This weekend I’ll be heading back to Blenheim Palace for the Supertri Sprint Triathlon and it feels a little bit like coming home.

Not because I’m expecting any kind of spectacular performance (let’s keep our expectations realistic), but because Blenheim is where I completed my very first triathlon back in 2014.

I can still remember how nervous I was that morning. I was convinced everyone else knew exactly what they were doing while I was making it up as I went along. I worried about whether I’d packed everything, whether I’d remember where I’d racked my bike and whether I was fit enough to even be there.

Looking back now, I realise almost every first-timer was probably having exactly the same thoughts.

Twelve years later, I’ve completed plenty of triathlons and learned that most of the things I worried about never actually mattered. So, if you’re taking on your first triathlon this season, here are a few things I’d love you to know before race day.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

One of the biggest things I wish I’d known before my first triathlon is that nobody is born knowing how transitions work, how to put on a wetsuit gracefully or where exactly to pin a race number.

Every single person on that start line had a first race.

I distinctly remember standing in transition before my first triathlon looking around and assuming everyone else knew exactly what they were doing. Looking back, I was probably surrounded by people having exactly the same thoughts as me.

The triathlon community is also one of the friendliest I’ve come across. If you’re unsure about something, ask. Chances are the person standing next to you remembers exactly what it felt like to be a beginner and will be more than happy to help.

Get Organised Before Race Morning

Race mornings can feel hectic enough without discovering you’ve left your goggles at home.

I still lay everything out the night before every event. Helmet, shoes, race belt, nutrition, goggles, wetsuit – everything has its place.

And despite doing this for years, I still check I’ve packed my goggles at least three times.

Some habits never change.

If you’re doing your first triathlon, a simple checklist can make all the difference and help calm those inevitable pre-race nerves.

The Swim Doesn’t Have to Be Fast

For many first-time triathletes, the swim is the part that causes the most anxiety.

It certainly was for me.

Open water can feel very different to swimming lengths in a pool and adding hundreds of other swimmers into the mix can be a little overwhelming.

The best advice I can give is to start steadily. Focus on your breathing, find your rhythm and remember that nobody is handing out medals for being first to the first buoy.

You just need to get through the swim feeling calm enough to enjoy the rest of your race.

Don’t Try Anything New

This is probably the most repeated piece of endurance sport advice out there, but that’s because it’s true.

Race day is not the time to test new shoes, a new wetsuit or a miracle energy gel you’ve seen recommended online.

If you’ve trained with it and know it works for you, great.

If not, save it for another day.

Your future self will thank you.

Something Will Probably Go Wrong

I don’t say that to scare you…. but…

I say it because it’s true for almost everyone.

You might struggle to get your wetsuit off. You might momentarily forget where you’ve racked your bike. You might drop something in transition.

Honestly it happens, just do not panic.

The difference between a good race and a bad race is rarely whether something goes wrong. It’s usually about how you respond when it does.

Take a breath, laugh about it and carry on.

Remember to Enjoy It!

This is the advice I’d most like to give my 2014 self.

I spent so much of my first triathlon worrying about getting everything right that I forgot to appreciate what I was actually doing.

This weekend, thousands of people will race around the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace. They’ll challenge themselves, achieve goals they’ve worked towards for months and create memories they’ll talk about for years.

That’s something worth enjoying.

Take a look around occasionally. Soak up the atmosphere. Smile at the supporters.

These moments go by far quicker than you think.

Crossing the Finish Line Changes Everything

No matter how long it takes, crossing the finish line of your first triathlon is a special feeling.

I still remember mine.

The relief, the excitement and the immediate thought that maybe I’d like to do another one.

And here I am, twelve years later, heading back to where it all started.

If you’ve got your first triathlon coming up this season, I hope you have the most brilliant day.

You won’t remember every split time or transition, but you’ll remember how it felt to cross that finish line.

Trust your training, enjoy the experience and don’t forget to look up occasionally.

Who knows? In twelve years’ time you might find yourself heading back to the place where it all started and wondering where the time went.