December 9th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Tips, Triathlon Training
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 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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December 7th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming
There is a misconception with many swimmers that the stronger their body is the more powerful their swim stroke will be. While this is an important factor in your performance, it is not the most important factor. The most important factor is the manner in which you are performing your stroke. This includes paying attention to the way your hand enters the water, the way your hand moves through the water, how your legs move and the breaths you take. All of these factors are highly important to having the best performance possible.
How the Hand Enters the Water
A sloppy swim stroke is easy to see because there will be a big splash and a loud noise every time a hand enters the water. The idea is not to just get the hand in the water so you can pull. The idea is to get your hand in the water in the most effective manner possible so you can get the most out of the stroke. To start, your fingers should all be together and your hand should be stiff. Point your hand so it enters the water fingers first and thumb pointed down. This will put your hand in the perfect position to start your stroke.
The Powerful S-Stroke
Now that your hand is in the water, it is time to create the power which will propel you through the water. This is done by making sure your hand is always meeting resistance in the water. Do not simply drag your hand through the water as you will lose resistance after the first foot or two. Instead, start by pushing your hand out and down until it is just outside your shoulder. Next, draw your hand in towards your stomach and groin. Last, push your hand back out towards your hip and beyond. Your hand should come out of the water pinky first.
The Most Effective Kick
Backing the power of the right swim stroke is possible when you have the right kick. This means making sure you pay proper attention to where your legs are at all times. Your thighs should always remain as close together as possible. When your legs split apart too far, you end up creating drag. Using a floater will help you train yourself to keep your legs together. The majority of the movement will come from the knees and the ankles. The toes should always be together to create the closest you will ever come to a flipper.
Breathing Correctly
Breathing is something you normally do not have to think about. For a good swim stroke however, the right breathing technique makes all the difference. Do not take a breath every chance you get. This will cause quite a bit of drag. Instead, breathe every other stroke if possible. The longer you can go without breathing, the less drag you will create. You are better off taking a full breath when you get a chance rather than taking gulps of air.
Photo Credits: kenoncjones
Originally posted 2010-04-01 10:20:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 30th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming
Swimming is a sport which many people engage in either by itself or as a part of a triathlon. You can use it for general fitness or as a sport. Those looking for greater speed from their swimming will need to have the right swim technique. This means paying attention to your form and how you move your arms and legs while you are swimming. The better technique you have, the faster you will be able to slice through the water.
Steam Lining
Proper swim technique starts with thinking about your body and how it reacts with the water. This includes the very moment your body enters the water. Your body hands should directly above your head with one hand over the other. Your head should be dipped under your arms. If you were to take a picture of your body from straight on, you will see how little there is for the water to catch on to. This reduction in lag will allow your body to easily slip into the water. Evidence of this can further be seen by taking video as you dive in. With this method, you will notice less of a splash as you enter the water.
S-Stroke
The majority of people swimming for sport will use a freestyle swim technique. Take a look at the way you drag your arm through the water. If you are like most people without any training, you will pull your arm straight through the water. The problem with this is you will only really be pushing your body a third of the length of the stroke. This is because as your hand moves through the water is creates a current. After a moment, your hand is literally pushing itself through the water.
To get more pull from every stroke, start with your hand entering the water with your thumb hitting the water first. Push out and down until your hand is just outside your shoulder. Next, pull your hand back in towards the center of your chest and groin. Last, push your hand back out towards your hip and out of the water. If you look at the whole stroke in relation to your body, you will notice an S-pattern against your body. This stroke will give you maximum pull so you can move through the water faster. This is a swim technique which can be practiced outside of the water before trying it in the water.
Controlling Your Breathing
Another swim technique which can help you to swim faster is to control your breathing. You will notice some swimmers will be breathing at every opportunity they get. The problem with this is while your head is out of the water you are creating a lot of drag. This can be avoided by paying attention to when and how you breathe. Take a good full breath when you do breathe so you can go two strokes without taking a breath. You should be able to go at least two strokes in between each breathe.
