triathlon swimming RSS

One of the first questions I am asked by new swimmers is ‘what is wrong with my technique’. As a swim coach the technical floors of beginner and intermediate swimmers are clear and glaring however to fix these issues becomes a long process. I have come to call the system we use for swimming progression as layering. From a macro viewpoint there are only two things to improved in any swimmer: The engine The technique   If we choose to improve the cardio/ engine in isolation of any technique a swimmer will not develop efficiencies and feel for the water....

_To kick or Not to kick – that is the question  - Author Scott Larsen, Tri Edge CoachIf you have watched any Olympics you will see how quick the human body can actually move through the water.  Without fail the great swimmers of all time have a kick to die for.  In fact when Mark Spits the great American swimmer who won 9 gold medals at the Munich Olympics in Germany felt like he was in world record shape he used a kick set as a test.  He believed if he could kick 100m in less than 1 minute he...

_Drafting Distance in Swimming. 
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 35(7):1176-1181, July 2003.
CHATARD, JEAN-CLAUDE 1; WILSON, BARRY 2 Abstract: 
CHATARD, J.-C., and B. WILSON. Drafting Distance in Swimming. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 7, pp. 1176-1181, 2003. Purpose: This study investigates the effect of the distance separating the lead and draft swimmers on the metabolic and hydrodynamic responses of the draft swimmer. Methods: A nondrafting swim of 4 min at 95% of the best 1500-m pace for 11 swimmers was compared with swimming in a drafting position at four different distances directly behind another swimmer (0, 50,...

_Use the clock!  - Author Scott Larsen, Tri Edge CoachSwimming is much different from cycling and running in the intensity that you can train.  Water provides a weightless environment and there is no impact on you muscles.  This will mean your recovery time from swimming training will be much shorter than the other two disciplines.  So how can you use this to your advantage?One way of getting the most out of your swimming training is working with a time clock.  It absolutely amazes me how many athletes can not use these clocks.Here are some tips:Leaving times – in general triathletes...

In Triathlon the most efficient swimming style to use is the freestyle swimming stroke.  This technique is also referred to the 'front crawl' in some parts of the world.      As compared to other swimming strokes this stroke is: The fastest stroke The stroke that best uses our largest muscles in the most effective way Gives athletes the ability to ‘sight’ and see where they are going in Triathlon The freestyle swim stroke has 8 key components The kick -  This is often a forgotten part of the freestyle swimming stroke and in the Tri Edge training philosophy a very key...