The Best Gear for Duathlon Training and Racing

When training for my duathlon, the shorts-and-shirt combo I found most comfortable was The North Face’s Summit Series High Trail Run T-shirt paired with Janji’s AFO five-inch short. The T-shirt is made with a breathable and moisture-wicking 100-percent polyester fabric, and a split hem and raglan sleeves give it good freedom of movement.

Like the High Trail Run shirt, Janji’s AFO Middle short is lightweight and breathable, and it’s designed to prevent chafing during high-intensity activities.

Of course, I topped off my running look with a cap from Ciele, like all the cool kids do. It’s breathable, and it keeps the sun out of my eyes and my hair tamed without retaining too much heat.

The fit was just right for my foot, which is pretty standard (not wide or narrow, not a high arch or a flat one, though I do appreciate a bit of room in the toebox), and they offered a great balance of performance and comfort for runs of varying lengths.

I preferred the Endorphin Edge on particularly muddy and chunky trails, as it offered plenty of grip. The Carbitex carbon plate built into the shoe also offered lots of energy return and snap when combined with the Pebax foam in the midsole.

Although its taller stack height gave me some trouble on uneven trails, the Vectiv Pro performed well on mixed surfaces and smoother, buffed-out terrain. As soon as I took my first strides in this shoe, it instantly felt like a super shoe, and that cemented it as one of my favorites. It was supremely comfortable, and the carbon plate gave it a snappy feel at faster cadences.

With transition speed in mind, I laced up my Vectiv Pros with Caterpy laces, which are elastic locking laces that allow you to slip your shoes on and off without needing to tie and untie them.

In addition to the Vectiv Pro, I ran in the Speedland GS:TAM on smoother trails and mixed terrain. The shoe has a unique shape, and it’s unlike anything else I’ve run in to date. It’s somewhat wide, but the drop-in insole actually takes up some of that volume on the inside of the shoe. It runs a touch small, so keep that in mind when looking to purchase. The combination of plush-yet-responsive foam and the Carbitex carbon plate in the midsole gave me the speed and comfort I was after.

For carrying my phone, fuel, and hydration, I ran with The North Face’s running vest from the Flight Series. The one I used isn’t available anymore, but the Summit Run Race Day Vest 8 is nearly identical. It has tons of pockets to store everything you need on longer runs, including space for two 250ml HydraPak Soft Flasks.

For longer runs, I carried two of these bottles in my running vest. Their soft and flexible design made them unobtrusive to carry in the front of my vest. They’re also far easier to clean than a hydration bladder (which my running vest also has space for), and I found that they stayed colder longer as they weren’t in direct contact with a large portion of my back.

For sunglasses, I trained using Oakley’s new Corridor in either the Prizm Road or the Prizm Trail version depending on the surface I was running on. They offered plenty of coverage and sun protection while still allowing enough airflow to keep my face from getting too sweaty. The optics are superb. Oakley’s Prizm tech works by filtering out certain bands of light and allowing others to pass through (the exact mix depends on which lens you choose). The Prizm Trail lens, for example, uses this light filtering to boost contrast and color so you can see trail nuances more clearly.

To keep track of all my running workouts, I used the Suunto 9 Baro fitness watch. It comes packed with an incredible battery that will run for days while tracking, and it also features highly accurate elevation data, which I found super useful on trail runs. Plus, it connects directly to Strava and can auto-upload my workouts. Did it even happen if it isn’t on Strava?

Chief among that set of gear is Wahoo’s Kickr smart trainer and Systm training platform ($129/year subscription). The Kickr is a direct-drive smart trainer that connects to the Systm platform (or Zwift, if you prefer) and allows you to ride structured workouts. I selected a training plan in the Systm app designed specifically for a duathlon, rode a series of fitness tests to get a baseline fitness level, and then the program took it from there. I can say unequivocally that I’m in the best riding shape of my life thanks to this setup.

I also added Garmin’s HRM-Dual heart rate monitor to the mix so that I could keep an eye on my heart rate zones. This came in handy when cross-training with running, as I could easily stay in a specific heart rate zone as prescribed by my training plan.

Pro tip: Have plenty of chamois cream on hand. I can’t recommend it highly enough for indoor training. It sounds silly, but there’s something about the stationary position of the bike on the trainer that makes chamois cream an absolute necessity. I find that because the bike isn’t moving underneath you, and because you aren’t standing and shifting your position nearly as often as when riding outdoors, chafing and saddle sores are much more likely on a bike trainer. To avoid irritation, I swear by Athlete Performance Luxury CC.

There are a few things real-world riding requires that virtual riding doesn’t. For one, you’ll need a helmet that will protect your head and offer plenty of breathability. POC’s Octal MIPS fits the bill. In addition to checking those two boxes, it’s also very aerodynamic, and that’s a big asset. On race day, every watt you can save through drag reduction could be the difference between standing on the podium and watching from the sidelines. In addition, the Octal also has a great resting place for my sunglasses, so I can easily take them off and store them if I need to while riding.

After giving it a lot of thought, I finally landed on my Specialized S-Works Recon gravel shoes for my race day kicks. They have Boa closures, so I can put them on and tighten them quickly, but they don’t have the pop-out dials that allow you to undo the tension all at once, like some other Boa shoes do. It’s not a huge issue, but it is something I’ll have to make up for in technique when taking my shoes off in the transition from the bike to the second trail run.

As for my tires, I’m still not sure I made the right decision. Without pre-riding the course, it’s a bit of a toss-up. I eventually opted for Continental’s 40mm Terra Trail, which rolls reasonably fast and has enough tread and shoulder knobs to keep me upright if the terrain gets dicey.

For race day, whether you’re doing a duathlon, triathlon, or some other multi-sport event, you’re going to need a triathlon suit. Triathlon suits are designed to be comfortable whether running, cycling, or swimming. I opted for Roka’s Gen II Elite Aero Short Sleeve Tri Suit. The name is a mouthful, but it fits me well and has a chamois pad that’s comfortable enough for gravel cycling and minimal enough stay out of the way when trail running. It strikes the perfect middle ground for my duathlon.

A number belt is another racing necessity. No need to spend a ton of money here; they're all effectively the same. These belts allow you to attach your race number so it’ll stay put throughout the whole race—without using safety pins. After all, who wants to put pinholes in a nice new triathlon suit?

Lastly, it can be helpful to have a super absorbent towel on hand during the transitions of the race. It’s not only ideal for soaking up sweat, but it can also be an easy way to find your bike or shoes when you come into the transition zone. I like PackTowl’s personal towels in the body size—they come in a variety of easily identifiable colors and patterns.