I just spent an amazing 9 days in Costa Rica, checking out a volcano, horseback riding (1st time!), lots of hiking, zip lining (thrilling!), river rafting (class 3-4), and chilling out with monkeys on the beach. The week was so action-packed that I didn’t have time to work out, or even sit down and read. […]
Triathlon Swim Technique: Long strokes or high turnover?
Posted ArticlesI just watched a video done by Swim Smooth on the variety of stroke rates among freestylers: Swim Smooth: What is an efficient freestyle stroke? I think he made some good points, that not everyone HAS to swim with a long stroke in order to be efficient in the water and perfect their triathlon swim […]
LSD, Tri Swim Secrets, and interview with Ben Greenfield – TSC Podcast #21
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I discuss combing long slow distance training with shorter sprint training for endurance success, the re-opening of Triathlon Swimming Essentials, and finally interview triathlon, fitness, and nutrition expert Ben Greenfield of Ben Greenfield Fitness who shares some great insight on training, eating, supplements, and training for huge races on just 8-10 hours […]
Triathlon Swimming Secrets is Open!
Posted ArticlesThe new Tri Swim Coach Online Triathlon Swim Training site is now open! By joining, you will get -6 months of focused content to keep you progressing on your triathlon swimming -Videos with explicit details of how to completely transform your stroke -Workout plans to get ready for various triathlon distances -“Change your bad habits” […]
Breathing in a Triathlon Swim – the Vanilla vs. Chocolate Argument, Part 2 of 2
Posted Articles(continued from Part 1) Open water swimming is different that swimming in a pool in so many ways. The first way that comes to most peoples minds is the common inability to see the bottom, combined with the lack of the black line on the bottom to guide you where to go. There are two […]
Breathing in Swimming – the Vanilla vs. Chocolate Argument, Part 1 of 2
Posted Articlesby David Wendkos [email protected] “You need to breathe bilaterally” “Nuh-uh! I only breathe to my right, and I do fine.” “If you don’t breathe to both sides, you’ll go slower” “Then why are so many Olympic swimmers breathing every two strokes, even in races as short as 100 meters? Huh?” The arguments for unilateral and […]
Interview with Brett Blankner of Zen Triathlon – TSC Podcast #20
Posted PodcastsReferences: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Click here to open up itunes and add a rating/comment! Zen Triathlon – http://zentriathlon.com Brett’s twitter: http://twitter.com/zentriathlon 3 Pillars of Zen book Music: Thievery Corporation- “All That We Perceive” https://www.triswimcoach.com/podcast/podcast20_brettblankner.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts […]
Try Swimming in Jell-O at Your Next Triathlon
Posted ArticlesBy David Wendkos I recently heard a great ‘word picture’ to help describe how to initiate your catch in the water and maintain a grip as you pull through your stroke. It is the common thought to view a freestyle stroke as placing your hand in front of you and then stroking backward toward your […]
Interview with Glenn Mills – TSC Podcast #19
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview swim instructor and coach Glenn Mills of GoSwim.tv who shares some great insight on swimming training. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Click here to open up itunes and add a rating/comment! Music: Pinback- […]
Carbo Loading, is it Still a Good Idea?
