Tips for endurance swimming?

Question

I am getting ready to participate in a couple of triatholons, and although i can complete the swimming portion of the race, I don't set any speed records doing it. Are there any tips for endourance swimming that i should know?

Answer 1

Welcome to the addicting world of triathlon! Since you are a multi-sport athlete your focus is slightly different than a single-event athlete. You want ot be able to swim and still have energy left for the bike and the run. The keys to open water distance are pacing and technique.

Enlist a coach or trainer or fellow swimmer or lifeguard to evaluate your technique and make suggestions for improvement. They may see things you don't and be able to suggest drills and technique tweaks. Once you have the best technique possible, work on your pacing. Do intervals and distances and pay attention to your times and paces. Make sure you get into a rythm that makes you comfortable and doesn't deplete all of your energy. Technique is crucial, once you have it your pac e will set itself and you'll go from there. Not everyone's strongest leg is the swim, trust me!

Another thing to think about is swimming in a group. If you get the chance, train in open water with your tri team or any group of open water swimmers. This way you can practive your sighting and experience the crowds and navigating them. you will also learn self-control as you force yourself to slwo down and not hang on the heels of the Michael Phelps in front of you, you'll watse yourself!

Train by doing bricks (mutli-sport workouts) with transitions. This will give you a feel for the swim-bike transition and your legs will get used to it and you'll be ready when you have to do it. Practice making your transitions smooth and quick and try different things in training until you find the transition that works best for you. You will also see how your body reacts to different workouts and paces on the swim and you can choose the right pace for your race. Also, bike-run bricks are a great training tool that you really can't do without!

Just relax, enjoy it and pace yourself. If you are swimming as efficiently as possible, you'll have a great race.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

nonononono swimming requires your WHOLE body not just your legs, like running does. first of all, you're going to be in pain (sorry) for the first month or so after you start swimming, assuming you are doing challenging workouts. once you are slightly more in shape, then you can begin endurance workouts (5 100's on the 1:30, three rounds, with an easy 200 in between each round, for example). i also suggest finding a master's program near you, that supports beginners

Answer 3

Since you are going to be doing more than swimming focus on using your core rotation and arms to power you through the water. The more you do this the more your legs will be saved for the later parts of the race. Keep it at a pace that feels controlled for you and you'll be fine.

Answer 4

My coach always tells me that in long-distance events, the two times that you should be going fastest are the beginning and the end. Don't push yourself too hard in the middle, but don't go too easy either. Save a fair amount of energy for the last 1/8 or so and go all out then.

Answer 5

good deep breaths and keep in the air for a few seconds then blow it all out while you are swimming this will not make you tire out it will give you more room ofr air. i would push really hard for about the first 5-10 minutes then keep a steady pace unitl you are at the last 200 or so yards!!!

Answer 6

i swim long distance. so.....
- take DEEP breaths. but not with ur chest, but with ur stomach.
- think of the ppl u r racing, think of how much better you are.(even if u r not)
- treat yourself before a race.
- try hiting things before a race
- think about how great it is to be n the water racing

Answer 7

what einsteinps2 said