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Hugh M. Ray III graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law more than two decades ago. Since then, he has built a successful career as an attorney focused on commercial litigation and bankruptcy, and serves as a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP. Outside of work, Hugh Ray III competes in triathlons and finished a 70.3-mile Ironman race.
Triathlon transitions, the time when racers switch between biking, running, or swimming, can be responsible for adding several minutes to racers’ time. Fortunately, they can be shortened through practice and preparation.
When practicing, triathletes should focus largely on changing out of their swimming gear. Removing a swim cap, goggles, and wetsuit may sound simple at first, but when working in a hurry, people are more prone to accidentally poking their eye or pulling their hair. They can also get twisted up in their wetsuit, thus forcing them to slow down and spend more time in the transition. It’s also important that triathletes practice other aspects of their transitions as well, such as putting on and taking off a helmet and putting socks on over wet feet.
In terms of preparation, triathletes must familiarize themselves with the transition area and where their items are placed during the race. Knowing what their set-up station looks like and where it might be is a key part of getting to the area faster and starting the transition sooner. Further, knowing where the transition area boundaries are is important, because some events do not allow racers to start biking or running until they are out of the transition zone completely.
Hugh Ray III 
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