| |
Surviving the Triathlon Start
By Kevin Koskella
The start of a triathlon can be nerve-wracking, tiring,
intimidating, frustrating, and even discouraging (why do we do
this sport??). But don't let all this get to you! The start for
everyone is a crazy cluster of splashing, starts and stops,
physical contact, and swimmers trying to separate from each
other. Here are some tips to deal with what some consider
being the toughest part of any triathlon:
1.Expect the worst. Go into the event expecting that the start
will not be easy. Know that you will bump into people, others
will bump into you, but 99% of the time it is all by accident. Also
know that the chaos at the beginning will not last for the entire
swim, it will break up quickly as different speed swimmers
separate.
2. Don't panic. Keep your breathing from getting short. Stay as
relaxed as you can while everyone else tries to get pole
position. Don't let others being frantic affect your state of mind.
3. Stay to the outside. Many will try to stay to the inside, as
close to in line with the first buoy as they can get. Don't follow
the pack. Start outside and work your way in as you approach
buoy #1. You many not get perfectly clean water, but you will
save yourself from much of the madness.
4. Run until the water level is at your knees. This will
maximize your time on land without being slowed by running
through water.
5. Use shorter strokes to get through the chop. If you are
swimming in the ocean and it is a choppy day, this technique
helps tremendously. Once you get to some smoother water, go
back to long strokes to maximize efficiency and conserve
energy.
These 5 tips should help you to at least tolerate, if not enjoy, the
beginning of a triathlon!
About the Author
Kevin operates the website www.TriSwimCoach.com, a resource for beginning through intermediate level triathletes looking for help with swimming. The site features a free email newsletter offering tips and articles on triathlon swimming. Kevin has also written an electronic book titled "The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming" which is sold on his website in downloadable form.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/15049.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/15049.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Kevin Koskella | Tapering for a Triathlon
You may have been training for weeks or months already, but now it is
2 weeks before your race and it's time to think about resting. Many
triathletes ...
Triathlete, Do You Have Runner's Kick?
Can you point your toes and straighten out your feet?
When you kick on your back, do you tend to go very slow, stay
in ...
8 Tips On Open Water Swimming
So you're ready to get out there and do some open water swimming to
prepare for your next triathlon? Open water swimming is definitely an ...
|
|
| |
|
