
Your Next Triathlon