1. Swimming Starts in Waves
Most race directors start the tri swimming in wave format. The waves consist of specific groups, such as age groups, groups by sex or any other grouping the race director chooses. The first wave takes position out in the water at the starting point, which is marked by buoys. A starting gun signals the start to the athletes. The next wave then positions themselves at the start, and around two minutes later, the gun goes off to start the next wave. This continues until all waves start the race.
2. Work Those Arms
The swim is the first of three events in a triathlon. The next two events are cycling and running, in that order. Since the next two events are very dependent on your legs, it makes sense to try to rest your legs during the swim portion. Most athletes focus on arm strength to get through the swim so that their legs will be fresh for the bike.
3. Prepare for Open Water Swimming
Open water swimming is very different from pool swimming. Even experienced swimmers panic occasionally in open water. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you practice open water swimming prior to your first triathlon that involves open water swimming. There are several reasons why open water swims are daunting: lack of visibility, the need to lift your head up frequently to know where you are going, and the large amount of people so close to you. Have a backup plan in case you do panic, such as doing breaststroke for a few minutes while you calm down before trying freestyle swimming again.
4. Watch Out!
Triathletes use a special method in order to see their surroundings without losing too much time. While freestyle will help you finish the swim in a good time, you can't see anything in front of you while swimming freestyle, so use a technique called sighting. On the stroke when you breathe, roll your head forward so that the water line is on your goggles. If you bring your head up too much, you will slow down significantly. Sighting is a difficult skill to learn, so you'll need to practice it before race day.
5. Practice by Simulating Triathlon Conditions
Make sure you can swim at least the distance given for the race you are participating in. If you can, practice open water swimming to avoid race day panic. If not, practice doing laps with your eyes closed to mimic the feeling. If you are using a wet suit on race day, practice with it on so you know how it affects your stroke.
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