(Part 2) Best products from r/triathlon

Lots of good suggestions already. Here's my top 3.

1. Coaching. Like others said, just a few sessions should be a big help.
   
   
2. Total Immersion (Amazon Link). Great place to start with swimming technique. Also look at YouTube for related videos to demonstrate technique. Swim Smooth is also awesome.
   
   
3. Don't just swim straight distance. It's hard to maintain technique when you swim like this, especially as a beginner. Instead, split your workout into chunks.
   
   Example:
   

• Warm up // 4 X 50yd (30 sec rest between)
  
• Drills // 6 X 50 (6 different drills from above resources)
  
• Main set // 5 X 100 (15 sec rest between)
  
• Cool down // 2 X 100 (easy)
  
  That gives you 1200yds, but broken into chunks. Change up the main set between workouts; maybe one per week that still focuses on swimming 500 nonstop, but the other two days that break it into intervals of various sizes. See this example plan for an idea.
  
  And good luck! I was in a similar position when I first started swimming again as an adult. Getting my technique up to par was the hardest but most important thing. Now, after quite some time just getting comfortable and regaining proper technique, I'm finally able to focus on putting more power and stamina into my swim.
  
  One more bonus tip: I just picked up a pair of the Finis Agility Paddles. This might not be something you want to start using until you get your basic positioning, rotation, and catch technique dialed, but they have really helped me reinforce what true "high elbow" technique feels like in the water. They will quickly point out where your arm entry, catch, and pull technique has flaws. Again, might want to save those for after some coaching and basic technique work, but I've found some benefit from them as a continued technique reminder aide.
  
  Happy swimming!

You've got three things you need to work on here. The first, taking your post at face value, is to learn to swim. The second is to get enough conditioning to swim 1.2 miles. And the third is to learn to swim in open water.
For the first, just get lessons. Don't try to be fast, don't try to be great, just focus on a decent form and don't kick too hard--let your arms do the work. Above all, FOCUS ON STROKE! A good stroke will do wonders for you.
Given that you don't know how to swim well right now, for the second I would look at doing a lot of interval training initially. Go to the pool and do workouts where you swim as hard as you can (focusing on your stroke, of course) for 25 meters, and resting as long as it took you. Repeat 20 times. After a month of that, extend it to 15 rounds of 50, and then after another month do at least one workout a week where you do 10-12 rounds of that for 100 meters. You can do another workout where you're more about LSD than interval, but the short swims will be better for your comfort level early, while building fitness.
For the third, you need to practice sighting (which has been discussed), and you also need to get used to just swimming for a long period of time without resting or pausing at the wall. I liked this a lot: http://www.amazon.com/TYR-SPORT-Aquatic-Resistance-Belt/dp/B0093SRN1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422144493&sr=8-1&keywords=tyr+swim+belt . I used that for timed swims when training for my full, and was really happy with it (I also travel a lot, so this was about the only way I could get a workout in a hotel pool).
I hope all this helps, good luck!

I just bought This speed/cadence sensor from amazon for $25 last week for my wife's bike... i can' speak to its durability, but i can verify that it will work with Zwift (without any dongles... but you will need to have the Zwift companion app on your phone). Your


I have the KK fluid trainer (it is a great rock solid trainer)... just be aware, when you are riding your rear wheel will be spinning away at some MPH. Zwift will take the wheel speed and convert this to a virtualized power reading. It will then take your weight to calculate watts per kilogram. Your wheel may be spinning at 20MPH on the trainer, but when you are going up a steep hill, your avatar in the game may only be going 4 MPH.

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This will be even more pronounced if you also pair it to your watch. Your watch will give you speed/distance of your rear wheel... which will be very different than what Zwift shows you.

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(Having said all that, i have gotten really into Zwift the past couple of weeks and absolutely love it)

I always recommend Starting Strength:

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/B001U9FDP2

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Starting_Strength_Wiki

IMHO, it really is the best way to get someone new to training accustomed to the movements, as well as a program that's proven to get athletes strong in relatively short order. One word of warning: the nutrition advice that Rippetoe gives is designed for 17yo males who don't mind putting on a few pounds as they get superduper strong. Those of us who are older, or female, or unwilling to add fat, should not do things like drink a gallon of milk or eat 7000 calories every day.