Photo Credits: kenoncjones
Originally posted 2010-04-02 10:25:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 23rd, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Training
As technical as the swimming sport can be, it can generally be tough to narrow down solutions to a question that is asked often: What should I concentrate on in order to improve my triathlon swim capabilities? Here are five steps that you can take to improve your swim for an upcoming triathlon. These do not necessarily fit into any specific order, and they will go a very long way when it comes to helping you achieve your personal swimming goals regardless of whether you are just beginning or are attempting to go professional.
1 – Improve your hand entry in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. Slice your hand down into the water right around the line of your goggles, driving it forward. Many swimmers will attempt to get as much air time as they possibly can simply by reaching their hand out before they enter into the water. It is actually much more efficient for you to go through the water with your hand as you are rotating from one side toward the other side.
2 – Improve your head position in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. You should keep looking straight down when you are swimming in the freestyle form. It is vitally important that you keep your head completely down with a small part of the back of your head poking out of the water. As you rotate throughout the water, try not to move your head when the rest of your body is rotating.
3 – Improve your pull in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. When you are swimming in freestyle, your hands need to pull all the way past your hips. The last portion of the stroke before your recovery, which is when hands come out of the water, should include an acceleration behind you rather than up and out of the water.
4 – Improve your kick in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. You should try to minimize your kick as you work on your training for swimming. Most people are going to try to kick extra hard in order to make up for a lack of balance while in the water. You should be minimizing your kick in order to improve your balance as well as to conserve energy.
5 – Improve your training intensity in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. The best way that you can measure the intensity of your training is to count your heart rate following every swim. Estimate your heart rates by counting your pulse for six seconds, then add a zero to the count and you will have the approximate heart rate per minute for your training.
These five tips are simple and straight forward but they really go along way when it comes to increasing your capabilities as a swimmer in a triathlon event.
Photo Credits: heyerin
Originally posted 2009-07-24 05:38:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 21st, 2011 — Motivation, Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Tips, Triathlon Training
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 you will accomplish which training tasks. This way you will not skip such important things as running a practice triathlon before the actual event takes place. The right planning is all you need to make the difference between finishing and doing your best.
Swimming Schedule
In your triathlon schedule you need to have the right percentage of time dedicated to swimming. This should be anything from drills to a long, steady swim sessions. Giving yourself some variety in your swimming will help to keep things from getting monotonous. This is especially important if you are unfamiliar with swimming as an exercise. Take the time to concentrate on your swim stroke as well as your endurance level. Because the swimming is only one part of the event, you want to make sure you will still have a lot of energy at the end of the swimming portion.
Running Schedule
Running is another part of the triathlon schedule which must be planned out. People will make a lot of excuses as to why it is not a good day to go running. Buying the right rain gear will help you to run in the rain if you have to. While the treadmill is not the optimal training environment, it is a lot better than taking the day off from running. It is important that you learn the endurance which will only happen from putting in the time on the ground.
Cycling Schedule
The cycling part of the triathlon schedule is perhaps the easiest part to keep motivated with. This is because many people view it as the easiest part of the triathlon. Make sure this does not cause you to take the portion any less seriously. You should always be pushing yourself to ride faster and improve upon the cycling leg of the triathlon. This will help you to make up time you might have lost in other portions of the competition. Make sure the schedule you create will include a rigorous training schedule on the bike. This should include climbs even if there are no climbs in your route.
Practice Triathlon
Perhaps one of the most important parts of the triathlon schedule is the dry runs. To complete these, it is a good idea to employ your friends to help you. This is because you need someone to be able to help you if you are in trouble. Your friend can also make sure you have what you need where you need it. The last thing you want is to set out your equipment only to find it lost or stolen when you go to retrieve it. Go as hard and as fast as you can in these dry runs to see how prepared you are and improve.