Posted ArticlesI’m currently training for a half marathon with a local running group, and we’re about a week away from starting our “taper” phase, which means we will slowly start to decrease mileage and intensity of our runs leading up to the race we are training for. I’m bracing for the nutrition plan our coach is […]
The Low Carb Triathlete: Jonas Colting
Posted ArticlesToday, I had the pleasure of listening to an interview with Swedish pro triathlete Jonas Colting on the Livin la vida Low Carb show with Jimmy Moore. Jonas is a 36 year old champion triathlete in his prime, eating a low carbohydrate diet and clearly thriving. This supports much of what I discuss on the […]
Running, Recovery and the Downsides of Reverse Tapers
Posted ArticlesI’m about 2 weeks away from doing my first half marathon since April 09, and yesterday I realized how unprepared I am for the race. I ran 11.2 miles, and about the last 2.5 hurt! And, this was not at any kind of brisk pace, just finishing the run was the challenge yesterday. So today […]
The Minimalist: Train Smarter and More Efficiently to Stay Healthy Longer
Posted ArticlesBy Aaron Moss When I started coaching beginning triathletes and gave them their first training schedule, I expected to get a response like, “Do I have to do all of it?” After all, looking at the weekly lineup of workouts, it appears burly in terms of total time spent training. However, this is split over […]
More Help with Breathing in Freestyle
Posted ArticlesTriathletes who did not come from a swimming background can often have a tough time learning how to breathe in freestyle. I have written a couple of articles on this, addressing some of the major issues many people face with breathing. This video shows a drill that adds a nice component to what we already […]
Ironman Kona 2009 Coverage on NBC
Posted ArticlesOn Saturday, I watched the Ironman on NBC as I do every year when it airs on TV. I find the Ironman to be inspirational, exciting, and even emotional, as I watch all the stories unfold: from the pros racing to win, to the challenged athletes to the people who are still doing the race […]
Interview with Leanda Cave – TSC Podcast #18
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview pro triathlete Leanda Cave, http://leandacave.com References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Abu Dhabi Triathlon 2010 Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Click here to open up itunes and add a rating/comment! Music: Hybrid- “Finished Symphony” https://www.triswimcoach.com/podcast/podcast18_leandacave.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | […]
Inspiration From an Amputee Marathon Runner
Posted ArticlesI just read an article that really inspired me: Amy Palmiero-Winters, who is missing a leg, just ran the White Rock marathon in Dallas, TX. But that isn’t even the inspirational part. Amy’s cause is helping inspire other amputees. Not just by running marathons and other races herself, but by meeting with children who have […]
Triathlon Swimming: It’s all in your head
Posted Articlesby David Wendkos [email protected] So, I take my four-year-old son, Evan, ice skating for the first time. We aren’t on the ice for 20 seconds before he starts to get upset and states, “I can’t do this!” I lean over and tell him that, of course he doesn’t know how yet, but we will work […]
Avoiding Colds & Flus around the holidays – TSC Podcast #17
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I discuss 6 tips on staying healthy around the holidays. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Joseph Mercola article on colds, flus, and vitamin D: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/03/How-to-Prevent-the-Flu-Easy-as-1-2-3.aspx My other website on mind-body fitness & weight loss: http://healthymindfitbody.com Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: […]
Freestyle and Backstroke Drills
Posted ArticlesIt’s great to combine these two strokes, even if you are primarily training for a freestyle event.
Swimming Advice
Posted ArticlesIf at First, You Don’t Understand, Try, Try Again by David Wendkos My last post focused on the differences between the ideal kick for a triathlon swim as opposed to others. It was introduced by pointing out the challenge of human communication and how often, different people will try to communicate the same idea in […]
Coming back to swimming after a break – TSC Podcast #16
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I discuss tips on how to make a swimming comeback if you’ve been out of the water for a while. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Click here to open up itunes and add a rating/comment! Music: […]
A Little Kick Goes a Long Way in Triathlon Swimming
Posted Articlesby David Wendkos Yet again, my topic comes from a conversation with a fellow athlete. Nancy has completed more than one Ironman distance event, as well as a variety of other triathlons. Her swim is clearly her weakest leg, and so she has been trying to focus on improving it. She has spoken with more […]
Make the most of your triathlon season—even when it’s over- Part 3 of 3
Posted ArticlesBy Aaron Moss Part 3 of 3: Goal Setting The previous two parts of the series discussed data collection and analysis of the data to get you ready for setting your goals and plan for the offseason. Using this retrospective analysis and a list of those specific areas you feel offer the biggest potential for […]
Are You Coachable? Lessons From Dara Torres
Posted Articlesby David Wendkos [email protected] I once took a course in which the seminar leader, Larry, asked each person present to make a commitment to be coachable. Most of us immediately responded that we would do so. Larry then asked, “Before agreeing, don’t you think you should understand what I mean by ‘coachable’?” That seemed silly […]
Make the Most of Your Triathlon Season—Even When it’s Over
Posted ArticlesBy Aaron Moss Part 1 of 3: Assessment For a lot of us triathletes the end of the racing season is a time of confusion and lack of direction. Many athletes find themselves wondering what to do when they aren’t racing, because there is a void inside of them where the goal of training for […]
Triathletes, When is the Right Time to Work with a Swim Coach?
