I completed my first triathlon yesterday which started with a simple 400m swim or so I thought. Halfway through the swim I found it really difficult to control my breathing, having to breath on every stroke and was generally struggling.
I have been swimming a mile 3 times a week (25 metre pool - I dont do flip turns) to build up stamina, but I'm now not sure if it is the best way to prepare. Can anyone suggest a good work out that will help me prepare properly for my next triathlon. Unfortunately I dont get the opportunity to swim in open water often enough to make it part of a regular routine.
A mile 3 times a week should be sufficient to get you through a 400M swim. I would suggest 2 things.
First, one cause of breathing trouble in open water is open water anxiety; some people can’t easily relax without that little black line under them. To help get over this; I would suggest getting in the open water before the race to warm-up a bit and focus on relaxing.
The second thing to work on would be your turns. If you don’t learn flip turns, at least don’t take a breath at the wall, or at least not at every wall. That extra little bit of rest and breath you get with each open turn does make pool swimming easier. Try swimming a 400 with open turns and without taking a breath at the wall and see if this more closely simulates what you felt in the race.
A mile 3 times a week should be sufficient to get you through a 400M swim. I would suggest 2 things.
First, one cause of breathing trouble in open water is open water anxiety; some people can’t easily relax without that little black line under them. To help get over this; I would suggest getting in the open water before the race to warm-up a bit and focus on relaxing.
The second thing to work on would be your turns. If you don’t learn flip turns, at least don’t take a breath at the wall, or at least not at every wall. That extra little bit of rest and breath you get with each open turn does make pool swimming easier. Try swimming a 400 with open turns and without taking a breath at the wall and see if this more closely simulates what you felt in the race.
