If you’re training for a triathlon, you need to have a fitness baseline in three completely separate activities, no easy feat. One thing that throws a lot of people for a loop is the swimming leg of the race, which is a whole different type of exercise than the other two events. After all, when you’re walking or running, you don’t have to worry about your head going underwater, leaving you unable to draw breath for a split second.
Swimming can be what leads to the most fatigue within the triathlon, and that fatigue can also breed injuries that compromise your ability to compete in the entire race. A new report from Xtri highlights some of the ways that an individual can go about improving their training for the swimming portion of the triathlon, and you’ll want to remember these precautions so that your body is prepared for the trauma it may go through on race day.
A lot of people training for a triathlon actually end up lending most of their focus to one or two activities, letting the others get short shrift. What that means for a lot of people is that they put off the swimming portion of things for as long as they can, so that when it comes to race day, the swim ends up being the weak link in the chain.
You may be great at cycling and running, but you shouldn’t overlook swimming. Even if the thought of swimming the entire distance that will be required is unpleasant, it’s something to shoot for regularly. When you start, don’t worry about your speed; just get in the pool and get going. Keep track of your laps and don’t start until you’ve gone the equivalent of the race. You may be surprised by your own capabilities, assuming you don’t stress too much about speed.
The report linked up above discusses the importance of building up strength, something that also can’t be ignored. Unlike biking and running, which mostly requires a strong pair of legs, swimming forces your entire body to get in on the action. As such, you want to focus on the types of lifts that will develop your core and your arms, giving you the skills necessary to supplement the kicking that’s happening with your feet.
We would add to that the importance of stretching. The last thing you want is to cramp up when you’re swimming, as that can be dangerous, especially in open water. Work with a trainer to identify the types of stretches that can be beneficial for swimming, and make sure to engage in those both before and after a workout.
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