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
Another issue to consider in apportioning training time is that running & cycling tend to respond more to volume (compared to swimming), and swimming tends to respond more to technique work (compared to running & biking).
Sure, to be a FOP swimmer you'll need to do some volume... but for the average age-grouper it's probably a rational choice to spend relatively little time on swimming. At the same time, I'd imagine the average age-grouper would benefit by spending what little time they do spend swimming primarily on technique work.
The reason most triathletes are sh**ty swimmers is because most triathletes have sh**ty technique, not that they don't do enough laps.
Another issue to consider in apportioning training time is that running & cycling tend to respond more to volume (compared to swimming), and swimming tends to respond more to technique work (compared to running & biking).
Sure, to be a FOP swimmer you'll need to do some volume... but for the average age-grouper it's probably a rational choice to spend relatively little time on swimming. At the same time, I'd imagine the average age-grouper would benefit by spending what little time they do spend swimming primarily on technique work.
The reason most triathletes are sh**ty swimmers is because most triathletes have sh**ty technique, not that they don't do enough laps.