Posted Articlesby David Wendkos [email protected] “A prudent person profits from personal experience, a wise one from the experience of others.” – Joseph Collins Recently, I was chatting with a friend who is also an aspiring triathlete. She is relatively new to the sport, coming predominantly from a running background. She remarked that she was slow in […]
Yoga and Swimming
Posted ArticlesA really important part of triathlon and swim training is yoga. I spend a chapter in my book, The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming on it. Here are some of the benefits I have listed: Flexibility: Yoga does involve stretching the muscles. But there is more to it than that. People often ask me, “Is […]
Interview with Triathlete Rachel Ragona – TSC Podcast #15
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview kick ass amateur triathlete Rachel Ragona. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Click here to open up itunes and add a rating/comment! Music: The Crystal Method- “It Hertz” https://www.triswimcoach.com/podcast/TSC_podcast15_rachelinterview.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Morning Workouts
Posted ArticlesEver do a morning workout and feel like you’re struggling, even though just the day or two before you felt great? Often times, this is due to your body lacking the calories it needs to perform the activity you set out to do. I meet people all the time that say they skip breakfast before […]
3 Swimming Drills for the Offseason (or Anytime!)
Posted Articles1. Kick WITHOUT a kickboard, On your side. This improves balance in the water and with practice, will improve your kick. Also, stretch your ankles- ankle inflexibility is the #1 reason for a weak kick! 2. One-Armed Freestyle. Freestyle only using one arm to stroke, while keeping the other arm at your side. Rotate your […]
La Jolla Roughwater Swim
Posted ArticlesLast weekend, the annual La Jolla Roughwater Swim took place here on the shores of San Diego. There is a 1-mile and a 3-mile swim, and all age groups are included. I watched all of the mens 1-mile competitions from a front row seat! Ironically, even though it is called the “rough water” swim, most […]
Zoomers Fins- Your Key to Swimming Success?
Posted ArticlesToday I want to talk about a classic conversation piece around pools: Zoomers fins. I have written about them in the past but wanted to update and reiterate! One of the most common questions I hear as a coach is, “Should I use fins?” The answer depends largely on your goals, your skill level and […]
Do you love or hate swimming? – TSC Podcast #14
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I discuss the love/hate dichotomy among triathletes, burnout, and several announcements. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Find the Brian Tracy book Goals here. Triathica training center in Lake Forest, CA: Click here for more info on online triathlon training. Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach […]
Why Bend Your Elbows in Freestyle?
Posted ArticlesOn the freestyle recovery, you often hear from coaches (like me) to bend your elbows on recovery. Swimmers may wonder why bending elbows is recommended so often. While there are swimmers, like legendary World Record holder Janet Evans, who have perfected the straight arm or “windmill” recovery, this is not a technique that works for […]
Kara Lynn Joyce (American Record Holder) Shows Us Freestyle
Posted ArticlesThere’s some awesome shots in this video that we can all learn from (except for the part where she’s using a dreaded kick board!)
Matt Hoover: The Biggest Loser is doing Ironman Hawaii!
