Increase Speed in the Water

How to Get Faster in the Water

Image by diamondduste

Image by diamondduste

We all want to be better swimmers, but for most triathletes, the swim is an event that you just try to get through in order to catch up in your two strongest events, the bike and run. Like many of you, I used to get nervous when I first stepped into the water among the masses and up to the moment when the rush of insanity begins.

I used to ignore swimming and focus on getting faster on the bike and run events, but my triathlon times were suffering because of it. That is when I realized that if I wanted to get faster in the water, and become a better swimmer, then I needed to do something different.

First, in order to improve my stamina in the water, I started adjusting my swim technique to use less energy and increase my ability to breathe. Some of the keys to doing this are:

  • Lengthen your stroke so that you are getting as much reach as possible
  • Twist your body to the side during each stroke so that your arms are extending the maximum possible distance
  • Rather than move your head to breathe, take advantage of the twist technique to turn your body out of the water and breath accordingly, you will get a much deeper and longer breath
  • Do not remove your arm from the water until your other arm has entered the water
  • Kick to keep yourself balanced and moving, but do not kick constantly. This uses more energy than you have to waste.

These techniques alone helped me to get faster in the water and improve my swim time, but if you are a serious competitor like I am, then these might not be enough to help you swim faster. One of the quickest and most effective ways to get faster in the water and increase your swimming speed is to get a swimming coach. However, personal swimming coaches are often impractical and expensive.

I learned about the TriSwim Coach program from a friend of mine and found the DVD to be a great way to really hone my swimming technique and get faster in the water. This is like having a professional swim coach in your own home and is well worth the ticket. Check it out at Tri Swim Coach

Aside from hiring your own personal swim coach, there really is no substitute for becoming a better swimmer and getting faster in the water.