Training Tips for the Swimming Part of the Triathlon

Training Tips for the Swimming Part of the Triathlon

A triathlon tests the skills of athletes to the limit and only the fittest athletes are able to do well in all the three events of it. A triathlon comprises of swimming, cycling and running but swimming is the most difficult part of it and it sets the tone for the rest of the competition. The athletes at beginner stage seldom pay attention to the swimming part of a triathlon which is a major reason of their poor performance in the competitions. If you want to compete in a triathlon then you can increase your chances of doing well by going for triathlon swimming training as swimming will increase your stamina.

Proper training will loosen up your muscles and you will learn various techniques to preserve the energy required to complete all the three stages. If you are a beginner then the training strategy for you might be a little different than professionals as your stamina will not be up to the professional level.

Triathlon Swimming

The competition begins with swimming and time is the key here. You might think that your body is in good shape and you can make up for the lost time in cycling and running. But it is not the case as the first athlete out of the water has won 80 percent of all the triathlon competitions in the past. The swimming gear is of utmost importance, it should not be too loose or too tight.

Mass start is a common practice at amateur levels but if there are too many athletes then you might be given a start in groups after time intervals. There will be swimming marks where you will have to swim to and race will end from where it began.

Triathlon Swimming Training Tips

1) Start your training as early as possible to build your stamina as it is the most important thing in a triathlon.
2) Make sure that your body and mind is stress free. You should learn techniques to breath properly and go into the water with positive attitude. Body position is important and it will determine your swim speed.
3) You should avoid unnecessary body movements that can hinder your progress or forward movements. Keep the head movement to minimum and avoid deep kicking as much as possible.
4) Interval training is the best approach to increase your swimming speed. Break down your swimming sessions into short, medium and long rests and keep an eye on the effect these pose to your swimming time. The time should improve with continuous training.
5) Join a well reputed training centre or team up with a group of swimmers that knows all about swimming. This will increase you level of competition and encouragement from other fellows will be a boost for your confidence
6) You should consider using fins during training sessions to quickly burn the calories. This will increase your speed and will also strengthen your legs.
If you keep all the triathlon swimming training tips in mind and execute them then there is no doubt that you will not do well in a triathlon.