Just Because You CAN Doesn't Mean You SHOULD: Smart Decision Making in Triathlon and Life
In triathlon, and in life, it’s easy to get caught up in the possibilities without ever considering whether or not it’s a wise choice.
It reminds me of that famous quote from Jurassic Park: Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”- Dr. Ian Malcom
Swap out "scientists" for "triathletes," and you have a perfect summary of the most common mistake many endurance athletes make.
You see it all the time— athletes pushing beyond what their bodies are currently capable of, or training and racing while injured. They make poor training decisions, jump into races without truly knowing what’s involved, and generally bite off more than they can chew.
Like the scientists in Jurassic Park, failing to think through the long-term consequences of our decisions can lead to frustration, injury, and even burnout. Just because you can sign up for an IRONMAN, race while injured, or fuel with Nerd gummies, that doesn’t mean you should.
In triathlon, ambition is great. But unchecked ambition? That can be dangerous.
In today’s post we cover:
7 most common mistakes in triathlon
Everyday life examples for non-sporting folks
How to know if you should do something
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7 Most Common Mistakes in Triathlon
In the movie, Jurassic Park scientists had both the technology and knowledge to bring dinosaurs back to life, but they failed to consider the consequences, which leads to disaster. In a similar way, making these common triathlon mistakes can lead to frustration, a disappointing race experience, injury, or burnout.
1. Signing up for a 70.3 or Ironman as your first triathlon
It’s exciting to dream big, but triathlon has a big learning curve. There’s three different sports to learn, transitions, fueling, pacing, open water swimming, ect. Then, there’s an even bigger learning curve when going from sprint or Olympic distance up to 70.3 or IRONMAN. Skipping the foundational steps in your development as an athlete can lead to a frustrating or painful experience.
And yes, there are plenty of stories of people who’ve done an IRONMAN or 70.3 for their first triathlon, and it worked out fine for them. But is that the best plan? In my opinion, the answer is no.
I was chatting with my friend, Robin, who’s a triathlon coach. She says athletes approach her all the time with absolutely no experience in sports, and they want to do an IRONMAN… like that same year.
“I’ve noticed in the last couple of years that social media is influencing a lot of people, which is great. But it’s a perspective that comes from seeing a 1-minute reel and not understanding the depth of what it takes,” she says. “Often times, I find myself talking people out of doing an IRONMAN. It’s a harsh reality that some people might not be in a season of life to do it. Many people have the ambition, but in reality they work late nights, have kids, and both parents are working. They’re not always in a situation to have the time and support they need.”
“As a coach, I feel like it’s our duty to stoke the dream. But I’m not your best friend who will tell you that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Let’s talk about practical things.”
Better Approach: Start with a sprint or Olympic distance triathlon to gain experience before tackling long-course racing.
2. Going from 70.3 to Ironman too soon
Completing a 70.3 is a huge accomplishment, but it doesn’t mean you’re automatically ready for a full. Many athletes underestimate the additional demands- not just physical and mental, but also financial and logistics. Doubling the race distance doesn’t mean it’s twice the effort. An IRONMAN requires significantly more training hours, endurance, and recovery time than a 70.3.
So you want to do an IRONMAN. That’s a great goal! But let’s be realistic.
How long have you been competing in long-course triathlon?
How many 70.3 races have you done?
Have you done anything long distance, like riding a century?
Have you logged serious training miles over a sustained period of time to build up endurance?
Do you have an injury or weakness that needs strengthening?
Here’s the kicker for me: Have you failed spectacularly in a short-course event, yet? Because it’s going to happen at some point. It happens to everyone. You will mess up your nutrition, pacing, get a mechanical, or just have a completely awful day for no clear reason at all.
Trust me, you want this to happen at a 1-3 or even 5-7 hour event, not one that takes 11-17 hours. If you’re so new to the sport that you haven’t had the opportunity to face adversity, adjust mid-race, and really push through when everything goes to sh*t, in good conscious, I wouldn’t send you out there to do an IRONMAN.
But people will. And some do just fine. There are stories of those who go from couch to IRONMAN and survive. But what we’re talking about here isn’t if you can do an IRONMAN, it’s if you should do an IRONMAN. Ask yourself this question: Am I confident in my ability to successfully execute the best race I can, right now?
Or would I be better served to build endurance, strengthen my weaknesses, and do the best job I possibly can, 1-2 years down the road?
Better Approach: Give yourself time to build endurance, not over weeks and months, but years. Work to improve your weaknesses, build durability, and gain race experience before making the leap to IRONMAN. There’s no rush.
Read More: So You Want to Do an Ironman...
3. Racing or training while injured
I get it. You trained for months, and you don’t want to waste your entry fee. All your friends are racing, and you have serious FOMO. By pushing through an injury, you can turn a small issue (like a tight Achilles or nagging knee pain) into a serious, long-term problem that can sideline you for much longer.
Most athletes (and triathletes in particular) have a distorted view that pushing through pain is about mental toughness. Racing or training while injured isn’t mental toughness. It’s stupidity. Discomfort comes with the territory, but pain? That’s a sign from your body that something is wrong.
