I get a lot of questions from beginner racers on my "Ask the Expert" column on Adventure Sports Online. I like to help out as many as I can, but it is difficult to reply to everyone.

“A first time racer, and a first time race makes for a jolly good time.”

  This article started with a single question that was submitted to my "Ask the Expert" column . The question was "What order do the one-day race events typically go in - bike, run, kayak/canoe?" The answer that I gave sparked somewhat of a conversation with a soon to be first time adventure racer, Mandie. I answered the question in a general manner since I didn't know which race she was doing. The email conversation that followed resulted in an outline of information that I think will be very useful to other first time, and even beginner racers.

In this article I will include the questions and answers, and follow them up with some of Mandie's own observations about what she learned.

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