Triathlon2Win

A lot of newbie triathletes are very excited about starting their first triathlon, only to find that after jumping in the pool they struggle to complete 25m and after 50m they are completely exhausted.  Breathing is very difficult and they have a hard time getting into any smooth swim rhythm.  Does this sound familiar?

Don’t worry, you are not alone.  This feeling is very common when you are first starting out.  It’s the same feeling I had just before entering my first sprint triathlon.  You are all pumped up and ready to take on your first ever triathlon only to discover you have a mountain to climb and that mountain is Everest!

Help is on hand.  There is plenty of great advice online.  Research and view some youtube videos showing basic rolling and balance drills for swimmers.  Use bilateral breathing, which means turning your head both sides.  Be patient and initially breathe as often as you can and practice.  The more you practice, the more comfortable and relaxed you will feel in the water.  This in turn will help you use less energy and be more efficient when gliding through the water.

My best advice is to hire a swim coach for a few lessons.  You can read as much as you like online, but until you have someone actual look at your overall swim stroke, it will be very hard to perfect your technique by yourself.  Your coach will be able to break down your current swim style and address any flaws you have.  They will then be able to help you to focus on different areas of your swim technique.  Once you have the right technique in place, it is then a matter of putting it into practice, over and over again.  The types of swim drills a coach will use include, arm stroke, bilateral breathing, body roll and kicking sessions.

Remember what it was like when you first starting running, your heart rate increased and you probably felt tense and uncomfortable during the run.  You probably thought, how can anyone actually enjoy running?  This is exactly what it can be like when you first start to swim.  If your body is experiencing something new and different, it will start to feel uncomfortable.  Once you get used to swimming in the water your body will love you for it.  And I promise you will actually start to enjoy it too!

If breathing is the main problem, you may also want to consider using a snorkel.  This will mean you can practice every other area of your swimming style without having to worry about the breathing part too.  Once you become more comfortable, you can then slowly integrate the turning of the head (with the snorkel on) to imitate the breathing method side to side.  Your breathing will become more natural once you have a good balanced swim stroke and body roll.  This will make the transition easier once you remove your snorkel.

Finally, the mental state of mind should not be underestimated.  Having a relaxed mind is a very important part of swimming.  Visualise yourself as a great swimmer and having a calm mind will also help you conserve energy and make your performance in the water more effective.

Good luck and make that call to the swim coach today!

This article is written by Mike Kirkman. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on training tips and creating a winning mindset to achieve your triathlon goals, please visit http://www.triathlon2win.com