Here are some tips for any triathlete when it comes to training and then racing in the swimming leg for any triathlon competition. The first leg for any triathlon is going to be the wettest one, and yet it should be the one that is the most relaxed and the most enjoyable as well. The swim does not have to be the hardest portion of this event, and yet it is critical that you perform well in order to correctly set yourself up for a productive bike and run.

Your swim should feel like it is a good effort and yet it should also feel relaxed, and this should be able to allow you to move confidently through the water but with the least possible expenditure of energy. The swim has to be fast enough that you can get to the bicycling portion of the race within a reasonable period of time, depending on what your personal goals are for the race at hand. The swim has to be controlled so that you maintain a feeling of confidence all throughout the leg, and you should stay positive, especially during the transition phase between swimming and bicycling.

Swimming efficiently and swimming within your own personal limits should be able to accomplish each and every one of these goals. You should design a personal training plan that allows you to do at least three or four effective swimming workouts every single week. Here are a few things that you are going to want to consider:

• You are going to want to include a warm up period and a cool down period in every one of your work outs.
• You are going to want to include some technique work for swimming in every one of your work outs.
• You are going to want to incorporate easy swimming and good effort swimming levels of exertion in every one of your work outs.
• You are going to want to participate in open water sessions whenever possible so that you can work on improving your navigational techniques in open water.
• If you plan on using a wetsuit, then you are going to want to practice in one as well so that you can experience the differences between wetsuit swimming and swimming without a wetsuit prior to the day of the race.
• You are going to want to make a list of all of the items that you are going to need for the entire swimming portion of the race, including what you need before the race, during the swimming leg of the race and during the transition phase between the swimming leg of the race and the bicycling leg. This will help you prepare for training and for the big race day as well.

Now go swimming!

Photo Credits: KWentin

Originally posted 2009-12-03 03:35:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Keeping a Triathlon Schedule to Improve Performance When training for a triathlon, it has been proven a good triathlon schedule will help you to improve your performance. This is because you will be able to create a good training plan and make sure you are able to stick to your plan. You can decide on which days......
• Triathlon Terms part 2 Here is a brief glossary of terms used in triathlon training and triathlon racing. Bonk - This describes a situation where you suddenly begin to lose energy and a level of fatigue sets in. This is typically caused by depleted glycogen stores within the liver and the muscles, and it......
• Conquering the Swim in the Triathlon The majority of the athletes that are participating in triathlons actually have a fair bit of reservation when it comes to the race's swimming portion. Even good swimmers still have reservations regarding the swimming leg of the triathlon event, and it would be crazy not to be a little worried......
• Triathlon Terms Here is a brief glossary of terms used in triathlon training and triathlon racing. 70.3 - This term is used to describe a Half Ironman race distance, which is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike an 13.1 mile run. 140.6 - This term is used to describe an......
• Triathlon Packing Checklist Are you a new triathlete or someone that has been around the track a few times? Whether you are brand new or have been doing this for a while, you should have an appreciation for how nice it is to have all of your gear packed up and ready to......

Related Websites

• Debt Consolidation Tips If you're swimming in a sea of debt and trying to figure out how to keep your head above the water, one of the easiest ways is to consolidate. However, the actual process of consolidation can be confusing and it is all too easy to make mistakes that will end......
• Working Out with Your Dog Both you and your dog need exercise in order to live long, healthy lives. You can kill two birds with one stone by adapting a workout routine that works for both you and your four legged companion. There are a wide variety of different ways that you can work out......
• Sailing Smart By Buddy Melges, Charles Mason with illustrations by Ted Brennan If you have ever thought about sailing, this is a book that you absolutely must read before ever setting foot on a lake. You’ll learn everything there ever was to know about sailing techniques as well as plenty of other useful information that may keep you safe out on the......
• Michael Phelps Edition of Sunday Money Madness Good morning! How is everybody's Sunday fairing? There were several amazing wins during the Olympics this past week. Don't you agree? Two swim races at least with only one one-hundredth of a second margin from first and second place. Wow! Remember a while back when I wrote about money......
• Guide to Measuring and Marking Tools pt 4 Dividers - The divider is designed in order to draw circles or arcs on a designated work piece. The divider is typically made out of steel and it has sharp points that are capable of marking metal or wood. Dividers are also commonly used in order to transfer distances between......

Online Stores

• Plan Lute String Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Proline Swimming Pool Filters Pool Parts & Maintenance Pools & Spas Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Triathlon Women Wetsuits Surf Store
• Canteens Personal, Field Gear Surplus Militaria Collectibles
• Swimming Weighted Vests Strength Training Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Swimming, Triathlon Tips, Triathlon Training

Tags:

confidence, exertion, navigational techniques, open water, period of time, personal goals, personal limits, personal training, sessions, swimming workouts, transition phase, triathlete, wetsuit, work outs