Should I use a kick board to start out in the pool

gchris38
gchris38 Posts: 78
in Fitness and Exercise
I started training for a triathlon this week. I am following a set training program. Some have suggested I start with a kick board, or with flippers in the pool. Thoughts?

Replies

  • jillyrobb
    jillyrobb Posts: 36 Member
    In general, I'd say don't bother. You won't get the same workout as you would swimming full stroke, and it won't help prepare you for a triathlon at all. Kick sets should be part of your swimming workout, not the whole thing. Besides, if you've already been biking and/or running, wouldn't it make sense to start working on your upper body strength?

    BUT...if you're not an experienced swimmer from way back, doing a kick set with flippers as part of a larger workout can be helpful. My experience in coaching triathletes--especially male triathletes--is that foot flexibility is often a problem. Don't know if that's a runner thing, or just a guy thing? At any rate, if your feet aren't flexible, your kick won't be as efficient, and it can even work against you. (I had one guy who somehow managed to go backward with a kickboard at one point!)
    So you'd want to invest in a good set of mini-flippers--not giant scuba fins, but smaller, more maneuverable ones--and do a nice long kick set as part of your larger workout. Just be sure to occasionally do a kick set without, so you can see your progress and you don't get dependent on the fins.
  • gchris38
    gchris38 Posts: 78
    In general, I'd say don't bother. You won't get the same workout as you would swimming full stroke, and it won't help prepare you for a triathlon at all. Kick sets should be part of your swimming workout, not the whole thing. Besides, if you've already been biking and/or running, wouldn't it make sense to start working on your upper body strength?

    BUT...if you're not an experienced swimmer from way back, doing a kick set with flippers as part of a larger workout can be helpful. My experience in coaching triathletes--especially male triathletes--is that foot flexibility is often a problem. Don't know if that's a runner thing, or just a guy thing? At any rate, if your feet aren't flexible, your kick won't be as efficient, and it can even work against you. (I had one guy who somehow managed to go backward with a kickboard at one point!)
    So you'd want to invest in a good set of mini-flippers--not giant scuba fins, but smaller, more maneuverable ones--and do a nice long kick set as part of your larger workout. Just be sure to occasionally do a kick set without, so you can see your progress and you don't get dependent on the fins.

    Thank you sooo much! I have swam my whole life, but never really focused on lap swimming. I did my first swim yesterday and it was exhausting as I expected it to be, but I felt my legs were strong. My biggest issues were 1) upper body strength and 2) pacing myself.
  • miss_mckenna
    miss_mckenna Posts: 18 Member
    Yes, what jillyrobb said. You can't have a kickboard in the triathlon, no sense in using it to train (exclusively). You can still use it to work on your kick, but...eh...I swam for 20 years, I hardly ever used a kickboard. One piece of advice: if your triathlon swim is in open water, I suggest a few training sessions in a lake/ocean/whatever. There's a big difference in swimming in a lap pool versus open water (no lane lines, and hella wake!). Good luck with your training, triathlons are fun, and very challenging; I have fond memories of all of my tris (maybe I should TRY another!)!
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I have been looking into triathon training as of late, and all the people I talk to at my running group use buoys, kickboards, etc... as a form of conditioning for certain areas. If they need work in their strokes, then they tie a buoy to a leg an only use their arms to swim. If they need to improve their kick then they work with a kickboard and so forth and so forth. But in the end they said that your first tri should just be like your first 5K, or first HM, or first FM..work on just finishing it and then go from there on areas you need to improve.

    Good luck!
  • gchris38
    gchris38 Posts: 78
    Yes, what jillyrobb said. You can't have a kickboard in the triathlon, no sense in using it to train (exclusively). You can still use it to work on your kick, but...eh...I swam for 20 years, I hardly ever used a kickboard. One piece of advice: if your triathlon swim is in open water, I suggest a few training sessions in a lake/ocean/whatever. There's a big difference in swimming in a lap pool versus open water (no lane lines, and hella wake!). Good luck with your training, triathlons are fun, and very challenging; I have fond memories of all of my tris (maybe I should TRY another!)!

    Luckily the swim is in a river...worst case scenario I float :)
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    If you'll be in a river, find a place to train at least a few times where you have similar conditions. Water murky or clear, horizon and distant points as markers, and remember to try to stay out of the middle since you are going to be seeing a lot of feet and arms if you stay in the middle. Good luck.

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