Educate and inform me - Please & thank you.

Right. So -- first, hello, since I'm new to the forums here. Second, I'm really just getting into the water and trying to understand everything about swimming up to and including and beyond on etiquette, technique, training, terminology, pacing, and equipment. So, please bear with me in my naiveties. Third, my goals and why I'm here: I've decided that I want to train to participate in a triathlon. Specifically, I'm targeting the Philadelphia 2007 Triathlon. I was never raised a swimmer. I got the basic swim lesson as most kids do, just so that their parents feel "kinda-sorta secure" with their kid in the water. I played soccer all the while growing up. Now, I'm having to learn on my own -- for the time being. I'm hoping that some people here can give me advice on specific questions relating to technique and ways to improve my swimming. So, I hope to post more later with my questions, but I gotta jet. Working day is over here in Tengiz, Kazakhstan! :eek: Catchya later. Cheers. WDL