Triathlon Relay Swim Portion Advice

atynk
atynk Posts: 400 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All,

I am swimming a 750 meter part of a trathlon relay. I can't do the full as I currently have a torn meniscius and basically only upper body workouts are my friend right now, other than swimming..

Any tips how to rock this?? I have been swimming 1000 meters so far at a slower pace ( to make sure I could do it), and was ok. I used to swim competitively so I'm not struggling with this ... yet. I would like to have an amazing time, and will be training 2 days a week minimum for this.. My other days I do a lot of upper body strength and core training.

Would I need a wetsuit for this distance? I could rent one, I heard the wetsuits help with floating and such.

Also what is a good time to have to finish a 750 meter race or 1000 meter ( thought training farther would make the 750 feel easy lol)

Thanks for any tips!

Replies

  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    I can answer on the wet suit portion- first, check the rules. Most triathlons allow wet suits only if the water temp is below a certain level. If you need it because of the low water temp, I'd definitely go for it just for comfort. Personally, I find wet suits confining even though I bought one that fits properly (the places that used to rent them around here no longer do). If you don't need it, just do without. They also increase your transition time (you have to peel it off carefully so you don't tear it) although in a relay I think the next person can start as soon as you get back into the staging area.
  • atynk
    atynk Posts: 400 Member
    Ya i don't need to take it off for the next so that's no biggie :)
  • FineasEnferb
    FineasEnferb Posts: 9 Member
    If you can use a wetsuit for the event then do it. One thing you might want to start doing during your swim workouts is raising your head out of the water every few strokes as this will train you on how to keep on track to the next buoy or where you will turn around and head back to shore. Sighting as they call it takes a lot more energy than just normal side to side breathing while swimming. Maybe come up with a certain number of strokes before you lift your head to site down the pool.

    In an ocean swim you need to be confident on where you are going. When you lose track of where to go you may panic a little which will cause you to slow down until you are sure you are on the right track again. Don't rely on others either, been there done that!
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    Oh, yeah- staying on course is a biggie. I was in one where a guy near me got off course and they kept yelling at him to direct him back. Wasted energy. Also, watch out for the bozos who just backstroke into everybody.
  • jc1961AA
    jc1961AA Posts: 283 Member
    You don't mention if this an open-water or swimming pool swim. Usually for open-water depending on the temperature of the water, wetsuit may be compulsory (like Athena has said).
    I don't think you are allowed to wear one in a swimming-pool in a triathlon swimming leg. If it is in a swimming pool, you will be sharing your lane with other swimmers, some maybe slower than you, so you will have to overtake them without bumping into incoming swimmers. Also take in consideration the nerves factors, I did not for my first olympic distance one and I struggle all the way during the swimming, just could not get my breath going
    Good luck and enjoy
    JC
  • atynk
    atynk Posts: 400 Member
    It is an open water swim, but not in a ocean.. tks for all the tips.. keep em coming!

    I'm still not sure what kind of pool training I should do for this ... like swim 400 then do sprints?
  • schooby2
    schooby2 Posts: 20 Member
    I would vary your distances in the pool. You are going to want to train over the distance that you will be swimming in the tri. I would do some ladders: 200-300-400-300-200 meters with short (30 seconds) rest in between. Play around with your pace- practice building the speed of each swim, holding a certain pace, and timing the distance of your race. It also depends on how long you have before your event.....
  • jc1961AA
    jc1961AA Posts: 283 Member
    Another thing to bear in mind is: if it is a mass start, be prepared for it to be rough. You have got the choice to start at the back and overtake slower swimmer, but if you are a very fast swimmer, start at the front, avoid the middle section, you are guarantee to get slapped, kicked etc
    JC
  • kerriotto
    kerriotto Posts: 93
    I'm also doing the swim portions of a few tri relays. Speedo has a site that will give you training programs.
    Since I'm only doing the swim portion of the relay, I'm going to use the "increase speed" workout.

    http://paceclub.speedousa.com/

    Also, last year I used a wet suit in a race that I hadn't been training with. I thought the extra bouancy would be a benefit.
    The wet suit was very restrictive on how deeply I could breathe and I ended up having to unzip it after just a few minutes. It was hard to get back into the groove after that. I definitely won't make the mistake of using something in a race I hadn't been training with all along.
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    The wet suit was very restrictive on how deeply I could breathe and I ended up having to unzip it after just a few minutes. It was hard to get back into the groove after that. I definitely won't make the mistake of using something in a race I hadn't been training with all along.

    That happened my first year with a rented one. Last year nobody around us rented them so I had to buy one; it was a bit looser and didn't affect my breathing. I would still rather swim without one.

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