Triathlons test an athlete's abilities as a swimmer, bicyclist and distance runner. The triathlon is a distance event, but there are several different types of triathlons that test athletes of varying experience levels. One of those is the Half-Ironman triathlon that requires the participant to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles. The first event is swimming and there are several ways to get your race off to a solid start.
Minimize Your Kick
One of the important factors in the half-Ironman is sustaining your energy and having enough strength in your legs for the bicycle and running portions of the race. You don't want to use up all your energy in the water. To do this, you need to emphasize your arm stroke when swimming in the open water. Use your kick to maintain your balance and stay on an even keel, but let your arms do most of the work during the 1.2-mile swim.
Full Arm Strokes
Since your arms are doing most of the work when you are in the water, you have to get the most out of every stroke. Pull your arms completely through the water and don't lift them out prematurely. Make sure you pull your arms through to your hips before you take them out of the water and start your next stroke.
Breathing
While there are some varying schools of thought on how often you breathe in a half-Ironman swim, limiting the number of breaths you take should allow you to have a more efficient swimming form. When your head is in the water, you will find it easier to move your arms and have a more consistent stroke. If you breathe every other stroke, you won't move as quickly through the water. Wait until your fourth or fifth arm stroke to breathe.
Practice in Open Water
You will be swimming your race in open water, so make sure you practice in open water. You may be a whiz in the pool, but the conditions are much different than in a natural body of water. If you are going to swim your race in a bay or the ocean, make sure you practice in a bay or the ocean. You will be out of your element if you practice only in the pool. As you get closer to race day, make sure you get into the open water and get used to the feel.
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