Tri Talk Tuesday–Triathlon. The Swim and 3 Essential Swimming Drills.
Triathlon. The Swim.
I am beginning to feel like a real triathlete and swimmer!
I have to admit even though I have been having ongoing troubles with my back my body is welcoming the forced break from the pounding of running. Swimming has been my saving grace this winter. Being in the pool I am pain free as my body is supported by the water. Being able to get my endorphin rush without the pounding and compression on my lower spine has kept me strong and fit and sane as the snow continues to fall.
If you didn’t know by now I am training for my first Half-Ironman (Timberman 70.3) at the end of this summer. I hope to do some other triathlons this summer (mainly Olympic distance) as warm-ups before the half. I will have to play it by ear depending on how therapy with my back goes. So for now its the pool and bike.
Swimming Form
It’s Tri-Talk Tuesday. What’s happening in triathlon training? the Swim. | Organic Runner Mom
My swims this winter have consisted mainly of endurance swims and pace swims. I have also been doing a lot of drills to help me with form and to encourage more strength through each stroke. I work with a coach (Denise Goode, The Sustainable Athlete) but since she lives in Maine the coaching is mostly online (I am happily welcoming in person coaching this May at a Tri-Training Camp!). I also swim my laps on my own in a mostly empty pool which is nice because I never have to share lanes but I wish I had a Masters group to swim with. I know that I am a solid swimmer but haven’t had any formal training so am not sure if my form is correct and what needs to be improved. In order to make improvements I have been watching a lot of online drill videos and practicing some great drills in the pool.
3 Essential Swimming Drills
Triathlon. Three Essential Swimming Drills – Organic Runner Mom
Here are some drills that I have been using in the pool to help me with the swim part of the triathlon:
- Tarzan Swim–Think swinging from vine to vine with arms outstretched except this time you are in the water! In this drill you will practice freestyle swimming with your head out of the water. This drill is a lifesaver when it comes to open water swimming. You may need to swim like this at points during the race when the water is choppy or when you need to sight the next buoy. Swimming like Tarzan will strengthen your back, your neck and give you strength for kicking.
- Single Arm Swim–A freestyle drill. Swim with one arm straight and the other arm in traditional freestyle strokes. This drill will help to strengthen your arms and also to help you balance your muscle strength in each arm. Follow a regular stroke/breath ratio but on one side.
- Catch Up Drill–Work on body alignment and stroke and breathing timing with this drill. Fully extend one arm in front and take a regular full pull freestyle stroke with the other arm while maintaining the extended arm. Once you have completed your pull through with your first arm you will end with that arm fully extended and will repeat a pull through with the other arm.
Thanks for joining me for Tri-Talk Tuesday. For more Tri-Talk and talk about the swim head on over and visit one of the three cohosts to join in– You signed Up for What?, Blisters and Black Toenails, The Tri Girl Chronicles.
Happy Swimming!
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20 responses
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I want to learn how to swim one day! Haha! I’ll need to if I ever want to do a tri! (Which I do!)
Tarzan drill! That is a tough one! But useful. I have had a very sore neck after a tri due to not practicing sighting enough (or doing most of my long rides in a group on a road bike instead of a TT bike).
Kelli recently posted…Flip turns! Why you should practice them…
The Tarzan Drill is such a good one and it is really really challenging! I need to do that one more.
I really should try to swim in proper strokes. On that note, perhaps I should have darling daughter get more training on her strokes so she doesn’t end up like me.
Erica G recently posted…Move Mountains: Bring Boaz Home
I have such admiration for swimmers. I don’t drown, but doing some of those drills sounds so exhausting! Haha! I’m such a baby swimmer.
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…White Chocolate Cherry Trail Mix
These are great drills! I’ll have to give them a try. Glad I found you via the Tri Talk Tuesday link-up.
Oh man, I am soooo bad at single arm drills. I think they may be my least favorite, although I totally get their purpose. Great list! All great drills to work on =)
Courtney@The TriGirl Chronicles recently posted…Tri Talk Tuesday – How To Improve Your Triathlon Swim
I’m always amazed by those who do triathlons. The swim part just intimidates me!
Oh, the catch-up drill. I used to swim competitively and I had a love/hate with it because it felt sooooo slow, but really did help.
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…Motivate Me Monday: 3/3 & Healthy Living Challenge
I have been slowly learning to swim. Good luck with your training.
Elle recently posted…Low-Carb Revolution Rolls
Thanks for these! I’m a total newbie swimmer and my first tri is in June. It’s hard to find drills that I even understand what to do. I’ll try these.
Those drills sound interesting, but I’m not a swimmer at all. I’ll never do a triathlon LOL.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…TOTR: Will run for beer
I think these drills sound great- maybe one day I’ll do a triathlon. It’s definitely the swimming portion that I am worried about!
AJ @ NutriFitMama recently posted…5 Ways To Take Care of YOU + Tuesday Motivation
I am one of the few people that actually likes doing drills in the pool … I like the one arm drill and one that you take three free style strokes then glide on one side and kick for five counts. It definitely helps improve and break up the monotony in a pool!
The Tarzan drill sounds neat! When I was training for a tri, I was CLUELESS in the pool. My coach was a gazillion miles away so he would try to explain the drills but I’m such a visual learner, that I really struggled!
I do want to maybe try a triathlon in 2015 but we’ll see. My swimming is awful! I think I could ddi the first drill, not sure about the other two lol. Any tips for increasing swimming endurance? Just do it more?
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…5 Mile Treadmill Workout
I am learning drills and so far I find them really hard! I always feel like I’m flailing around a bit, but I suppose it’s because they are working something I’m not used to working. Thanks for linking up – great post about swim drills!
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For WHAT?! recently posted…Tri Talk Tuesday: Improving Triathlon Swimming
I’m so tempted to do a tri! If I could just get passed the swimming mental block.
Do you ever have issues with the Tom tom watch? I have one and it does not accurately track distance
I want to learn more drill in swimming. I really should try to swim in proper strokes. I think I need to take a swimming lesson. Thanks for sharing.