Triathlon - Swim coaching

I am a beginning triathlete, okay on the run and getting up to speed on the bike, but in serious trouble in the water. I couldn't swim more than 100 meters at a somewhat even pace, and it would take me 30 strokes to do 25 meters, just laboring through the water. I had one coaching session from a great swim coach, and I am down to 21-22 strokes consistently, and I am just getting started here, still a lot of drills and practice to do. it's like learning to swim all over again. It's not intuitive, I would not have figured this out on my own..... So, if you are struggling with the swim, get a coach! Technique is everything, water is so dense, you can kill yourself trying to brute force your way through. You will start enjoying the swim itself much more as well....FWIW

Congrats on your improvements! I'm seriously considering shelling out $400 for a weekend swim camp. I have the Freestyle Made Easy DVD and that really has helped me. I've read the Total Immersion book twice and just didn't get it. The DVD was well worth the $$$ I paid for it.

Congrats on your improvements! I'm seriously considering shelling out $400 for a weekend swim camp. I have the Freestyle Made Easy DVD and that really has helped me. I've read the Total Immersion book twice and just didn't get it. The DVD was well worth the $$$ I paid for it.

Just to put cost into perspective, I am paying $40.-- for 30 minutes 1:1 coaching, and I bought a package of 4 lessons total, really not that expensive.....also I get a lesson once a week so I can practice in between lessons a few times, it's not very effective to get too much coaching all at once, you need time to absorb it and practice....then take the next step....

Just to put cost into perspective, I am paying $40.-- for 30 minutes 1:1 coaching, and I bought a package of 4 lessons total, really not that expensive.....also I get a lesson once a week so I can practice in between lessons a few times, it's not very effective to get too much coaching all at once, you need time to absorb it and practice....then take the next step....


I agree. This is usually your best bet for efficiancy and cost.

us50090 & TriBob: I would love to find a coach that would work with me on a regular basis but here in my small town I can't find one :( The next best option is the weekend camp I mentioned. From what I understand it works very much like the video. You work on drills and gradually progress from drills to swimming.

For now I'm going to keep watching the DVD over and over. I seem to pick something up each time I watch it.

us50090 & TriBob: I would love to find a coach that would work with me on a regular basis but here in my small town I can't find one :( .

I don't know where you live but I ran into this coach by accident at my local health club just by mentioning that I was going to use the pool for tri training....I didn't find this person through any organized means like a tri club or a swim site....ask around, you never know what pops up....

seriously guys take a total immersion course

I spent two years hurting in the swim and then last season spent 8 weeks (once a week for two hours) being coached by a guy called fitz here in chicago. It was a group course. i don't think we completed a full stroke until about week 7.

you spend 4 weeks just doing drills and thinking what am i doing?

it just takes that much to undo 25 years of bad technique.....


can't recommned it more

lilscotboy: The course I'm talking about is the Total Immersion one. If I didn't just shell out some $$$ on a new bike I wouldn't hesitate to go. For now the DVD is helping me a great bit.

When, on this thread, you guys talk about sucking on the swim, what 1500 meter time are you talking about. How old are you?

Thanks for the update.

Tyson

I don't know yet. I have yet to swim that far this year, but assuming I counted correctly I did 900 yards in 15 minutes Friday.

When, on this thread, you guys talk about sucking on the swim, what 1500 meter time are you talking about. How old are you?

Thanks for the update.

Tyson

Same here, I am just trying to get the point where I can swim more than a 100 meters without struggling..... it is hard to maintain form and sustain a pace consistently....the way you do on a run or a ride....my bighgest challenge with swimming is maintaining correct form AND breathing enough oxygen to susatin it. Everyhting would be fine if I didn't need to breath! I inhale a lot of water, learning to rotate the body while keeping your head down, then suck enough air etc. etc...I practice form the entire time in the pool, don't even care at this point about distance or splits....

i'd say about 30 minutes for 1500m........slow (especially as that is in the pool and as soon as you get into open water and are boxed in on all sides the pace drops even further)

When, on this thread, you guys talk about sucking on the swim, what 1500 meter time are you talking about. How old are you?

