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
Parents
Former Member
Just my .02, I think that anything that helps someone adopt a healthier lifestyle, even if that starts out as "just finishing" is a really good thing, and not something to be scoffed at.
I personally think that finishing is a perfectly appropriate goal on a site like BT, which is called after all beginner triathlete, and where many people coming to tris (it's the new "thing") are middle aged, or have been out of competition since high school, etc.
I also personally think that just wanting to finish is perfectly fine no matter where you happen to lie on the training spectrum. My first tri, and my first HIM, and my first IM, my goal was simply to finish. And my first tri was a super sprint (albeit with a .5 mile swim). For the longer races I had time goals as well, but goal #1 was get across the line. I started at 38, hadn't swam competitively since high school, had never run a 5K in my life, etc etc etc Since then I've lost about 75 pounds due to the healthier lifestyle. But I still haven't won a tri, so I suppose I should just stop altogether.
I am glad I didn't give up tris because I wasn't in it to win it from the first one. And because I don't make very good tacos.
ETA - I will give on this one though, someone just posted in a thread I am on that they don't do flip turns or push off the wall as they "don't want free speed." Can't defend that one.....
Just my .02, I think that anything that helps someone adopt a healthier lifestyle, even if that starts out as "just finishing" is a really good thing, and not something to be scoffed at.
I personally think that finishing is a perfectly appropriate goal on a site like BT, which is called after all beginner triathlete, and where many people coming to tris (it's the new "thing") are middle aged, or have been out of competition since high school, etc.
I also personally think that just wanting to finish is perfectly fine no matter where you happen to lie on the training spectrum. My first tri, and my first HIM, and my first IM, my goal was simply to finish. And my first tri was a super sprint (albeit with a .5 mile swim). For the longer races I had time goals as well, but goal #1 was get across the line. I started at 38, hadn't swam competitively since high school, had never run a 5K in my life, etc etc etc Since then I've lost about 75 pounds due to the healthier lifestyle. But I still haven't won a tri, so I suppose I should just stop altogether.
I am glad I didn't give up tris because I wasn't in it to win it from the first one. And because I don't make very good tacos.
ETA - I will give on this one though, someone just posted in a thread I am on that they don't do flip turns or push off the wall as they "don't want free speed." Can't defend that one.....
