It is normal to have mixed feelings about the swim portion of a triathlon. Even experienced triathletes can feel nervous about the washing machine-experience that is the swim start. But with the right guidance you can make a first-class start.1
the length you're producing from one end of your stroke (outstretched fingertip) to the other (outstretched toe). The longer you let that long line stay in unbroken contact with water, the further you'll travel per stroke. Top tip: Swim an endurance set (say
tips from a keen observer will save you weeks of struggling on your own.Experts also advise beginning swimmers to forget about speed. "If you're competing in a triathlon, you can't afford to use your legs too much in the swim because you'll need them
Time not givenThe thing that kept me going - the thought of a swim, a steam and a massage on Monday!Also Paula Radcliffe's tip of counting to 100 backwards. If it works for her..... although I got through a lot more 100's than she probably does
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
, Bike and Run Training (June 17) Steve Trew, Triathlon coach Solid Gold: Training Tips from Rebecca Adlington's Coach (June 24) Bill Furniss, GB Swimming coach Race Day: How to Prepare for Big Events (July 1) Helen Jenkins, GB
to swimming in the outdoors, you can choose from goggles, masks or a hybrid. Some people like the extra feeling of protection offered by masks, while others are happy with larger styles of goggles (we've tested both types here).Whatever you choose, your open
have to deal with.If you could give just one tip for people who are new to open water swimming, what would it be?Just make sure you can comfortably do the distance in a pool and even train over that distance. That helps to give you confidence in your
sport. The best advice I could give would be to give it a go and try to enjoy it.What are your top training tips?Try and find a training buddy. The reason I love training is because I do with a group of friends. That’s what I love about the Swim
to using them.For the swimIn your training sessions try to swim the distance that you are going to complete. For a sprint distance this is 750m. Don't worry if you can't do it just yet. Make a note of how far you can swim and the time it takes you. The next
