Swimming Tips for Beginner Triathletes
Beginner’s Guide to Triathlon Swimming
Don’t struggle through the first leg of your first triathlon by not being prepared for the swim portion. Use these beginner swimming tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years that will help improve your swim technique during your triathlon to help you hit the water with confidence.
Practice Your Breathing
Breathing comes naturally during the bike and run portions, but you need to practice this during your swim training to progress as a swimmer. As your body rotates back and forth, breathe out steadily when your head is underwater to get into a rhythm you are comfortable with. Practicing this will help ensure you are not out of breath at the end of the swim. Holding your breath will create a lot of tension in the upper body and restrict your arms during the swim.
Take Your Time
Practice on your own to begin with. Use this time by yourself to work on technique and breathing to become comfortable in the water. Set yourself up for success on the morning of your upcoming tri by taking your time and easing into your swim sets. Think of it this way: quality over quantity.
Keep It Short and Sweet
You don’t need to do long, strenuous workouts to build your skill in the water. You also don’t want to wait too long in between each swim, you will lose the progress you’ve made on your technique. Ease into your swim training by not overwhelming yourself with long workouts. Stick to short, repetitive sets that will keep you feeling confident in the water. Manage what you can with your schedule, but your goal should be to hit the pool every other day.
Swim With Others
Once you feel comfortable with your own abilities in the water, get out and practice with other athletes to really get a feel for what you will experience on race day. A Master’s Swimming Program is always a great way to get with other athletes that share your goal of improving in the water. Use this time to get used to being close to other swimmers, while also counting your lengths to see what your pace will be like on race day. If you aren’t happy with your pace, adjust your pool training around that until you see the results you want!
If you’re a beginner triathlete, mastering these basic, essential swimming tips` will not only make you feel more at ease starting the race, it will also set you up to perform better during the remaining two portions of your tri. Like most other triathletes, swimming probably isn’t your favorite leg of a tri. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin prepping. With this as your guide, get ready to tackle the swim like a pro on the morning of your race.