Posted ArticlesLast night, I attended the tri club san diego’s monthly meeting, and had the pleasure of seeing guest speaker Matt Hoover talk about his journey from losing 157 pounds on TV’s The Biggest Loser, to now training for the Ironman this October! It was definitely an inspirational story. His success with weight loss started with […]
Triathlon Swim Clinic at Triathica
Posted ArticlesOn Sunday, I went up to the Triathica Academy training center in Orange County, CA (about 1 hour, 10 minutes from my home in San Diego) to analyze some strokes for four triathletes. They were everything from beginner level to competitive, one woman, Julia is going to the world championships in Gold Coast, Australia in […]
Friday Fun Day
Posted ArticlesWoke up this morning and recorded a podcast for Healthy Mind, Fit Body. After this, around 9:30 a.m. I was greeted with a wood chipper across the street! Apparently, there was a fixer-upper for sale and it was just purchased. It’s a crappy old house that has all of its original features from the 1960’s, […]
Should You Warm Down at the End of Your Swim Workout?
Posted ArticlesWhether it’s swimming, running, or biking, make sure you are doing a proper warm down. Most masters swim teams I have been on do a lousy job implementing a warm down into workouts. It’s especially important after you have done sprints and large-effort swims to do at least a few lengths of easy swimming before […]
Inspirational Stories from Non-Swimmer Triathletes – TSC Podcast #13
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview two amateur triathletes who had little to no experience swimming before doing triathlons. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri Swim Coach’ in the search field. Click on the […]
Gatorade and Sports Drinks
Posted ArticlesI see swimmers in my workouts bringing their Gatorade bottles or other sports drinks to the pool with them, and sipping them throughout practice. Hydration is good most of the time, but is water enough or do we need something extra while we work out? There are a wide variety of sports drinks available, most […]
Swimming Straight in the Open Water
Posted ArticlesHow do I swim straight in the open water? This is a major challenge to open water swimming (and even swimming in a pool with lane lines!), and the key lies in one of our other fun challenges in swimming: breathing! Here’s a quick guide to swimming straight: 1. Simply doing alternate (or bi-lateral) breathing […]
Swimming for Triathlon: Cold Water Swimming & Cramps – TSC Podcast #12
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I discuss tactics for handling cold water and answer a question about cramps. References: Healthy Mind, Fit Body: New book Priority list at http://www.healthymindfitbody.com Please comment on this podcast! Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri Swim Coach’ in the search field. Click on the Tri Swim […]
How to Structure a Triathlon Swim Workout
Posted ArticlesWhether or not you have my training guide for triathlon swimming, you may need some help structuring your workouts or just need more background on how the workouts in my book are formulated. Let’s look at a typical workout and dissect it. 300 Warm Up 300 yards or meters. 12 lengths in a 25 yard […]
Trans Tahoe Relay Swim 2009
Posted ArticlesIn about an hour, I will be jumping on a plane headed to Sacramento, and visiting a friend there tonight until leaving for Lake Tahoe, CA tomorrow for the Trans Tahoe Relay. It’s a race across the width of Lake Tahoe, about 11.5 miles. This is a 6-person relay where we have a boat, and each […]
Slow Progression in Swimming
Posted ArticlesA topic that came up in the Beginner Triathlete chat forums last night was, how quickly to add distance to your workouts in swimming? There’s no “one size fits all” here, but generally, you want to be conservative when increasing the distance of your workouts. Focus on your technique first with drills, then decrease the […]
Underwater View of My Stroke in the Endless Pool
Posted ArticlesThis was from my experience swimming at the Endless Pool at Triathica Academy Triathlon Training Center in Irvine last month. Check it out! For southern California locals I highly recommend checking out the training center and getting videoed.
