Open-water can seem daunting for even the most experienced swimmers. So an open-water masterclass with one of the best in the business, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne, was snapped up by a group of keen triathletes

and their expert support teams. Some of Speedo's most prestigious swimming and triathlon experts, from Olympic gold medallists to the coaches behind their success, will be on hand to answer your questions on selected Fridays throughout May, June and July

upper-body strength and power. Elite training tips Again, start by introducing short sessions into your training regime and gradually increase.Other swimming aids to consider when training for a triathlon are pull buoys, kick boards and fins, which all

Who better to give advice on such matters than a swimming legend, Michael Phelps, winner of six gold medals and three world records at the 2004 Athens Olympics; Terry Laughlin, a swimming guru and founder of Total Immersion (www

Wouldn't you love to sit in on one of Rebecca Adlington's training sessions, or ask the double Olympic gold-medallist's coach, Bill Furniss, for his top tips? After all, he's been working with Adlington since she was 12 years old. TW met Furniss

markers to judge your pace, but swim pacing is a tricky business. Incorporate these stroke-count and pacing sessions from Dan Bullock, coach and trainer at www.swimfortri.co.uk, into your training and learn how to master your pacing in the open water

coach at Swim Smooth (www.swimsmooth.com) says, "The longest possible freestyle stroke isn't necessarily the most efficient in all situations and for all swimmers."Jack Maitland of TheTriathlonCoach.com agrees the emphasis on increasing stroke length has

It would never previously have occurred to me to seek out external help to improve my swimming or even to have a sense of introspection about it. But now, on the cusp of my first serious triathlon season, the obvious limitations of my swimming have become

"Water is your friend," says Russian former swimmer Alexander Popov. He should know, having won four Olympic gold medals, but it's easy to feel he's talking nonsense when you're being churned about in the melee at the start of a triathlon

will have built up your swimming fitness in the pool and you should now be working to overcome the technical and mental challenges of open-water swimming.Specialist swim skillsBill Black coached the GB men's triathlon team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000