Unlike running or biking, swimming does not have nearly the high tech gadgets, but you will need some gear, possibly more than you would initially think. Your swimsuit should not be difficult, as in the end they are all basically the same. Your swimsuit needs only to cover you without impeding your smooth movement through the water. There are no fashion police, and fashion statements need not be made. You should be able to get your suit from the local sporting goods or specialty shop.
Next up for purchase is a good pair of swim goggles. Keep in mind, you will have your head face down as you swim, and turned to the side as you breathe and orient yourself in the pool. If you had no goggles, the chlorination of the pool would irritate your eyes, not to mention that our eyes do not see so well under water without aid.
You very likely will have to try on many different pairs of goggles to find a pair that fit you comfortably. Whatever you do, do not buy goggles solely on the look or size. You must try on all pairs you consider. If you can, go specifically to a swim shop to get good help with fit for your needs.
While there, see about getting yourself a swim cap. A cap is not a necessary item for training, but seeing as you will have to wear it for the triathlon, you might as well get used to wearing it now anyways.
A useful tool you should definitely consider for your training are hand paddles. These tools help you to learn proper hand entry into the water, and proper catch and pull of the water as part of your swimming stroke.
These paddles will also help you strengthen your arms and your shoulders thanks to increased water resistance. Stronger arms and shoulders pull harder and faster, meaning you move through the water faster overall. Note: if you have a shoulder or rotator cuff injury, then you should avoid using the hand paddles until those injuries clear up, otherwise they could make your injuries worse.
The next 2 items on your list should be a pair of swim fins, and a kick board. The swim fins will help you to gain leg strength and increase ankle flexibility; while the kick board will help you practice proper kick technique via kick board drills.
Lastly, you should look into a pull buoy. A pull buoy is a large hunk of foam that goes between your legs and keeps the back end of you afloat to keep you from kicking. That way you can focus specifically on the use of your arms to propel you thought the water.
If water in your ears is an issue you cannot abide, look into earplugs to keep water out. If you cannot abide earplugs, there are alcohol solutions which work well in getting the water out of your ears fairly quickly. Last of all, you will need a mesh bag to carry all of this gear in.
Photo Credits: akunamatata
Originally posted 2009-10-19 03:19:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Choosing the Right Triathlon Bike pt 2 You are really going to want to choose a bicycle that fits your body perfectly, comfortable, and also fits your budget. You can buy an extremely expensive bike, but if it does not fit your frame, then it is completely worthless when it comes to meeting your bicycling needs. The...... -
A 10k Training Program Which Works So, you have signed up for your first 10k race. You are nervous about how you will perform in the race. This is understandable. This is why you are looking for the best 10k training program to get started the right way. The good news is there have been a...... -
Your Swim Pose and 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...... -
Swimming for your First Triathlon Beginners to the triathlon tend not to worry so much about the running and bicycling legs of the race, although they require thought and preparation on their own. Running and bicycling for beginners, however, are familiar childhood activities, and are not as foreign as swimming. Swimming has always been limited...... -
Attain Victory with the Right Triathlon Gear pt 1 Throughout our existence, one of the deciding factors in who survives and who doesn't has been technology. It is the innovation of technology that has allowed us to push ourselves to new horizons along the way. In all aspects of our life, having the right gear and equipment is absolutely......
Beginners to the triathlon tend not to worry so much about the running and bicycling legs of the race, although they require thought and preparation on their own. Running and bicycling for beginners, however, are familiar childhood activities, and are not as foreign as swimming. Swimming has always been limited to summer months, or for those few with access, indoor pools. When children would swim, they would do so in fun, not as a competitive race, as they would with running and bicycling. As a result, beginners find that swimming requires the greatest focus in the early stages of training. Here are some excellent tips for swimming training for your first triathlon.
