IRONMAN Swim Secrets: More Speed, Less Effort

How do you train to improve your swimming for Ironman and 70.3 triathlon?
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why learning to be calm and efficient can be more important than improving speed
Why runners and cyclists often struggle to translate aerobic fitness into swim speed - and what to do about it
Breathing techniques and practices to help you stay calm and relaxed in the water
Why you should learn to breathe bilaterally
The importance of breathing out, fully, into the water
Why a strong push-and-glide off the wall can be an unexpectedly important skill, even if you’re racing in open water
The kind of swim progression that you can expect to have in a six month, one year and three year time frame.
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[@HarishChouhan]

I took swim lessons 4 months before my first Ironman 70.3 race. Before that I had never been inside a pool in my life, and if I ever went in the sea, I stayed in place where the water was lower than my waist. I left lessons with the first coach who just did not understand that adults learning to swim for first time is not the same as kids. 2nd coach was better as he explained the basics well but then after 12 sessions I decided to train myself. 4 weeks before the race, I could not do even a lap of the pool (short 18m pool). After I went to the sea and panicked, it helped me push in the pool. I got better and calmer in the sea but I always used a swim buoy as a backup. During the race since we can't use it, I kinda had panic attack before the swim. But once the swim started, I calmly walked in the sea and everything went well until I got kicked and glasses came off. Took a while to put the glasses back and few mins later someone held on to my neck until they were removed off me by the life guards on Kayak. After that my race was done. Taking part in the IM 70.3 again this year next month.
One thing I noticed is that regular swim coaches are not training new swimmers on how to swim in Triathlon correctly. Most skip lessons about treading water and also train people as if we are taking part in a swimming competition.

[@chrissmith8527]

Just had an incident on the swim in an Olympic length swim where I aspirated and went into bronchospasm for the rest of the race. (Trip to hospital after finish) My swim anxiety has increased a bit. The pool has been closed for repairs and the longer I am away the worse the anxiety. My plan is to start back at blowing bubbles when the pool opens. Thoughts?

[@stevebassett8944]

That was a very informative vid, thank you! Very well presented, and very inclusive for I guess all levels. Do you have a website, I couldn't find an address or link.