Lucy Owen asked the question of What do we do if something goes wrong?

Firstly, if the triathlon / cycling gods wish to test you then they will test you. It’s not worth stressing about as at times there’s nothing we can do for factors outside our control. BUT what can control is your mind set and then strategy to get back into the game.

Here’s a few basic ‘helps’ which might help prevent that melt down.

Forgetting something: nothing worse than getting into transition and realising you have forgotten something – helmet, goggles etc. Use a check list prior to packing to leave the night before. This will ease any stress that you have forgotten something. Have spares – goggles, cap, elastic laces, suit – even wheel just in case. You can then take a deep breath and move on.

Swimming: common stressors, goggle strap snapping – so carry either spare goggles or a strap. Goggles come off. Practise swimming in the lake with either no goggles or close your eyes in the pool and open then when you breath / site. This will make this feeling less bad. Elite athletes do this all the time so so should you. Non wetsuit race – very rare over here but at the end of a swim session in the lake – do a lap without your suit.

Biking: flat tire is the most common concern. Either carry spare inner tube etc or gas canister. I don’t bother myself. I’ve accepted it as part of racing that I might get a puncture so if it happens I go ‘well there’s nothing I can do’. Reduce the risk by accepting the possible chances of a flat. In a key race I would carry a spare inner tube & Gas. It it was the worlds then yes

Running: someone taking your shoes – this this can happen so what about a second part in your kit back in transition.

The mind: if you think about the possible situation that might cause you stress and visualise you changing that tire or swimming without goggles then you won’t have so much stress when it happens