The Triathlon Swim: How to Train as Part of a Whole

Triathlon Swimmer

For triathlon swimmers, the type of training that you want to undergo is different from pure swimmers. Because your triathlon will involve other events like running and biking, you’ll have to emphasize endurance, strength, and especially mental discipline. So how do you train for these things, and how can you make sure that you feel totally prepared going into a triathlon swim? Do you think you can handle it?

To prepare for a triathlon swim, you’ll want to focus on building technique and settling in that technique quickly. You don’t want to learn five different types of strokes only to ultimately use one. In order to maximize the training time you’ll be using, you’ll want to make sure you pick one stroke and stick with it – this will make sure that you’re pumping up the appropriate muscles and working on them exclusively. Everything else is just wasted effort.

You’ll also want to concentrate on your kick. Many triathlon swimmers make the mistake of over-kicking to compensate for time, when in reality this just exhausts their energy way ahead of the time they planned on it going out. Instead, you’ll want to remember that your legs are the key for the running and cycling portions of the triathlon. For this reason, you’ll want to build up your upper body. You need to be sure that you can use both in conjunction with each other so that you don’t wear any particular part of your body. Isolation is good for training, but not so good for the event itself. So make sure that you don’t isolate when it comes to crunch time.

Make sure that you know where your weaknesses lie. Don’t let swimming be your weakness if you view yourself as a “land exerciser.” Instead, you’ll want to build up your weaknesses so that by the time of the triathlon, you’ll be ready for every single event. Ignoring one in favor of the other can only help if you work on improving one particular weak point. If swimming is your weak event, spend plenty of time in the water. Make sure that this is habitual so that you can affect real change in your physiology and muscles. You’ll need those muscles when it comes time.

Above all, train for endurance. When you first hit the water, it will be more difficult than you planned on the triathlon ever being. So be sure you’re ready for it – tough training not only builds your body stronger, but mentally prepares you and builds your confidence. Don’t skimp on your confidence.

Photo Credits: regeniabrabham

Originally posted 2009-05-19 05:17:17.

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