Planning and Preparing for your Swimming Triathlon

swimmer1Make sure that you plan long ahead of time by making a list of the materials that you are going to need in order to participate in the swimming portion of your triathlon. Here is a list of basic supplies that you are going to need for your training regimen and the race itself.

  • Swimsuit
  • Cycling shorts or racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Cap
  • Anti-Fog Drops
  • Wetsuit (In races where it is allowed)
  • Lubricant (Anti-chafing)
  • Water Bottle for pre-race hydration
  • Watch or heart monitor
  • Plan for using all of these items

Training Tips:

Make sure that you are not overdoing your swimming workouts. For most triathlete participants, an adequate workout is between 30 minutes and 60 minutes, and you can have one workout per week that is 75 minutes to 90 minutes if you want a long and straight swim.

In order to set a goal time for your swimming, you need to determine what your threshold swimming pace is for 100 meters of swimming, then add 5 % or 10 % to accommodate navigation issues and also to compensate for a lack of walls, and then multiply that amount by the distance of the race. This time should be generally pretty accurate barring any strange occurrences such as being kicked in the stomach by a passing swimmer.

You need to learn how to swim smart, and you need to learn how to make yourself as efficiently as possible through the practice of good swimming technique. While improvement is capable of being measured by creating faster times, it is also capable of being achieved through the same amount of elapsed time by having to put less effort forth or having a lower heart rate. This will leave you with more reserves for the biking and the running legs of your triathlon competition, and it will allow you to result in a faster race time over all.

When you arrive at the site of the race, and you have finished setting yourself up for the race, you should head for the swimming part of the course and spend some time warming up. As you begin to do some swimming, you should be looking around for any navigational landmarks that are all around you. Think about where the sun is and make sure that it will not provide you with any swimming difficulties. Are your goggles, wetsuit and cap feeling okay, or do adjustments need to be made before the race is ready to begin?

Now you can line up for the start. Line up toward the front of the pack on the outside. You can drift back to your own pace more easily rather than having to work your way through a thick mass of swimmers and their splashing, after all.

Photo Credits: eric.surfdude

Originally posted 2009-08-07 05:55:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • snailHow to get to the Finish Line There are many different reasons that a person may decide that they would like to compete or participate in a triathlon, do one of the multiple types of cycling, swimming or running and more. These are all activities that many people find enjoyable but are also all activities that take......
  • strengthtrainingStrength Training for Triathlons Strength training is a vitally important part of your training program when you are a triathlete. Maximizing the quality level of your workout is going to need to be a prime objective if you want to develop a strength training program that is going to help you improve your performance.......
  • caloriesTriathlon Nutrition Tips When it comes to triathlon competitions such as the Iron Man, fitness alone is not going to be guarantee enough that you are going to win. It is absolutely vital that you develop good nutrition habits as well. This is one of the most important parts of planning for the......
  • biketrainingTriathlon Training 101 Are you planning on training for your first triathlon? This is not an easy task for anyone to master if they do not know the ropes. There are three completely unique disciplines that are involved, and you are also going to need to be lifting weights and training in other......
  • cyclingCycling Glossary A good part of understanding your triathlon training and performance is having a grasp on the lingo. Here is a guide to cycling terms that you should know in order to get the most out of your experience. Aero Bar - An aero bar is a type of handlebar that......
Online Stores

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 commonly results in a major drop in performance. Another term used to describe this situation is “hitting the wall”.

BOP – This is an acronym used to refer to Back of the Pack.

BPM - This is an acronym used to refer to Beats Per Minute.

Brick – This is a combination type of workout including a bike and a run that are back to back. This can also describe any combination of triathlon events where there is less than a total of ten minutes between each of the sports.

Cadence - This is another word used to refer to RPM.

CD – This is an acronym used to refer to Cool Down.

Century – This is a term that is used to refer to a bike ride for a total of 100 miles.

Chain Suck – This is a term that describes a situation where the chain does not disengage from the front chain ring’s bottom teeth. The teeth snag on the chain, carrying it up and around the ring so that it winds back on itself, jamming in the process.

Chamois Butter – This is a clean lubricant that is used with cycling shorts to make bike riding more comfortable while reducing the chance of getting saddle sores.

Crit – This is another word that is used to refer to Criterium.

Criterium – This is a kind of bike race held on a course of less than 3 miles that is often run on city center streets that have been closed off. The length for the race is either determined by a total time or a number of laps.

Deca – This describes a 10x Ironman distance, which is a 24 mile swim, a 1120 mile bike and a 262 mile run. There have also been 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 15x and 20x distances which have been raced in the past.

DFL - This is another word used to refer to Dead (Expletive) Last

DNF – This is another word used to refer to “Did Not Finish”.

DNR - This is another word used to refer to “Did Not Race”

DNS - This is another word used to refer to “Did Not Start”

Dolphin Dive - This is a technique that is used for getting through shallow water when it is more efficient than attempting to wade. It involves doing shallow, short drives, then standing up, and continuing this process until you reach water that is deep enough to swim in.

Dolphin Kick - This involves beating the legs together in unison while swimming with the face down, and it is used primarily with the butterfly.

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • bikingFirst Triathlon Fashion for Women Dressing for your first triathlon can be a challenge. It's easy enough to dress to go running, but you'll be cycling and swimming, too, so do you choose one outfit for all three races, or change each time? The time you take between events counts toward your overall time so......
  • packingTriathlon 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......
  • swimmerSwimming in Your Triathlon The first leg of every triathlon is going to be the wettest, but it really also should be the most relaxed and the most enjoyable leg of the race. If you experience a good swim, then the rest of your race is going to be good as well regardless of......
  • Busselton Half IronmanThe Growing Popularity of the Half Ironman Triathlon The Ironman is a competition which is reserved for only the most in shape individuals. People aspire to be able to compete the competition, but do not believe they have the level of fitness required to complete the challenge. This is why the half Ironman triathlon has been growing in......
  • bikingPreparing For your Triathlon With the Right Gear Most people who are facing the concept of their first triathlon are wondering what type of gear and equipment will best suit them. Depending on your skill level, your budget and what equipment you currently own, your needs for the right gear will certainly be difficult. Assuming that budget is......
Online Stores
amount of time athlete bicycle bikes Bike Shop budget cadence capabilities choose one competitions cyclists distances endurance finish line fitness goggles handlebars ironman legs money muscles pace pair of shoes pool runners running clothes running shoes shape socks sprint stamina stroke swimmers training regimen triathlete triathletes triathlon triathlon events triathlon race triathlons Triathlon Training water bottle wet suit workout workouts