Whether walking, swimming, or running is your thing, it’s important to educate yourself safely training for races. The exact training regimen you follow will be sport-specific. Triathlon training techniques should incorporate elements from each sport to be performed during the race, while marathon training techniques will emphasize endurance in running. But there are general steps that can be taken to prevent injuries no matter what your race is this year. Check out the following tips to train safely for this year’s marathon, triathlon, or walkathon.

1. Talk with a doctor or other health professional to ensure that you don’t have any health conditions contraindicating rigorous exercise.