AboutGraeme Henderson Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to cycling training, mountain bike racing, bike repair (mountain, road, time trial, tandem, cyclocross), triathlon competition and training (mostly biking and running), and Spinning
Experience Expert mountain bike racer (starting racing in 1989), raced in 5 different state series, built all my own bikes. Worked in a bike shop during summer. Currently in my fifth year of teaching Spinning at a major gym chain. Have developed and now teach a weekly triathlon class at the same gym.
Organizations NORBA, USAT
Education/Credentials BA, JD, LL.M
Awards and Honors One state mountain bike series top 5 finish. Raced in several ultras: Laramie Enduro, Leadville 100, 24 Hours of Moab, 24 Hours of Snowshoe. Gold finisher in El Tour de Tucson. Top 10 finish at XTERRA East Championships. Currently, regular top 15 finisher in Ohio triathlon series (top 3 in age group). Qualifier, USAT Olympic Distance Nationals. Qualifier, XTERRA Nationals.
I want to start participating in triathlon races, I've been a MTB cyclist for a while and also participated in adventure races for several years, but now I want to start in triatlon. I think I have figured out the running and the bicycle training but I'm having a hard time with the swimming. Where can I find swimming trainings for triathlon?.
Thanks!!!
Alfonso
Answer Alfonso,
Great call. I switched over from MTB racing, too, a number of years ago. Just like you, my weak leg is the swim. In order to catch up on the technique aspect, which is the most important part of swimming, I did several things.
1. I looked at two swim training systems, Total Immersion and Swim Smooth (all you have to do is Google them, you will have no problem finding them). Both are excellent. I ultimately went with Swim Smooth, because I prefer its triathlon/open water swimming orientation. With the Swim Smooth DVD set, I got a CD with 75 different progressively more difficult swim workouts. I still haven't done them all.
2. I went down to the pool and joined the local Masters Swim Team. With the membership you get all the coaching you can stand, and very often a large percentage of the swimmers at the practices are actually triathletes (joining a Masters Swim Team is no secret amongst triathletes).
3. Other than these two, there are TONS of freestyle, long distance swim workouts online. Just look for open water or long distance swimming aficionado sites or go to the Slowtwitch.com triathlete forum and search for "swim workouts."
There's a start, anyway. Let me know if you need more answers.