On Saturday I swam 2000 meters in about 35 minutes. I'm 37 and that time/speed probably puts me in the bottom third of the field in most races. Not sure it that answers your question (?)

novice triguy here. if a triathlon features a 0.6mi swim, that's 1K, or 1000 meters, right? so why swim 2000 meters. just asking.

each length is 25 meters in a pool, right?

distances for all events really depend on the tri you're doing

generally a sprint distance is 750m swim, 25K bike, 5K run and an olympic is 1500m swim, 50K bike, 10K run....but i've seen a bunch of different distances around these averages.

swim longer when you train, 1500m in open water is going to feel closer to 2000m in the pool, esepcially when you have people climbing all over you and your swimming with or against a current.

thanks.that answers it. so 2000m is 80 length's, right?

of a standard 25m pool...yup

you're in chicago right? i try to get down to UIC, they have a 50m pool. and then come may/june if you head down to the beach right by navy pier you'll see us all trawling up and down the lake in wetsuits

yeah, i'm just in a 25m lap pool. it's nice though. been doing 1000-1500 meters then 1.5 to 2 hrs of spin followed by some running or pick-up basketball. at least till the weather breaks a bit.
i need to see about open swimming sooner rather than later though.

I am getting more comfortable in the water. But just when I feel I am getting faster, a little old lady will be in the lane next to me. I'm churning away, she looks like she is in slow motion- till she shoots right by me. Technique is definately everything, and I aint got it. . .yet. Just by experimenting with my body position, stroke, etc, I feel like I am becoming more efficient.

i am a ex-college swimmer, for me its the oppsite for yall, bikeing is kicking my butt, no to mention the price of the bikes.....also this is funny to hear b/c i am presently a swim coach in Katy,tx....also don't try a camp...First try a USA Swimming masters group. Thats what i coach and no one does tri's but it would help

I just bought the total immersion triathlon swimming book 2 weeks ago. Have been doing the drills. Because I am not sure if I am doing it right I also just ordered the DVD. It is interesting somewhat "unlearning" how to swim. I am just starting doing triathlons, but have been swimming 4-5 times/week for years. I swim 1500 in 26 minutes and have been frustrated by my inability to go faster. I am hoping the TI system will help. Or, at the least, allow me to swim 1500 in about 26 without having to get out of the water worn out.

Has TI swimming improved the speed of those who have switched over to that method?

The most amazing thing I heard in this post is how you brought your stroke count down from 30 to 22!!!! I picture it taking you over 60 sec per 50m beforehand, and now you must be going at least 10-15 seconds faster/50m. What you probably realize is how much you are gliding better, and it's true b/c there's no way you can do 22 strokes with the drag you had beforehand. Personally I do 17strokes/lap, and going at what I'd think is 150BPM, I go 40-45 sec or so (fyi I swam for my childhood)

I just bought the total immersion triathlon swimming book 2 weeks ago. Have been doing the drills. Because I am not sure if I am doing it right I also just ordered the DVD.

Put the book down and just want on the DVD to get there. The DVD makes things so much clearer to understand. We have had issues for the past several weeks at the pool and those are finally resolved so I can get back to swimming starting tomorrow. I've noticed a big difference in my swimming since switching over to TI. I haven't mastered it yet but just the little I am doing helps.

I have never done a tri, but I like to swim to keep in shape. Haven't swam in awhile and jumped back in the pool this morning. I thought I would do some kicks with the board when I was done and I couldn't believe how much I sucked. It was all I could do to keep from sinking. It cracks me up that I went straight to the Tri forum to find some info to help me out and lo and behold an active thread is talking about what I need. Thanks guys. I am going to look into the video and finding someone that can give me a couple of lessons in the area.

each length is 25 meters in a pool, right?

I don't know how much it matters but the pools that my son swims at are either 25 yards or 25 meters, I've never seen it marked anywhere around the pool. Just going by the event listings for the swim meets.