
8 Tips for Racing Your First Full Distance Triathlon
From The TriDot Triathlon Podcast by TriDot Triathlon Training
April 6, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 341
About this episode
Coach Kurt Madden shares essential tips for successfully completing your first full distance triathlon.
A full-distance triathlon is no small undertaking, it’s one of the most demanding challenges in endurance sports, requiring serious time, discipline, and mental grit. But for those willing to commit, the payoff is extraordinary. In this episode, legendary Coach Kurt Madden joins us to break down exactly what it takes to cross your first 140.6 finish line. From building your ideal support team (coaches, training partners, medics, and even bike mechanics) to choosing the right gear for both performance and comfort, Kurt shares practical, hard-earned advice every aspiring Ironman needs. We also dive into the power of smart planning: structuring your training calendar well in advance, understanding the value of professional coaching, and strengthening your mental game to stay focused (and adapt) when it matters most. With 53 full-distance finishes (and counting), Kurt brings unmatched experience and insight. This episode is packed with actionable tips to help you train smarter, race stronger, and achieve your biggest endurance goals.
People in this episode
Host: TriDot Triathlon Training
Guest: Kurt Madden
Topics covered
- full distance triathlon
- endurance sports
- training tips
- mental grit
- support team
- gear selection
Keywords
- triathlon
- Ironman
- training
- endurance
- mental game
- support team
- gear
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: TriDot Triathlon Training
More episodes of The TriDot Triathlon Podcast
- Your Questions Answered: Maximize Your Race Schedule, Training by Heart Rate, Grit Factor, and More! · June 8, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Red Light Therapy Explained: What Triathletes Need to Know · June 1, 2026 · 1h 4m
- What Can Age Groupers Learn from Professional Triathletes? · May 25, 2026 · 1h 9m
- Triathlon Training's Biggest Lie: More Is Better · May 18, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Tackling TriDot Workouts: Runs off the Bike · May 11, 2026 · 1h 7m
- Why Training Intelligence Needs First Principles · May 4, 2026 · 1h 4m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The TriDot Triathlon Podcast podcast page.