Basic Triathlon questions from those who don't know

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totalbeginner Jan 2018 9:45pm, 12 Jan 2018 326 posts	0 totalbeginner Does it matter if you always wear the shorts? Maybe over time you will improve your technique and not need them. But wear them for now if they help?
Slowkentrunner Jan 2018 9:58pm, 12 Jan 2018 60 posts	0 Slowkentrunner tb no it wouldn't matter, especially if i was training for a tri with an OW swim since i would be wearing a Wet Suit with padding similar to the neoprene shorts. One of my tris has a pool swim though and i thought i might as well aim for proper form.
totalbeginner Jan 2018 10:01pm, 12 Jan 2018 328 posts	0 totalbeginner I think I have reasonable form with breast stroke but I seem to take up so much space swimming, am conscious I almost kick someone in the next lane.
Cyclops Jan 2018 12:53pm, 13 Jan 2018 3,307 posts	0 Cyclops Have you joined the tri club, totalbeginner? Ours is really friendly and encouraging.
totalbeginner Jan 2018 4:03pm, 13 Jan 2018 334 posts	0 totalbeginner C, I'm hoping to go to one of their swim sessions Monday and depending how I get on . I would like to. I think it would be really useful even just for the swimming coaching and advice. It's £45 for the year but swimming training £4 per week for the pool sessions . Just need to prioritize what I want to do I guess. I am not a strong runner(see my 5 k time pretty woeful) so in comparison I'm probably a stronger swimmer. Though I really have no idea on my times so will find out I guess on Monday
totalbeginner Jan 2018 9:52pm, 15 Jan 2018 338 posts	0 totalbeginner Ok so I went to the Tri group training session, I'm definitely going to join. It was pool swim and they were doing time trial. Eeek. At first i regretted going as felt so slow and really conscious that I was the only one doing breast stroke but they did a few drills first so I might try and get doing some basic crawl practice next week. Swam total of 1500m which I am pleased with . My times were the slowest. For 400m my time was 11m 14 sec I think. And 200m was 5 m something but had to stop to let people past quite a bit more on that so I could have swam a but faster. So I know I have a way to go but can't believe I did 16 legnths without really stopping (except to let speedies past!)
lammo Jan 2018 10:01pm, 15 Jan 2018 8,444 posts	0 lammo Excellent tb well done
LazyDaisy Jan 2018 10:02pm, 15 Jan 2018 21,177 posts	0 LazyDaisy Well you did far better than me - the only time I tried a tri-club session the side-to-side wash from the speedies in the other lanes in the horrid pool made me physically sea-sick!
totalbeginner Jan 2018 10:17pm, 15 Jan 2018 339 posts	0 totalbeginner Aww lazydaisy that sounds awful. It didn't seem too bad with the wash tonight. The club hire 3 lanes of the pool so I was in the slowest lane which if I can get as good as the other swimmers in my lane over the next couple months I would be happy. Just was quite embarrassed to be the only one not able to do crawl. Or not be confident to do it . I attempted to do half a legnth crawl at the end but can't time breathing so gave up.
International Troublemaking Grouch Jan 2018 7:14am, 16 Jan 2018 5,019 posts	0 International Troublemaking Grouch It's ALL about breathing, tb, and feeling confident about it. Get really good goggles, even nose-clips if it helps to start with, and make sure your face is flat down (in line with your back). When you breath, turn only to the side, do not lift your head up and forward - this will make your bum and legs sink. To start with, breath ever other stroke, i.e., pick left or right and breath every time on that side. This will make sure you are getting loads of air so you don't have to worry about it. Then you gradually build up to every 3 (alternating sides). There is no good reason to breath less often than that. You might also try with a snorkle - so you don't have to turn your head to breath at all. This helps you get the position right.