Better Approach: Prioritize long-term health over one race. If you can’t compete at full strength, consider deferring your entry, switching to a shorter event, or opting for a relay. Make good choices. There’s always another race.
4. Skipping rest days or not taking enough recovery time between races
More isn’t always better. Some triathletes believe that because they can train every day without a break, they should. #Nooffdays right? But the body actually gets stronger during the periods of recovery in between workouts. The workouts simply provide the stimulus. Another common mistake is not taking enough recovery time between races, or not taking a true off season. If you follow this plan, you risk injury, burnout, and your body may stop responding to training stimulus altogether.
Better Approach: Train easy when it’s supposed to be easy. Actually rest when you’re supposed to rest. Space out key races, allowing time for recovery and quality training between events.
5. Racing every weekend
Just because you can physically survive back-to-back 70.3 races or an IRONMAN + marathon + 70.3 + IRONMAN in like 3 months, that doesn’t mean your body will recover properly. Not only that, but if you’re seeking to have the best performance possible at each event, this isn’t a sustainable strategy.
If we’re talking about short-course triathlon, the same applies. You could do a triathlon almost every weekend, but is that setting you up for success? Racing is fun, but if you’re racing every weekend, then when are you actually training?
Another big mistake athletes make is not setting realistic expectations for each race. You can’t expect to PR every time you compete, so it’s important to consider your goals and structure your race season so you peak at the right time.
When planning your race calendar, think about selecting races with A, B, and C priority. Your A race is the priority. It’s the race you want to do the best at. B races are secondary events where you can shoot for a good performance, but they should be structured with a timeline that supports your A race. C races can be short-course triathlons, training opportunities, or running races that serve as fun, social events.
Read more about it here: ABC’s of Planning a Triathlon Race Season
Better Approach: Space out major races and be strategic when planning your race season. Allow time for peak fitness and proper recovery.
6. Neglecting fueling during workouts and races
Not fueling during workouts not only negatively impacts performance, but also inhibits the body’s ability to recover and adapt to training stress.
Fueling during workouts provides a great opportunity to train the gut, which is essential for a sport like triathlon. During a race, you might feel fine in the first hour without eating or drinking much, but it will catch up to you in the end. Under-fueling can lead to bonking and sub-par performance.
Also, what you eat pre and post-workout has a big impact on how well you can execute a training session and recover for the next day. Recovery is the name of the game if you’re doing multiple workouts a day, and/or high volume and intensity.
Better Approach: Have a specific fueling strategy for workouts. During a race, fuel early and often to keep your energy stable and ensure you can go the distance.
Read More: 5 Costco Carb Snacks for Athletes
7. Skipping swim training because you “just have to get through it.”
Some triathletes avoid swim training, thinking, “If I can just get through the swim, I’ll be fine on the bike and run.” This is a distorted view of how triathlon works, which you can justify if you don’t like swimming. Sadly, it’s not reality.
In a triathlon, each discipline builds upon the next, so you can’t think about them in isolation. You can’t bike to your potential if you’ve exhausted yourself during the swim. You can’t run to your potential if you’ve used up all your energy on the bike, because you came out of the swim exhausted.
Swim fitness is bike fitness is run fitness.
Better Approach: Respect all three disciplines. Building endurance and confidence in the water makes for a more successful race experience.
Read More: Swim Smart, Swim Fast: 10 Essential Triathlon Tips
Where This Happens in Everyday Life
The difference between “can” and “should” is essentially having the freedom to do something versus it being the right thing to do. And it’s not just in sports; we face this question in life as well.
It comes up in situations when you need to make a judgement call. You might have to decide between doing something that feels good in the moment versus something that’s better for you in the long-term.
Taking on too much at work – Just because you can stay late, take on extra projects, and say yes to everything doesn’t mean it’s good for your health or career in the long run.
Buying a house/car you can’t afford – Just because the bank says you qualify for a big loan doesn’t mean it’s a wise financial decision.
Pushing through exhaustion – Whether it’s staying up late, overcommitting to social plans, or skipping rest, we often prioritize doing at all costs.
Excessive partying, drinking, gambling- Short-term pleasure over long-term consequences
Overcommitting to volunteer positions- Whether it’s your kid’s PTA or your local triathlon club, you have to weigh the benefits of your involvement, versus the cost of dedicating your time to something that might not give you much in return.
How to Know if You Should do Something
Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but it’s not always easy to make.
Before making a big decision in triathlon, ask yourself:
Am I physically ready? (Not just surviving the distance, but racing to your potential.)
Am I mentally prepared for everything this challenge entails?
Will this decision support my long-term growth as an athlete?
Am I signing up for this race because I want to or because I feel like I should?
Triathlon is about longevity, not just checking boxes. Ambition is great, but only when paired with smart, strategic decision-making.
Instead of asking yourself “Can I do this?” start asking, “Should I?” The right answer will set you up for long-term success.