Make Your Workouts Count
Posted ArticlesFor some, making your workouts count may mean “go hard or go home”, or “no pain, no gain”, or some other silly expression. Making your workouts count really should mean setting weekly goals and following through. You may want to decrease your average stroke count per length, decrease your interval, or increase the amount of […]
Swim Tip: Keeping the Feel
Posted ArticlesAfter my 2.5 month trip to Australia and New Zealand last year, I didn’t exactly keep in great swimming shape. This was partly due to not having a car to get around, and partly due to sight seeing as much as humanly possible. However, I did not just let my swimming go. I made sure […]
Interview with Coach Patrick McCrann – TSC Podcast #11
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview Ironman Triathlon Coach Patrick Mcrann of Endurance Nation. References: Endurance Nation: http://www.endurancenation.us Book: 10 Hours a Week: The Age Grouper’s Guide to Competitive Triathlon DVD: The 4 Keys To Long Distance Triathlon Training Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri Swim Coach’ in the search […]
Sports Supplements
Posted ArticlesSummary of Sports Supplement Lecture Coastal Sports Medicine www.coastalsportsmedicine.com August 18, 2008 San Diego, CA Endurance exercise can significantly increase the production of free oxygen radicals. However, the training or exercise history is important. In untrained or sedentary individuals, skeletal muscle damage can occur from the increased free oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation levels and […]
Tri Swim Coach Training Tip- Relax!
Posted ArticlesThe sport of triathlon can definitely keep you very busy! Between work, workouts, family, etc., often it is difficult to actually relax. Many triathletes I know are “type A” personalities, and feel like they constantly have to be in action. This can lead to burnout and injury. It is very important to take 15 minutes […]
The ‘S’ Curve in Freestyle Swimming
Posted ArticlesThe “S” Curve Too many times I have heard swimmers ask me, “should I do the ‘S’ Curve when I pull?” The “S” Curve has been a method, created by the Red Cross, of teaching a swimmer how to do the “proper” pull in freestyle. However, this is not exactly correct. First, there are many […]
Masters Swimming vs. Swimming On Your Own
Posted ArticlesMasters swimming offers some wonderful benefits such has the social and motivational aspects of a group, and a coach to give you structured workouts and occassional feedback. However, masters workouts have their downside for many swimmers! If you do belong to a masters group, make sure you are not overdoing it. If your stroke technique […]
Managing Your Diet – TSC Podcast #10
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we cover: How should you eat for your best body and most energy for training? References: Tri Swim Coach Newsletter with 5 free online swim lessons: http://www.triswimlessons.com Workouts for Working People book, by Mark Allen & Julie Moss Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri Swim Coach’ […]
Get Off Your Stomach
Posted ArticlesIf you’re swimming on your stomach, you will need to change this bad habit! Triathletes need all the energy they can get, and learning to swim on your side rather than swimming flat in the water will allow you to reserve your energy for the main part of the race. If you’re a stomach swimmer, […]
Hand Position in Swimming
Posted ArticlesMany swimmers enter their hands into the water properly and extend the arm out in front, but then put up a “stop sign”, where their hand curves up in front of them and actually pushes against the water in front of them, causing a slowdown or pause in their stroke. Make sure that you are […]
Hand Entry in Freestyle
Posted ArticlesOn freestyle arm recovery, it seems logical to lift your arm out of the water, and reach as far as you can through the air before putting your arm back into the water to start your next pull. It may come to a surprise to many people to find out that this is inefficient! Reaching […]
What To Look For in a Swim Coach
Posted ArticlesYou may decide that after reading several swimming books, practicing drills and workouts in the pool on your own, joining a masters swim team, and even ordering The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming online, that you need a little outside help to get your swim where it needs to be for a tri. You’re normal! […]
Do You Find Your Arm Dropping in Freestyle as You Go to Take a Breath?