Photo Credits: BotheredByBees
Originally posted 2010-03-25 03:17:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 20th, 2011 — Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run, Swimming
The very first thing you will be wearing when you start a triathlon should help you instead of hinder you. This is why many athletes wear triathlon wetsuits regardless of what the temperature of the water is. This is because of everything the wetsuit offers. There are a few different factors to keep in mind when buying the wetsuit you will wear in competition. Not least in importance is making sure the suit you purchase will be allowed in the competition you are entering.
Following the Rules
The reason why some events are restrictive when it comes to triathlon wetsuits is because of the unfair advantage it can give some people. Not all wetsuits will do anything more than allow you to keep your skin warm and dry when you are swimming. Make sure you pay close attention to what the rules are. The last thing you want is to be disqualified in the first section of the triathlon. This is completely avoidable as long as you know what the rules are and you make sure you follow them to the letter.
Boosting Speed with a Wetsuit
One of the ways triathlon wetsuits are different from a regular wetsuit is they are designed to reduce friction. These wetsuits are designed to provide less friction than the skin on your body. This will allow all of your energy to be converted directly into forward movement. This is why many athletes will wear a full body wetsuit even while it is summer. The idea is to use every tool in your arsenal to get the best time possible.
How the Wetsuit is Different
Triathlon wetsuits differ from a normal wetsuit in many ways. Not only do they reduce friction, they also increase buoyancy for the swimmer. This will make it easier for your body to stay near the surface of the water. You will not have to struggle to lift your legs out of the water because the suit will help this to happen. The other way the suit is different is because it has more flexibility to be able to complete a powerful stroke. The points which have the most flexibility are under the armpits and in the groin. This will give you maximum athletic movement so can get the best time possible.
Choosing the Right Wetsuit
Since triathlon wetsuits should perform as well as possible, you need to make sure you are comfortable in the suit itself. This means going to a store and trying on every suit they have. Try to go through the range of motions you will use while swimming. The right wetsuit will not pinch of bunch up when you go through a swim stroke. Every motion should be fully supported without creating any drag. If the wetsuit feels too tight or too loose in any way, you should not buy it. If you have tried all the suits the store offers, try a different store until you find the right one.
Photo Credits: douglemoine
Originally posted 2010-03-23 03:10:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 19th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Training
Swimming is a sport that can be extremely technical, and as a result, determining how you can concentrate on improving your triathlon swimming capabilities is often difficult. Here are five steps that you should be taking in order to improve your swimming capabilities for an upcoming triathlon. There is no real specific order to these tips, and all five can go a truly long way when it comes to helping you achieve your own personal goals for swimming, regardless of what they are or what your experience level is.
1 – Improve your Master’s swimming in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. You should move into a slower lane so that you can work on the improvement of your strokes. If you belong to a Master’s team, you should not feel as if you have to keep up with your swimming mates every time you work out because everyone has different swimming goals and you need to work on your own goals rather than everyone else’s.
2 – Improve your swimming habits in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. One of the most important habits that you can break is to prevent your arms from crossing over. This is one of the most common bad habits that appears in swimmers as their arm crosses over to the other side during the pull. Avoid this by keeping sure that your head is not moving when the rest of your body moves, taking care to pull yourself in a straight line.
3 – Improve your ability to keep the feel in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. If your toughest sport is swimming, then you need to make sure that you are keeping a feel for the water, getting in the water at least every other day to maintain your awareness of balance within the water.
4 – Improve your lungs and your ability to breathe properly in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. Make sure that you are mixing in hypoxic training when you are working out. Consider a set of 4x100s breathing with every 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th stroke by 25, taking a 15 second rest in between each set of 100. Your lungs are going to really thank you when you race and they are properly prepared for the challenges.
5 – Improve your own personal weaknesses in order to improve your triathlon swimming ability. Spend more time working on your own weaknesses than your strengths. If swimming is your weakest sport, spend more time working on it than anything else. This is the best way, above all else, to improve your capabilities in the water.