I used the training plan from the book 12 Week Triathlete. I would print out my schedule for the next few weeks and put it on my fridge then mark off the workout as I went. This really helped me to stay focus and be accoutable for training.

I used the intermediate level sprint plan, from the book, because I was already fairly athletic when I started. The only thing I would suggest is if you are not a strong swimmer add another swim day a week as much as possible. I am very happy I did this.

I just started training for an olympic distance tri and I am using the intermediate olympic distance plan from the book.

If you look through my comment history you will find a lot of other things that helped me. Also feel free to respond to this post and I will try to help you as much as I can.

Good luck on your first tri!

Same for me. I currently run TrainerRoad on a MacBook Air.
You need a Ant Dongle. Here’s the one I use. It works great.
Garmin USB ANT Stick for Garmin Fitness Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CM381SQ?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I’ve tried other cheaper options, this one works perfectly. Spend the extra couple $

Side note , if you sync with Strava too, Trainer Road will do that automatically at end of the workout. If you are also running your Garmin Watch, (I run Watch too while doing TRainerRoad so I can get an accurate calorie/HR update) Garmin Connect will post the same workout to strava. So you’ll have duplicates. I usually just delete the Watch Data from Strava (unless you want to really impress people and pretend you’re doing double the miles!!)

I read this book last year, I gave it a try to train with this method and I felt a positive difference in my season.

The book is all about training with a low heart rate (or your maximum aerobic function) and you will be able to go farther or faster with less effort. I really liked it because at the beginning you have to run or ride keeping your heart rate at certain beats and you feel that you're going very slow but at the end of the workout you feel fine and not super tired, of course as you train your times get better but you never feel exhausted.

In a pool or open water? What stroke? Did you take breaks at the lap ends? Did you push off the ends of the pool?

By the way - in terms of swim times, I am in LOVE with my lap counter. Well worth the $40 I spent to be able to break down my swim lap by lap. And no need to have a friend keep your time with it....

Lock Laces are what I use. They have been very helpful in taking off a few seconds from T2, and I have had no issues with them. Most people will set them up beforehand to a comfortable fit so all you have to do is slip them on when you're ready to run. No brainer for eight bucks =)

I just got the cheapest highly recommended one on Amazon (here ) I had trouble with them at first but once i realized that it needs to dry thoroughly between uses i've been able to put up with it's idiosyncrasies. As soon as water gets into the ear portion, they're gonna sound like crap. They definitely aren't trouble free but i also don't want to swim without them! It's also MP3 only.

I'd love to hear what others have been using too.

I have the Syryn, which comes with a crappy pair of goggles for some reason. It's ok. A lot of the reviews say it can't hold a charge after a few months. I get the problem of one ear not sounding the same as the other. I'd like to get a new pair of buds for them but I think I'd like to try bringing the extra earpieces first and see if they fit better - I just can never remember to bring them to the pool.


But oh man laps are so much better with music!

I purchased a cheap tri suit online this season. I had a nice hincap one and wrecked and it got all torn up so I was on a budget.

I bought this one of amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RHMFG47/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has lasted 3 races and will be a 4th this weekend. I don't expect it to last more than 2-3 seasons but it works just fine for me, fits well, has pockets, good padding.

You might enjoy this book, You are an Ironman, about some people as they head to IMAZ: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Ironman-Finishing-Triathlon/dp/014312207X . It's available on Audiobook, so if you like that kind of thing while you're on your trainer, it's a fun read.

Going Long by Joe Friel is a really good resource. I constructed my own plan using it, Start to Finish, Be Iron Fit and kind of structuring it off of half ironman training that I did with team in training that really worked well to prepare me for Wildflower. I highly recommend reading all of Going Long and Be Iron Fit. It might take you some time, but it's nothing compared to the commitment of training for an ironman.

The zippers on tri tops chafe me like crazy, so a couple years ago I switched to Under Armour compression tops, like this, and have had no issues with restriction or comfort.

I'm using a MacBook that only has bluetooth. Pretty sure I can grab one of these and solve that problem though! Thanks for the info!

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Of course!

Most people have a tendency to overprepare for their first events. It's a
Natural thing, which is why it's a good idea to rehearse transitions a few times - you'll learn quickly what you need and what you don't.

