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

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

Do you fly through transition with practised ease or are you a fumbler, juggling your gels as you struggle to find your second sock?One thing that's sure to help you slash seconds off your race time is a smooth and fast transition from swim to bike

Keri-Anne Payne's name is synonymous with open-water swimming. She won silver in the gruelling 10km marathon swim at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, when open-water made its Olympic debut.With London 2012 quickly approaching, Keri-Anne is predicted