Posted ArticlesYou are not alone! This is a very common problem among freestyle swimmers. Practice these drills to overcome this and improve your stroke: 1. Kick on your side with your arm extended. Belly button should be pointing directly at the wall, eyes at the bottom of the pool, hand extended. When you need air, roll […]
Train Swimming in your Race Environment
Posted ArticlesWhen training for an open water swim, part of your training should be in an environment similar to the one you will be racing in. If you are doing an ocean swim, don’t let the race be the first time you set foot in the ocean! It’s important to get your body used to the […]
Minimize Your Use of Equipment for a Better Freestyle
Posted ArticlesEverybody, especially triathletes, seems to love the pull buoys, kick boards, big paddles and long fins. However, these items are not going to help you when training for a triathlon swim. Buoys and boards are floatation devices and give you a false sense of being on top of the water, and are allowing you to […]
Triathlon Race Day Swim Tips – TSC Podcast #9
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we cover: 6 Frequently Asked Questions on race day swimming Question of the week: In freestyle, when should your hips start to rotate? References: Tri Swim Coach Newsletter with 5 free online swim lessons: http://www.triswimlessons.com The Triathlon Swimming Essentials: https://triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swimming/ Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri […]
8 Tips to Training the Open Water
Posted ArticlesSo you’re ready to get out there and do some open water swimming to prepare for your next triathlon? Before you go dipping into your local body of water, keep these tips in mind: 1. Never swim alone. For safety purposes, always swim with a group or bring along a friend. Given the unknown elements, […]
Strength Training for Swimming Improvement?
Posted ArticlesI often get asked about what type of weights or strength training helps the most in swimming. The answer is that gaining muscle strength in general, such as working the triceps, will not help you to swim faster (especially when we’re taking distances of 1K or longer!). However, triathletes and open water swimmers can make […]
3 Swimming Drills to Master Before Your Next Triathlon
Posted Articles1. Swim with your fists. Closing your fists and swimming freestyle can really improve your stroke technique. At first it will feel clumsy and awkward, but it actually forces you to rotate your hips and move through the water the way you are supposed to. Try alternating 2 laps with fists, and 2 laps straight […]
Tips on Drafting on the Triathlon Swim
Posted ArticlesIs it legal to draft off of other swimmers in a triathlon? Yes! Is it a good idea to draft off of other swimmers in a triathlon? Yes! Most people draft in the swim, whether they know it or not (except of course, whoever the leader is). But how can you get better at it? […]
What to Do About Shoulder Injuries in Swimming
Posted ArticlesPlaying sports competitively comes with certain risks, injury being the most important. While swimming isn’t usually thought of in this light, it’s certainly an activity that can result in injury. When it comes to the pool or open water, the most common injury generally involves the shoulder. I’ve been swimming competitively off and on for […]
Learning to Reduce Your Stroke Count Will Make You a Better Swimmer
Posted ArticlesIn the past, you’ve probably had coaches that asked you to count strokes during your workout, either by incorporating it into drill sets, the primary set, or at the end of a workout. Indeed, many coaches advise their swimmers to make a habit of keeping track of the stroke count. After years of experience coaching […]
Training with Sports Drinks and Sinking While Swimming – TSC Podcast #8
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I cover the pros and cons of sports drinks, as well as what to do about sinking. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘tri swim coach’ in the search field. Click on the Tri Swim Coach […]
Learning to Breathe Bilaterally
Posted ArticlesYou may already have heard the most commonly asked question in the swimming world today. Which of the following techniques is superior: breathing to one side, or bilateral breathing? Until just one year ago, I breathed to the right side every time I got in the pool. Why, do you ask? Simply because taking breaths […]
Breathing while Swimming
Posted ArticlesOne of the most commonly asked questions in the world of triathlons involves breathing. While swimming freestyle, the first step on the road to proper form is body positioning. Add in breathing, and suddenly everything is turned on its head! More than anything else, this has to do with a lack of balance. Instead of […]
Using Fins to Improve Your Swim
Posted ArticlesOne of the most commonly asked questions in all of competitive swimiming is whether fins are beneficial in training. There is no one answer; whether fins are right for you depends on what you hope to gain, your level of skill, and the type of fins used. Swimmers often wear fins simply to maintain the […]
What Can Yoga Do For You?
