New to swim racing?

Nothing like taking advantage of the sunshine by swimming outside, yes it is only early May but the slight chill leaves you feeling so refreshed afterward and there are no crowds! I met a guy today who was training for his second ever triathlon. He had seen me swimming and had some questions which, by the way, I am more than happy to answer. If you do see me pool side feel free to approach me and ask away!

I will share with you now the advice I gave to this chap.

All three triathlon disciplines, swim, cycle and run have technical aspects that need to be mastered. For new comers swimming is by far the most difficult. This is why it is so important to spend the extra time on the technique as well as pure fitness. Work on counting your strokes per length and reducing them. High elbows will help induce body roll, one resultant will be increased length in your stroke and this will help reduce your strokes per lap.

There are other basics to consider which can be a big help on the day. Train in the equipment you will race in, invest in a good set of goggles, practice swimming in a cap and most importantly get a wet suit that fits. I swim in a blue seventy and it works a treat. Overall it must be a good firm fit, but not too tight. Shoulder flexibility is imperative, and this is one of the main reasons why borrowing a wetsuit is never a good idea. If it restricts movements then months of training can be wasted in minutes by poor equipment.

If you have more questions feel free to blog or e-mail.

Dan