Most training for the swim portion of a triathlon will occur in a pool.
As the first leg of a triathlon, mastering swimming will help you get off to a good start. Working on being comfortable in the water, swimming long distances without taking breaks, and using efficient strokes are all parts of triathlon swim training.
Equipment
You will need a pair of goggles that fit comfortably on your face, keep water out and do not fog up while you swim. Athletes with hair longer than a couple inches will also want a swim cap to keep hair pulled back.
Comfort
The first part of training to swim in a triathlon is becoming comfortable in the water. Some things to master are relaxing, breathing out with your face underwater, turning just your head to breathe and practicing in deep water.
Distance
The normal triathlon has a swim of 1500m, although it can range from 400m in sprint triathlons to 3.8km in the Ironman triathlon. Your swim workouts during training should eventually be around twice that distance to develop endurance.
Efficiency
Because you will need to bike and run after you swim in the triathlon, one key to training is developing efficiency. Work on proper form, with your body flat in the water and your head facing down. Also focus on using fewer strokes by cupping your hands to pull yourself farther with each stroke.
Open Water
If the triathlon will occur in open water with a large group, practice in this setting to develop comfort swimming near others, looking around while you swim so you go in the right direction, and swimming continuously without pushing off a wall.
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