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MASS SWIM STARTS
The swim start in a
triathlon can be one of the most daunting parts of the triathlon. A
few tips for getting off to a smooth start.
Seed yourself
properly
If you are a stronger
swimmer, you can start up front or near the front. It is still
going to be physical, but it might be easier than having to swim over
hundreds of people. For those weaker swimmers, or simply
those that are looking to avoid the physical aspect of the start,
position yourself near the back or off to the side. Pick the side
that is opposite the buoy line. As the swim progresses, you can
merge yourself into the mainstream and avoid the crunch of the
start.
Give yourself some
space at the start
When waiting for
the start, if you are in water deep enough that you have to tread water,
do so in a horizontal position. Give yourself some
space. The most common mistake is that everyone is treading
water vertically, the gun goes off and all of those bodies that fit in a
small area in the vertical position are now horizontal and at least 5-6
feet longer. If you tread water in this horizontal position, you
give yourself some "personal space", so that you don't have
someone right on top of your legs when the gun goes off.
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TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF SWIMMING
Swimming is the most
technical of the three sports in triathlon. For those of us that haven't
been swimming since we were in diapers, we don't have the natural
"feel for the water". Because of this, it is important to
try and master the technique early on. I cannot stress enough how
beneficial it is to have a coach to watch your swim stroke and give you
some pointers so that you don't develop any bad habits that will be hard
to fix down the road. If you have joined a master's swim group -
don't be afraid to ask the coach to check out your swim stroke and give
you some pointers - that is what they are there for. Also, if you
are fortunate enough to have someone in your area that does swim
videotaping both above and under the water - it is more than worth the
cost to have this done. There is nothing like actually being
able to see what the coach is telling you - getting this visual makes it
a lot easier to correct any technique flaws. Even if you can't do
this but have someone that can simply take some video of you above the
water as you swim - this will help for you to see any glaring technical
flaws.
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BUYING A WETSUIT
There are a number of
factors to consider when purchasing a wetsuit:
Short-Sleeve vs.
Long-Sleeve
There are definite
benefits to each. In general, the long-sleeve suit is considered
slightly faster. However, the range of motion is slightly more
inhibited with the long sleeve suit (fortunately with all of the suits on
the market now, the flexibility is greatly enhanced to limit this).
Bottom line - if you are fortunate enough to be able to purchase both a
long and short sleeve wetsuit - this would be the best case
scenario. Realistically, this is not an option for most.
Because of this, Multisports.com suggests that you go with the
long-sleeve suit. This way, for those early season races when the
water temperature is cold, you are fine, and you will remain fine as the
water temperature rises throughout the year.
Getting the Proper
Fit
The proper fit of your
wetsuit is important for optimal performance. Look at the
manufacturer's suggested size charts, and try on the recommended size as
well as the size down. The wetsuit should feel tight but not
uncomfortable. You do not want to have any excess material, around
the neck etc, so you can avoid any water flowing through. When you
are putting on the wetsuit, start by getting the legs pulled up as far as
possible, and continue working your way up over the behind before you put
your arms in. If you don't have the suit pulled up far enough
from the start, when you try and get your arms in, the suit will pull on
the shoulder area. This is when you get the shoulder
restriction. If you pull the suit up far enough, there should be
some room in the shoulders to allow for free movement. If
possible, try on a few different brand names to give you an idea of the
different features of each.
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