How much do triathlete need to learn about swimming?

Per Wikipedia an IM is 2.4-mi swim, 112-mi bike, 26.2-mi run in that order. Start at 7am, cut-off for swim at 9:20am, cut-off for bike at 5:50pm, cut-off for run at midnight. My skill level would be more: - 2.4-mi swim - 112-yard bike (walking your bike is permitted and even encouraged) - 26.2-yard run (well, not really run like you see on the jogging trail, more like it's raining and I'm trying to find my car, but faster than a walk). The same IM cut-offs would be enforced as well.

As background, I have been coaching swimming for triathletes for ten years now. Triathlon swim classes, well attended and people love them. I am quite proud of the fact that we have refined our technique to the point where, except for one case, we are taking brand new swimmers from the ability to swim a single 25 only, to swimming a continuous mile, in 5 weeks. We do this regularly, there has only been one exception. So that's my background in this world, pretty extensive. I think that the "You can do it!" can be and IS taken too far in certain situations. However, with the proper follow up "You can do it!" is almost certainly the right answer. So, if the question is from a couch potato who wants to do a triathlon in 5 weeks, let's say pool swim in this case, then the answer is almost certainly yes you can. But the follow up needs to be that you need to follow up with a training plan (many free ones out there) and get with an adult learn to swim expert. Unfortunately tyhere are not many of those around, but they exist. On the other hand I will say something that I do like about the tri community is that most of the people are coming to it as adults and are doing it BECAUSE of the challenge. They know they won't necessarily be good at it yet aren't afraid to go out there and do it. Or to go out there and suck :-) This is in contrast to a good chunk of swimmers on my own squad who won't go to a meet, or won't do this event or that event because they don't think they will do well at it or because it's hard. It' is a totally different mindset actually. I think the unfortunate part is that the swimmers might be missing out on some fun and rewarding experiences.

There a number of triathletes who come to my workouts. For the most part, they buy into my approach: technique and pacing. The best comments that I hear are that when they finish the swim they are not too tired for the rest of the race. I attribute that to better technique and pacing. I offer options in practice but all have learned to do some non-free. Most can relate to the similarity of drills for back and free. The word gets around that swim training with a group of swimmers really works.

So how would the tri community (which I still consider myself be a part of) react to someone who said the same about the bike leg - and not because they were 100 miles into the IM bike leg. People walking the bike leg . . . able to cycle 400 yards before they either got off or fell off . . . You get the picture. I think universally it would be suggested they learn how to ride before they enter a tri. Just saying.

We see people walking the bike leg all the time in tris and duathlons. I mean, well, it is up hills, but still. :) I think the biggest hurdle for triathletes and swimming (and why most triathletes list swimming as their weakest sport) is pool access. Running is free. Biking is almost free, but swimming costs every month for most age groupers. It takes a lot of dedication to the sport to pay for pool time. :/ Then there is the vicious cycle of not being any good because of lack of practice and not having a pleasant time in the pool because of not having a good technique because of lack of pool time... so they just don't feel excited about the pool workouts... I agree. These are all real obstacles. I am more sensitive to the issue of being able to get the pool when there is lap swimming (or getting to a pool at all for some). At heart I am a swimmer because I never stopped being a kid who loves to be in the water. That has been my greatest strength in becoming a good swimmer. As for the money issue, it can be a real problem for some, but for others they would rather spend it on a new bike.

As background, I have been coaching swimming for triathletes for ten years now. Triathlon swim classes, well attended and people love them. I am quite proud of the fact that we have refined our technique to the point where, except for one case, we are taking brand new swimmers from the ability to swim a single 25 only, to swimming a continuous mile, in 5 weeks. We do this regularly, there has only been one exception. So that's my background in this world, pretty extensive. I think that the "You can do it!" can be and IS taken too far in certain situations. However, with the proper follow up "You can do it!" is almost certainly the right answer. So, if the question is from a couch potato who wants to do a triathlon in 5 weeks, let's say pool swim in this case, then the answer is almost certainly yes you can. But the follow up needs to be that you need to follow up with a training plan (many free ones out there) and get with an adult learn to swim expert. Unfortunately tyhere are not many of those around, but they exist. On the other hand I will say something that I do like about the tri community is that most of the people are coming to it as adults and are doing it BECAUSE of the challenge. They know they won't necessarily be good at it yet aren't afraid to go out there and do it. Or to go out there and suck :-) This is in contrast to a good chunk of swimmers on my own squad who won't go to a meet, or won't do this event or that event because they don't think they will do well at it or because it's hard. It' is a totally different mindset actually. I think the unfortunate part is that the swimmers might be missing out on some fun and rewarding experiences. You left out that triathlons have my favorite sport to race, and when it is over I go for a nice bike ride and a little jog. Here in Oregon many times this is followed up with a couple of brews at the event. And you get to do it outside! How can you not like this sport.

I actually have had some triathletes ask me this question. They are thinking about technique or quick ways to cut their times but I always suggest learning survival mechanisms for when they get into trouble. Some protested that they wouldn't get into trouble, and I said that everyone eventually gets into trouble with each part of swim/bike/run -- be it a live event or just practice. But with bike/run, they only have to stop and put both feet on the ground and breathe and wait for the trouble to pass. Not so in the water. With swimming, they need to be sure of their equipment and practice some safety drills. Looking around for the nearest kayak is not much of a survival plan. Haha, but I'm not a total jerk either -- I usually give them some pointers about either their pull or their body positioning.

Some protested that they wouldn't get into trouble, and I said that everyone eventually gets into trouble with each part of swim/bike/run -- be it a live event or just practice. I have been swimming in open water nearly 45 years and there has never been a time when I went in the water before going over a mental checklist of what I would do if things went wrong. The best always do this. It could be boats or jet skis, high surf, strong currents, just feeling bad or being surrounded by a lot of yahoos (happens more frequently than I'd like when body surfing sizable waves). You're simply foolish if you don't, and that is another thing I consider before I get in.

We see people walking the bike leg all the time in tris and duathlons. I mean, well, it is up hills, but still. :) I think the biggest hurdle for triathletes and swimming (and why most triathletes list swimming as their weakest sport) is pool access. Running is free. Biking is almost free, but swimming costs every month for most age groupers. It takes a lot of dedication to the sport to pay for pool time. :/ Then there is the vicious cycle of not being any good because of lack of practice and not having a pleasant time in the pool because of not having a good technique because of lack of pool time... so they just don't feel excited about the pool workouts...

I guess some triathletes need to learn how to swim, not sure there's anything to be said for "triathletes" as a ... species? entire group? It seems that most triathletes' weakness is the swim. I think they think to themselves, "I grew up swimming in a pool, etc" and figure it can't be that hard. Add to that swimming in a crowd and a restrictive wetsuit, and it turns into something else entirely And when something goes wrong in the water, the danger is compounded given the environment. Attempting a tri without knowing how to swim is just stupid. At least they are doing a pool tri and not an OW swim tri. You may not have seen the threads on this issue, but there are on occasion the same types of posts where the race is in open water. Except for a few yahoos, the general consensus advice is always sound and forceful - learn how to swim first. I've done tris for the last 7 years. There is on occasion the person that is not capable of completing the distance, and every race gets people pulled from the water for one reason or another. Same is true for many OW swims I've done. In my experience the vast majority of triathletes, however, are competent swimmers, some of them are quite fast.