Questions from the floor

I just came across this post on another blog that I read. Of course, I had to answer it!

Hey, I'm a college senior that runs a pretty good 10k and knows how to cycle well, but doesn't really have any formal swimming training/knowledge. I plan on doing triathalons next year, and I need either some good advice to begin with, or better yet a link to the best sites that have the correct info on long distance swimming.

Thanks in advance!

Here's my response:

Hi, 

I’d suggest that rather than watching internet videos, go find a pool that does adult swim lessons. Tell the teacher/coach that you will be doing triathlons and get them to teach you proper technique – i.e. good stroke technique, swimming efficiently, bilateral breathing, etc. They can help you work on your stroke, your fitness and your endurance. I went from swimming 25m to swimming 300m nonstop after about 8 lessons. 

I’d then combine this with swimming a couple of times a week on your own. Get the swim teacher to give you some drills to work on when you swim by yourself, you can even use them as a warm up. 

The best advice I can give you is what my coach told me – swimming poorly wastes a lot of energy, which you’ll need for the bike and the run. Don’t smash yourself in the water through poor technique – learn how to swim properly and then work on the distance! If your technique is poor, you won’t swim efficiently, you’ll waste energy, and you may injure yourself. 

Once you’ve got the technique side down pat, then you can work on long distance swimming. 

Have a few lessons and then look at finding a triathlon or masters swim squad to swim with – again, the coaching feedback is invaluable and can help correct any naughty habits you pick up while swimming by yourself. I’m a hand slapper from way back, and if you know what you do that’s not quite right, you can keep an eye on it when you swim by yourself. 

All the best – have fun!