Conquering the Swim in the Triathlon

swimmThe 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 about the requirements of this particular part of the race.

The swim happens to be a real challenge for a number of different reasons, including the fact that the swimming portion of the race is going to dictate how the remainder of the race is going to go for you. If you end up having a rather lousy swim, then you are likely also going to have troubles when it comes to getting back mentally into your original race plan. If you end up having a good swimming portion on the other hand, then what you are going to be doing is setting yourself up for a really good race.

No matter how well you end up doing on your swim, you are still going to have to contend with what are known as pre race jitters. You are also going to have to deal with the contact during the start of the swim as well, and the sheer amount of exhaustion that comes with the territory of this race. So what can you do in order to improve? Here are some tips that you may want to consider.

  • First, become confident regarding your swimming ability. You should get a swimming coach that can look after your swimming form, offering you feedback. The approach that you take here should be focusing on improvement in one or two of your greatest flaws so that you can refine your stroke. If you have access to an underwater swimming camera then you can fine tune your stroke even more by watching your performance and tweaking your swimming.
  • Practice your start. After you take a bit of a short warm up in your pool or any place else, you should allow your heart rate to return to normal and then go really hard for around 100 to 200 yards before you settle into the pace that you use for racing. This is going to allow you to get more accustomed with racing because you are normally going to go hard at first before you settle into your pace.
  • Try swimming blind. This is a good drill, involving practicing with your eyes closed. Do not try this in any place where there are other swimmers because you are likely to go off course a bit when swimming blind. This is going to help you become more in tune with your body while swimming since there is nothing to distract you.

Photo Credits: matt coats

Originally posted 2009-12-10 03:41:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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The New Generation of Biking Clothing

Many people into biking can tell you about the days when all biking clothing was made out of spandex or some other kind of material which does not breath. They will also tell you horror stories about not wearing the right clothing while biking. The good news is there are so many different kinds of clothes which are designed just for the cyclist. You will be able to find clothes which will help to protect you will they keep you safe and comfortable at the same time.

The Best Socks for Biking

One piece of biking clothing which does not get a lot of recognition is the sock. There are biking socks which are made of bamboo which elevate the comfort level for the biker to a whole new level. This is because of the unique properties bamboo brings to the table. The fibers in bamboo naturally have the ability to absorb three times the amount of moisture as cotton. This will help your feet to stay cool and dry. The other good news about bamboo socks is their natural antibacterial qualities. This will allow your feet to actually stay free from odor while you sweat.

The Comfort of Biking Pants

The pants which are designed for biking clothing have been designed to help you stay comfortable while you are in the saddle. The pad which is in the seat of the pants have been designed to provide you with a soft seat. They have also been designed to absorb moisture which will prevent you from having a moist groin area. Staying dry in the groin will not only help you to stay more comfortable, it will help you to avoid such problems as jock itch. This will make it possible for you to stay comfortable even while you are not on the bike.

Why Jerseys Are Superior to Shirts

There are a few different reasons why you should opt for biking clothing over street clothing. For one thing the biking jersey has quite a few advantages over the regular shirt. For one thing, you can unzip the biking jersey should you get hot. This will allow you to still have protection from the sun while allowing more air to get in to your torso. Jerseys also have pockets on the back which you can store things like food and extra water bottles. This will help you to stay hydrated and fueled without having to install a basket on your bike.

Good Glasses Make a Difference

Another piece of biking clothing you should not be without is not technically clothing. This is the glasses you wear. It is a good idea to wear glasses which have protection from UV rays. This will help to protect your vision while you are riding and after you are off the bike. The added benefit you get from the right glasses is the ability to protect your eyes from having bugs and other objects fly into them.

Photo Credits: tonylanciabeta

Originally posted 2010-03-12 10:13:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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