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

forward in the water.Superman kickSwimming with one arm ahead of you and one arm to your side, propel yourself for a length with only your kick. Focus on being horizontal in the water, keeping a soft leg and kicking from the hips.FistsAs it sounds, swim a

way to monitor your training effort. On a scale of one to 10, a three would be a very easy session, perhaps a very easy distance swim, run or ride with concentration on technique; a seven would be a medium-intensity session; while a nine would be a

- and sometimes even in the pool when you're training. However, he's right: making friends with water could be the difference between loving every minute of a triathlon and metaphorically holding your breath until you exit the water.Triathletes from a non-swimming

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

It's no use just ploughing up and down the pool in a bid to become a more efficient swimmer. And you're probably going to need more than just a swimsuit, hat and goggles, too.Smart swimming certainly involves the element of raw determination, but a

by piranhas. Or if you see yourself as a seasoned veteran, they'll show you how it is possible to shave off the seconds without having to shave your legs.If you're training for your first triathlon, it's fine to opt for any stroke in the swim but the focus

It's no use just ploughing up and down the pool in a bid to become a more efficient swimmer. And you're probably going to need more than just a swimsuit, hat and goggles, too.Smart swimming certainly involves the element of raw determination, but a

as they try to get faster," Furniss states. "But that's actually very inefficient. Effort goes up but control goes down, leading to lots of extra resistance as they take more and more strokes." The most efficient way to swim is by slowing down. Think about

While it's perfectly normal to feel a little nervous when you first do an open-water session, you'll be surprised how quickly you'll come to enjoy swimming in the outdoors. Many centres offer coached  and supervised open-water swim sessions. It