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Why is a triathlon the length it is?

Training for triathlon swim?

  • I am training my husband in swimming for a triathlon. He is an avid cyclist and runner. He has a perfect "red cross" front crawl stroke. He can only swim 1 length (25yrds) of the pool and becomes completely out of breath. He has been in the water trying to swim laps maybe a handful of times now. He still can only swim 1 length and is so out of breath. He rests 30 seconds and does another length for a total of 10 lengths. Is this normal? How long will it take for him to build up swimming stamina to be able to swim continously for 15 minutes? Any tools to help improve and make it easier for him to swim?

  • Answer:

    Check his breathing. Most non-swimmers hold their breath while they're swimming, then doing a short forceful exhale and a quick inhale when they breath. This quickly puts him into oxygen debt, which results in signifcant fatigue. Have him completely exhale before turning his head to inhale. The other thing he has to do is continue beyond that first lap. His cycling and running muscles won't be that much help to him. He has to develop the swimming muscles and the way to do that is by pushing the envelop. Just as he wouldn't stop after the first 1/4 mile of the run if his legs started to get tired he shouldn't stop every length. Have him do 10 x 100's with 30 seconds rest in between, trying to hold the same time on all ten. Good luck

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He'll just have to swim everyday and go a little further each time on his training. If he smokes tell him to cut down or don't smoke an hour before he hits the pool. Also if he uses his legs more it won't exhaust him as much. So he should use a swim board for a while to build up strength in his leg's and get more lengths in. When he's built power in his legs his swim stokes wont wear him out like they are doing now.

Riley

His swim stroke is not effective. He needs stroke correction training. He might have a perfect red cross stroke (whatever that is??) but if he swims 25 yards and is out of breath, he is no swimmer. During swim training we often swim taking as few breaths as possible ...a form of lung capacity boost training. It would help him to improve his stroke.. by counting the number of strokes per lap and trying to reduce them (glide more and kick harder)... and by timing each lap and reducing it. For example... for 25m I have gotten my stroke down to 5 strokes for 25m Breastroke.. but I am faster if I take 6 strokes ~ slower if I take 8.... so between 6 and 7 strokes is my current best attack for breastroke. I'm working on strengthening my pull and reducing water resistance during my glide. He needs a coach to correct his stroke. To improve his glide and strengthen his kick he should try "freestyle catch up".... where you touch one hand to the other before pulling through the stroke.... high elbows... pull all the way through the water to your thighs.

Spanky Gazpacho DW

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