The training for triathletes and open water swimmers has increasing specialisation and the coaches try to control every aspect of the aquatic segment so that our athletes face the races from the first moment with guarantees of success.
It is becoming increasingly important to make a good start to compete in the swimming segment, which will later make you hook up with a leading group on a bike, if your intention is to arrive in the first few positions or on the other hand you want to place yourself in a good group or simply receive fewer strokes and start your race with less stress.
PRE-RACE TIPS
- Visualise your path to the buoy from the starting line.
- Observe where you are in the group and how many people are in front of you behind, left and right.
- Concentrate on the start signal, a few tenths of an advantage will avoid a lot of problems in the water.
- Practice the starts during warm-up before the race.
- Study the wind, possible currents and waves
- Get in the water before the start, not only to warm up but also to feel the temperature of the water, see the turning buoy from the waterline and also the starting point.
- If you are going to swim with wetsuit it is interesting that you put a little water through the neck and then go out of the water so that the water dislodges through the feet and the suit stays completely tight and does not make you feel empty, which can affect your breathing.
- Control your heartbeat before departure and take deep breaths. Fill up on oxygen. before starting
- Don’t swim like crazy. The frequency has to be high but not maximum. Self-control is essential.
- Have confidence in yourself, do not be afraid, this will make your field of vision narrow and you need all five senses in those first moments.
- Next we will analyse the different techniques to use that can be very varied, depending on the triathlon or crossing, or if it is in the pool, sea, lake, river, canal …
HEAD START:
Before starting you must make sure during the warm-up of the depth, height, angle of entry into the water …
– If it is from pontoon-curb-pole:
– Make a good entry
– Do not angle your body to much in the dive, better to have a flatter output.
– Train the underwater butterfly stroke. If you do it right, in the first 10-15 meters you will start half a body ahead.
– Work on your reaction speed.
WATER STARTS:
- You must start as fast as possible giving a scissor kick and a stroke in the water.
- If they allow you, put your head on the starting line but your body as far forward as possible.
- You may have to give a few strokes with your head out and above all do not sink.
BEACH RUNNING STARTS:
- Attentive at the exit. Run as fast as possible towards the water and take the first strides when you reach it, lifting your knees to gain meters without swimming.
- Dolphin jump. Depending on the depth progression, perform several dolphin jumps. The moment the water passes your waist, assess if you continue doing this technique.
- If you manage to get into a good hydrodynamic position, take a couple of butterfly kicks or several crawl kicks under the water
These are some tips that you should put into practice during training and races, which will happen more precisely with practice. Do not despair if they do not come out the first time, keep trying because you will see that little by little you will gain confidence and this will make you be
