Surviving Your First Triathlon Swim
As mentioned previously, there are two ways to start a triathlon swim: wave and time trial. In a wave start, all the swimmers start at the same time, although waves can be divided into age groups or other common denominators. Some triathlons have all beginners start together in a wave. The other way to get things going is by time trial. Swimmers line up, also possibly separated into groups, by number, entering the water one at a time, usually with a few seconds in between.
The scene at a wave start can be chaotic as swimmers thrash and flail on surges of adrenaline. If you're in the middle of it, you might be kicked and punched as all the arms and legs go churning through the water. Trunks and swimsuits will be pulled down, swim goggles will be knocked off. It can be pretty rough.
A wave start to the swim in a triathlon can have as many as sixty to eighty swimmers entering the water at the same time. If the crowd looks intimidating to you, there's nothing in the rules that prohibits you from hanging back for a few seconds until everyone is already in the water and on their way.
The way to avoid a lot of the hassle in the water is to position yourself on the edge of the mass of people. It might cut down on your time slightly, but it will be worth it to avoid the trauma of being in the middle of the hectic takeoff.
Positioning yourself on the outside edges of the wave start will affect how you see the buoys on the course, making it even more important for you to get a good look at them ahead of time if you can. Even as late as the morning of the race, go to the water and count the buoys so that you can remember the number and their placement.
A triathlon's website usually has all the details of the competition, including how the swim will start. As a new triathlete, you will enjoy a time trial start more than a wave start. When picking your triathlon, check the details of how it's run.
Plunge Taken
Once in the water, try to stay close to the buoys if you can. If you get into a bit of trouble or simply tire, it's okay to hang onto a buoy or a boat so long as you get no aid from anyone on the water.
As you swim, remember to look up every few seconds to make sure you are staying on course. It's easy to overshoot your objective if you don't keep an eye on where you're going.
It should be evident that the more effort you put into making yourself familiar with the swim course before you get into the water, the better your experience will be. Do your homework. You will be glad you did.
