Beginner Triathlete - articles

In this third part, Terry Laughlin discusses how to achieve an optimal freestyle stroke and what drills go into developing a good stroke.

Work less to swim better. Part two of this video series covers the principles of active streamlining to swim faster with less effort.

With stroke improvements I find that when I try and swim long I have lost any speed gains that I had because my stroke count just creeps up and up. I also feel like I'm running out of air.

I've just got back in the pool from a 2 week break and my triceps are killing me the whole time I am swimming. Wondering if someone has any ideas or tips to correct?

Work less to swim better. Part one of this video series covers the philosophy of Total Immersion swimming and looks at some common freestyle swimming misconceptions.

Are you a new swimmer starting your triathlon training? Here are some top answers to member questions as you begin your triathlon swim training.

Do you do that same freestyle stroke over and over? Why triathletes can benefit from swimming other strokes besides freestyle.

Next time you reach for your pull buoy, think again. By creating dependency on a buoy, the athlete never learns how to correctly create a more efficient freestyle stroke through better body position.

Is it good to listen to music while lap swimming? Are there any devices to help you keep track of your laps?

This is a 3 step program on learning how to do flip turns. Also discussed is the importance of using flip turns during lap swimming.

Poor swim technique, overtraining, unilateral breathing, overuse of training equipment all can cause swimmer's shoulder. Read how to avoid injury and strengthen your muscles.

You can practice several things like bi-lateral breathing, sight less and use long strokes to help you swim straight

Most of those thinking about tackling a long swim instinctively feel it’s necessary to Do much to build endurance - more yards, harder laps. But a focus on Receiving is ideal for long distances.

How familiar are you with the details of your stroke? Do you have ways, in the middle of a training set, perhaps while trying to keep up in a lane-circle, to keep your awareness acute?

Average performers tend to feel they’re getting the job done if they grind out long sets of freestyle repeats. But too often that just means the same freestyle stroke imprinted thousands of times.