Open Water Swim Training Methods

Gringo78

Intending to do my first triathlon in Sept. I'm a runner and swimming is going to be my weakest discipline but will be starting swim training in the sea from tomorrow morning so hopefully have plenty of time to get in decent shape. I can swim and was a strong swimmer having grown up at the seaside but have not swam in a good few years and have never really swam any distance. Tri swim is 750m, basically want to maximise speed for this distance.

Will be training 3 times a week for 30min a time so am I basically better off just swimming nice and steady for the next few weeks until I can swim without stopping for the 30min before I start to think about mixing it up with different sorts of drills? Or once I reach the 750m should I then start to try different drills? Applying a runners logic to this i'd be thinking I'd benefit from just swimming nice and steady for the 30min.

tunney

Gringo78 wrote: »

Intending to do my first triathlon in Sept. I'm a runner and swimming is going to be my weakest discipline but will be starting swim training in the sea from tomorrow morning so hopefully have plenty of time to get in decent shape. I can swim and was a strong swimmer having grown up at the seaside but have not swam in a good few years and have never really swam any distance. Tri swim is 750m, basically want to maximise speed for this distance.

Will be training 3 times a week for 30min a time so am I basically better off just swimming nice and steady for the next few weeks until I can swim without stopping for the 30min before I start to think about mixing it up with different sorts of drills? Or once I reach the 750m should I then start to try different drills? Applying a runners logic to this i'd be thinking I'd benefit from just swimming nice and steady for the 30min.

Get rid of the runners logic. As a rule of thumb if your 1500m TT time (open water or long course) is greater than 26 minutes emphasis should be on technique and drills, after that then just smack it.

Macanri

Thanks Tunney, What sort of drills would you recomend?

tunney

Fists, sculling (front, mid, read) balance drills on the side, band and buoy, single arm, doggy style.

Catch up and the one where you drag you thumb up along your side or touch your head I would stear clear of.

Macanri

tunney wrote: »

Fists, sculling (front, mid, read) balance drills on the side, band and buoy, single arm, doggy style.

Catch up and the one where you drag you thumb up along your side or touch your head I would stear clear of.

Cheers Tunney,

I have tried the fists and the catch up once or twice. But I have never really done much drills. Must start them. Why would you stear clear of the last few?

I will google the rest and see what to do.

tunney

Macanri wrote: »

Cheers Tunney,

I have tried the fists and the catch up once or twice. But I have never really done much drills. Must start them. Why would you stear clear of the last few?

I will google the rest and see what to do.

IMHO catch up introduces a dysfunction to the stroke. Not quite the accepted norm.

The touching-the-sides and/or the head promotes a tight shoulder angle and a bunched stroke. While some would argue that this is less than ideal in pool swimming circumstances I don't think anyone would argue that this type of stroke is a disaster in open water - particularly when wearing a wetsuit. Despite the fact (opinion?) that this sort of stroke doesn't work in open water - while wearing a wetsuit it most definitely will result in faster fatiguing and less power.