Training for an open water sprint relay tri
mo_chuisle
Posts: 32 Member
Hi there! Does anyone have suggestions as to how to prepare for a sprint relay triathlon? I am doing the open swim portion of the relay; it is a half-mile swim. My old routine was 2000 m in about an hour, freestyle, but in a pool. I had to take a few weeks off of swimming because of work mostly, and am just starting to get back into it. The relay is in the beginning of June so I have just over a month to train. Once I get my endurance back, I was hoping to swim 3x's a week in 30-minute chunks. I can also add a fourth longer swim. Experienced advice would be appreciated, thanks! 
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The best way to train for open water is to swim in open water. It is a lot different than being in a pool.
If this is not possible, practice spotting while swimming in the pool, since you will need to do this when you are doing the sprint.
Also if possible, practice swimming with others in you lane, the more crowded, the better to get used to others swimmers in proximity.
The sprint swim usually has staggered age group starts. Your open water swim will be slower than your pool time. At your pace, with a group start, give the "group" a few seconds to pull ahead so that you will not be passed too much at the start.
Good luck and have fun!0 -
Thank you! I will try to get to open water a few times before the race, but it definitely won't be a routine thing. What do you mean by spotting? I'll see how many workout swimming buddies I can get to share lanes with me - great advice! Honestly, being kicked in the gut or in the head is what I think will slow me down the most. Thanks for the adviceThe best way to train for open water is to swim in open water. It is a lot different than being in a pool.
If this is not possible, practice spotting while swimming in the pool, since you will need to do this when you are doing the sprint.
Also if possible, practice swimming with others in you lane, the more crowded, the better to get used to others swimmers in proximity.
The sprint swim usually has staggered age group starts. Your open water swim will be slower than your pool time. At your pace, with a group start, give the "group" a few seconds to pull ahead so that you will not be passed too much at the start.
Good luck and have fun! 0 -
Spotting is lifting your head while swimming to see where you are going, to make sure you are still on course. You don't need to do it in the pool because of lane lines and looking at the bottom. This is the biggest challenge for me in open water swimming. It is recommended that you spot every 3rd or 4th stroke. It isn't recommended that you just follow someone else unless you know they are spotting! Swimming off course is the time killer for an open water race.0
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Good to note! ThanksSpotting is lifting your head while swimming to see where you are going, to make sure you are still on course. You don't need to do it in the pool because of lane lines and looking at the bottom. This is the biggest challenge for me in open water swimming. It is recommended that you spot every 3rd or 4th stroke. It isn't recommended that you just follow someone else unless you know they are spotting! Swimming off course is the time killer for an open water race. 0 -
I am just doing an OW swim. When I practice I don't push off the wall. I only touch to help me turn, no flip or push of legs. Here is my question: why will the OW swim be slower(other than the congestion of people)? I was hoping it would be a little faster because you don't have to slow down for the wall. Anybody?0
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That's good advice, thank you! I would guess because you're not getting that extra push from the wall and you might get off course quite a bit in the chaos of all the other swimmers??I am just doing an OW swim. When I practice I don't push off the wall. I only touch to help me turn, no flip or push of legs. Here is my question: why will the OW swim be slower(other than the congestion of people)? I was hoping it would be a little faster because you don't have to slow down for the wall. Anybody?0