All five of these tips are simple and straight forward and they really are capable of going a long way when it comes to increasing your capabilities as a swimmer.
Photo Credits: heyerin
Originally posted 2009-07-21 05:31:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 16th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Training
Training for a triathlon is never an easy task. You not only push your body to the edge, you need to engage in specialized forms of training to get the performance you need. This is as true for swim workouts for triathletes as for any other section of the race. The reason why the exercises are so important is because you need to train your upper body to be strong enough to do the majority of the work. This way you will be able to save your leg muscles for the other two sections which are ahead.
Using Paddleboards
One of the many swim workouts for triathletes is to use paddleboards. These will help you to find the strengths and the weaknesses in your stroke. They will also help to develop the muscles you use to pull your body through the water. Because the paddleboard is a thin piece of hard plastic, you will recognize it immediately if you have your hand at the wrong angle. Your hand will slice through the water rather than meeting with great resistance. As long as you are using a good stroke, you will feel resistance the whole stroke. The more resistance, the more power you develop.
Using Floaters
Another effective method of swim workouts for triathletes is to use floaters. These are little more than cylindrical pieces of Styrofoam connected by tethers. What you do is clench the tethers between your legs. You then swim through the water without kicking your legs. You will have only your upper body to pull you through. The floater creates drag, but more importantly, it prevents your lower body from sinking towards the bottom of the pool. This prevents you from using your legs at all.
Closed Fist Training
One of the swim workouts for triathletes seldom heard about is the closed fist training drill. This is a method by which you will dig your fingers into your palms as you swim. This will force you to use your forearms as a paddle to move you through the water. This is a good exercise to use with floaters as you will not be going very fast. Do not use your legs and concentrate on how your arm is moving through the water. This will help to make sure your arm will combine with your hand to create a great force to propel you through the water.
High Intensity Interval Training
A training method used as swim workouts for triathletes among others is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). This is a method which includes short intervals in which you are swimming as hard as you can for about a minute and then taking a thirty second break. This is used because a 15 minute workout will be more effective than a thirty minute workout. The level of workout will train your muscles to be more powerful for the big day. The secret is the fact your body will continue to be effected long after you get out of the pool.
Photo Credits: Grahambones
Originally posted 2010-03-20 03:55:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 14th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Tips
The most effective stroke for people in a triathlon is the overhand crawl. This is a style which is also known as freestyle. The swimming kick used for this stroke is very important to your performance. It is also the most undertrained part of most people’s stroke. It is taken for granted as something which cannot be improved. In fact, you can train your leg muscles to be stronger and more effective. You can also train your kick to be more effective by creating less drag and more push. By following some simple advice, you will turn your kick into a propeller.
Developing Strength
One of the best ways to develop strength in your swimming kick is by using a kickboard. This is little more than a piece of Styrofoam. What you do is rest your torso on the board and then kick your way from one side of the pool to the other. The board will stop you from using your arms to pull you through the water. The board will also create extra drag to make it even more difficult for you to kick your way from one side to the other. You will have to train your feet to be like flippers.
Flipper Training
While using the kickboard to develop a stronger swimming kick, you might want to also use flippers. This is because the flippers will help to show you the angle which your feet should be when you are kicking. You will be able to feel the difference when your feet are angled correctly and when they are off. By using the flippers you will also create greater strength in your legs because of the excess force you will need to push the water.
Keeping Your Legs Together
Floaters are a great way to train your legs to stay together. This is an important part of the swimming kick because if your legs are far apart, they create more drag. By clenching a floater between your thighs, you force your legs to stay together. If you allow your legs to separate, you will know it right away. This is because the floater will come loose and float away from you. The other added benefit you get from the floater is that it will create extra drag. This is important to develop better strength in your upper body as well as in your legs.
Photo Credits: hectorir
Originally posted 2010-03-19 10:53:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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