Triathlon question for a newbie

[Anonymous]

I’m doing my first triathlon this spring. The swimming section is in a pool— can I take a quick break during the swim if I need it? And if people do that how do you do it? Just hang out on the wall for 15 seconds? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would not recommend it. The pool will be crazy crowded and you'll piss people off by being in the way. Just train and pace yourself (don't come out of the gate going too fast).

[Anonymous]

do an easier stroke for a brief time, float on your back, breaststroke, Etc. Not too long!

[Anonymous]

You can if needed. First thing to know is to seed yourself (i.e. line up) towards the back of the swim start so that faster swimmers are all up front.

Pool swims are usually what they call a snake swim. Up one lane, then either back in that same lane and then go under the rope line. Or up one lane and then under the rope line and back down the other. If you need to stop, stop at the end of the lane and stay out of the way of swimmers going under the lane line.

You also definitely don't have to do freestyle the whole time! Take your time. Breaststroke if you need to in order to get more air or do an easier stroke.

Congratulations and good luck! It's an awesome sport, and I wish I had as much time to train for it now as I did pre-kids.

[Anonymous]

No. Slot yourself towards the end of the swim. If it's a snake swim, then you'll probably be waiting for up to an hour to start but it's the right thing to do. You'll only need a rest if you're going a a pace that is too fast.

Is it a sprint triathlon? If so, then the swim shouldn't be too long and you have time to train for it.

The pool is very crowded and there isn't anywhere to just "hang out" on the wall. Most of the swimmers at the end of the line are pretty weak swimmers so if you're with them, you'll be able to take it slow...and maybe even stand up to rest occasionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: do an easier stroke for a brief time, float on your back, breaststroke, Etc. Not too long!

Experienced triathlon pool swimmer here...….DO NOT Float on your back. Just go with the slowest group (towards the end) and you'll probably find a good pace. Many people in the later groups spend time standing up and doing the breaststroke...However, I've never seen anyone floating of their back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: do an easier stroke for a brief time, float on your back, breaststroke, Etc. Not too long!

Experienced triathlon pool swimmer here...….DO NOT Float on your back. Just go with the slowest group (towards the end) and you'll probably find a good pace. Many people in the later groups spend time standing up and doing the breaststroke...However, I've never seen anyone floating of their back.

I've never seen that but I've seen about everything else. I saw a guy seed himself toward the front (I'm guessing he was fast on the bike / running - he was SUPER fit) but he WALKED the entire pool swim. Cheating, imo. But it was allowed. Held up everyone behind him just so he could be at the front of the pack (Yes, I know you can go around people but it's sometimes hard to do).

[Anonymous]

At a kid triathlon, the kid seeded first in the 8-12 age group jumped in the pool and then proceeded to do backstroke verrrry slowly for 150 yds. Huge backlog of kids trying to go around. It was a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: do an easier stroke for a brief time, float on your back, breaststroke, Etc. Not too long!

Experienced triathlon pool swimmer here...….DO NOT Float on your back. Just go with the slowest group (towards the end) and you'll probably find a good pace. Many people in the later groups spend time standing up and doing the breaststroke...However, I've never seen anyone floating of their back.

If you do your first swim in a lake or bay rather than in a pool, please float on your back though if you are overwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At a kid triathlon, the kid seeded first in the 8-12 age group jumped in the pool and then proceeded to do backstroke verrrry slowly for 150 yds. Huge backlog of kids trying to go around. It was a mess.

I did a lake swim where the top seeded swimmer submitted a time that was faster than the world record in the pool for that distance. I guess he went a bit slower in real life.