How much do triathlete need to learn about swimming?
Former Member
I do not mean this as a heartless criticism of triathletes. I actually enjoy the sport. But many of them start doing triathlons with almost no knowledge or experience in swimming. Here are a couple of choice comments to the thread I linked below. Thank goodness I knew how to ride a bike and run before I started doing tris - but not well. Give them credit for taking it on, but I do think they should learn to swim before entering one.
"The swim is short ( 150 yards ), and I can make it..not without stopping a couple of times at the end of the pool."
"A lot of pool sprints are so newbie friendly that they let you get through the water any way you can. I have seen people water walk the 300 meters in a pool swim in my area."
"My wife did an indoor tri a few months ago and I think 1/4 of the people walked the swim."
I recommended that the person do breaststroke.
www.beginnertriathlete.com/.../thread-view.asp
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Former Member
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.
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Former Member
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.