Posted ArticlesLast night, I attended a yoga class for the first time in about a month. I was going to a yoga class at my gym consistently over several months while training for the past 2 half marathons I did. It helped keep me feeling loose, kept the injuries at bay, and gave me more energy. […]
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Masters Swimming as a Triathlete (Part 2)
Posted Articlescontinued from Part 1. 6. If someone touches your feet when you are swimming, let them pass by staying to the right, or stopping at the next wall and moving to the right side of the lane. Try not to take any offense to getting passed, this happens all the time. 7. At the beginning […]
Interview with Pro Triathlete Ruthy Vesler – TSC Podcast #7
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, I interview pro triathlete and coach Ruthy Vesler. References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘tri swim coach’ in the search field. Click on the Tri Swim Coach podcast (at the top) and add your comments/ratings. Music: […]
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Masters Swimming As a Triathlete (Part 1)
Posted ArticlesMany people in the triathlon community, particularly the beginner crowd, believe that masters swim teams (coached group workouts for those 18 years of age and older) are for fast, competitive swimmers that probably swam on teams their whole lives. These triathletes tell me that there is no room for novices, and they feel out of […]
Practice Drills or Build Endurance?
Posted ArticlesWhat should your focus in swimming be? It really depends on what level swimmer you are. If you’re: – A new swimmer – Still swimming flat in the water with no hip rotation or – Plateauing or having a tough time making gains then I would recommend 90-100% of your time spent in the water […]
Play Free Golf for a better, faster freestyle
Posted ArticlesOpen water swimmers and triathletes are often confused on how to get faster. Often, they think that they need to swim fast to go fast. In other words, just train harder and do sprints at workouts. Since swimming is so technique-focused, the fastest way to getting faster in the water is to play a game […]
10 Steps to Improve Your Triathlon Swim – TSC Podcast #6
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we cover: The 10 most important things to work on to improve your triathlon swim Question of the week: What to do after you have improved your stroke and can swim 1650 yards? References: The Triathlon Swimming Essentials: https://triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swimming/ Tri Swim Coach podcast comments: Open up iTunes and type in ‘Tri Swim […]
Swimming in Cold Water
Posted ArticlesI’ll be the first to say, I hate the cold! Cold air, and especially cold water. 14 years of competitive swimming, I never once got used to or enjoyed jumping into a cold pool. These days, I prefer open water swimming to pool swimming, but refuse to get in our local Pacific Ocean until it […]
Arm Recovery in Freestyle
Posted ArticlesI found this great video by New York coach Doug Stern. He does a great job describing the arm recovery in freestyle. Some of it is a bit technical but if you just get the gist it you will learn quite a bit here.
Tapering for a Triathlon – TSC Podcast #5
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we cover: 7 Tips on Tapering for a Triathlon Question of the week: Overcoming open water swim start anxiety References: The 3 Essential Elements to Master Freestyle for Triathlon: https://www.triswimcoach.com/triathlon-swim-faster/ Music: Thievery Corporation- “A Gentle Dissolve” https://www.triswimcoach.com/podcast/podcast5-tapering.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Swimming Equipment: What do triathletes need?
Posted ArticlesTriathletes seem to love their toys and gadgets! Whether it’s the latest gauge for the bike, the highest-tech running show on the market, or a SwiMP3 player for swimming, part of the fun of this sport seems to be collecting the latest and greatest in equipment. But what do you really need for swimming? Not […]
Calorie Burning in Swimming
Posted ArticlesWhen it comes to burning calories, swimming tends to fall in the middle of running and cycling for workout efficiency. Running tends to burn the most calories per minute, while biking would burn the least of the 3 triathlon legs. However, the amount of calories burned in swimming will depend on your stroke technique, and […]
Long Slow Distance For Swimming?
Posted ArticlesEndurance athletes are often familiar with the concept of LSD- Long Slow Distance. Swimming training for triathlons definitely requires some LSD training. But how long and how much? Partly it will depend on the distance of your race. At minimum, I recommend swimming the distance of your race straight at least once per week (after […]
Take the Triathlon Swimming Challenge!