A saddle bag will save you the time in fiddling with getting the stuff in your jersey, and you'll have to run a fair distance out of and into transition, and you'd risk something heavy like a co2/tire bundle popping out.

A race belt is an elastic belt for holding your race number that is easy to clip on:

https://www.amazon.com/VeloChampion-Triathlon-Race-Number-Belt/dp/B00AQ0TEL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505413349&sr=8-1&keywords=Race+belt

I don't know anything about that one, but it should give you the right idea. I personally wear one with a magnetic clip.

I bought an Xterra mens Large Volt wetsuit on Amazon for a good price. I'm 6'4" and 182lbs and it fits great on me - used it at a HIM and Full IM

It isn't automatic and it's not of much use for running or cycling but I use [this](
http://amzn.com/B005O0MCRU). The SportCount Chrono just goes on your pointer finger and you hit the button at the end of each lap. Gives you your splits, lap count, total time, and average. I've had one for three years still works perfectly.

You can wear running clothes on the swim. Nobody is going to say anything. The think you'll notice is that this is a very supportive community. My only suggestion would be to try it out your outfit in the pool first. Do the sprint by yourself in a pool, then hop on a bike, then go for a run. If there's no chaffing or hot spots, you're good with what you have.

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Word of warning, if you are of the more well-endowed, it might not be a bad idea to buy a triathlon-specific bra. My wife is a 38DD. Since race organizers frown on her using those yellow ratchet straps, she bought a TYR Racerback Tri Bra. Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/TYR-Womens-Competitor-Racerback-Medium/dp/B01N17B0UH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539249284&sr=8-3&keywords=triathlon+bra+women&dpID=41t8MMSOe1L&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

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So even if you don't plan on doing more than once race, if you can afford a $45 bra, I would buy one to prevent thing from shifting around too much.

On Amazon -- Aegend goggles. Super comfortable, cheap and durable. I have 3 pairs for myself (different color lenses) and my son has two. We have yet to destroy a pair -- it's been over two years.

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https://www.amazon.com/Aegend-Swimming-Protection-Triathlon-Multiple/dp/B01N43LYFS

If you're going two piece, I've been training the the Zoot top and bottom. Work really well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQYWWSK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LYDC48/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They were both much cheaper when I bought them. $40 for the top and $30 for the shorts. So watch out for sales I guess.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IFXYV08/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1494513438&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=xterra+wetsuit&dpPl=1&dpID=51nlQN40AeL&ref=plSrch

This is a pretty goo deal on an xterra volt I just invested in, shipped 4 days before it said it would too.

I'm not sure about the differences between triathlon and surfing wetsuits. The first thing that comes to mind is how hard it would be to take off quickly, which is accounted for in tri wetsuits. It looks like the Patagonia has a front-zip though, so I'm sure it wouldn't be hard.

I haven't had any issues and I've put them on Zoot, Nike, Saucony, and Brooks shoes so far. The ones I use are pretty much elastic laces with a plastic quick lock. Here's a link to them at Amazon.

I really liked "You are an Ironman" It is about normal people that complete an IM.

http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Ironman-Warriors-Finishing/dp/014312207X

Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin. The other books are good too. Source: club/master's swim coach.

I like http://www.amazon.com/Going-Long-Triathlons-Challenge-Multisport/dp/1934030066/ref=cm_lmf_tit_2 and then i have a sport nutrition book i forgot the title off. It's very scientific, most people fall asleep reading past page one and it has quite a few pages. I link it once i get home. The rest is online and experience. I use myself as guinea pig so i get a lot from that too.

I use this to enjoy my music while swimming: https://www.amazon.com/Swimbuds-Headphones-Waterproof-Shuffle-Feature/dp/B018YKTD1Y . Sound quality obviously isn't amazing, but it helps stave off some of the boredom.

Maybe this will help? USB ANT receiver.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CM381SQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One of these

Put your bib on it before the race and then at T2, you just pick it up, clip it on and you're done. Some have loops for gels, but since you're doing a sprint, you probably won't need a gel.

I used Joe Friel's Going Long: Training for Triathlon's Ultimate Challenge and Joe Friel's The Triathlete's training Bible Very in-depth books on how to set up a training plan and schedule your time.

Not free but I use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005O0MCRU?cache=5efb9092fec60a7c1ee0f05ee345fb88&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1405896814&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1