Posted ArticlesCheck out the triathlon swimming quiz on facebook and test your knowledge! Find out your ranking!
Freestyle Swimming and Golf – TSC Podcast #4
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we’ll cover: Swimming and Golf: How are they similar and what can triathletes learn from this? Question of the week: How to avoid sinking hips References: Fins, snorkel, and Freestyler paddles can be found at www.finisinc.com for 20% off using discount code ‘aggies20’. The Triathlon Summit, free interview with Kevin Koskella Triathlon […]
Measuring Your Progress In Swimming
Posted ArticlesEspecially as a beginner swimmer, it can be difficult to measure your progress in the pool. Most triathletes tend to get caught up in how fast they are going. “My 400 time is too slow!” “My base interval is too much!” “I’m the slowest in my group! Old ladies are passing me up!” Being obsessed […]
Lane Etiquette for Lap Swimming
Posted ArticlesIf you are training for a triathlon, it is likely that you prepare for the swim at least partially at a pool where you join in with other lap swimmers. It can be confusing as to what the “rules” are when you get in a lap lane with one or more other swimmers. Here are […]
5 Open Water Swimming Tips
Posted ArticlesThere are countless challenges to open water swimming for triathletes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your next race or training session: 1. Practice in the pool with workout buddies. It can be quite the shock and even panic can set in at the beginning of a triathlon, where there will […]
Hypoxic Training in Freestyle For Triathletes – TSC Podcast #3
Posted PodcastsIn this episode, we’ll cover: Hypoxic Training in swimming- Is is good for you as a triathlete? Question of the week with a 5-step approach to building your swim training References: Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming & Essential Triathlon Swimming DVD can be found at: www.triswimcoach.com Music: Michelle Branch- “Breathe” p.s. sorry about the buzzing […]
Interval Training In Swimming: How Much Rest?
Posted ArticlesIf you are training for a triathlon swim, what kind of intervals should you be doing? Interval Training in Swimming At the two ends of the spectrum are tight intervals where you only get around 5 seconds of rest, and long-rest intervals where you get lots of rest. Typically, the latter swims come with the […]
50 meter vs. 25 yard or 25 meter pools
Posted ArticlesWhen training for a triathlon, is it okay to train in a 25 yard or meter pool, or should you try to swim in a 50 meter pool as much as possible? Most pools in the U.S. are unfortunately 25 yards in length. Some are 50 meters (which is the real Olympic-size), but even most […]
Developing a Kick for your Triathlon Swim
Posted ArticlesA confusing issue for many triathlon swimmers is how often to kick in the swim? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many coaches and swimmers want to focus on a “beat” kick. You will hear “develop a 3-beat kick” around swimming circles. This may work well for some people. But let’s look at […]
Kicking in Freestyle – TSC Podcast #2
Posted PodcastsWhat you need to know about kicking for your next triathlon swim. Music: The Crystal Method, “The Bones Theme” Welcome to the Tri Swim Coach podcast. Today is Friday, March 6, 2009 and this is podcast # 2. We’re going to be continuing with topics on technique, for the first few episodes here, and like […]
Tri Swim Coach Podcast is Live!
Posted ArticlesInsight on triathlon swimming for beginners through advanced level triathletes! We’ll focus on swimming tips, techniques, workouts, and general Q&A for the first few episodes, followed by interviews with pro’s, coaches, and other endurance experts. The first episode on breathing in swimming is up, the next one will be done this week! Subscribe in iTunes […]
Waterproof Drill Cards Preview
Posted ArticlesI FINALLY got the cards, and did a little video preview. Enjoy!
Panic in a triathlon swim?
Posted ArticlesDon’t panic in a triathlon swim Do you experience a sensation of panic when you put your face in the water? Has this stopped you from competing in a triathlon, or freaked you out in a race? Well you are not alone! In fact, many beginner swimmers feel this sense of panic when they attempt […]