Rolling start strategy

Mike Westover

My past races have all been wave starts, but I have a couple with rolling starts coming up (Victoria 70.3 and IM Canada). Are there any strategies you have found helpful for a rolling start race? Warmup timing, and when to get in line? Where you seed yourself? Dealing with congestion entering the water?

Brad Marcus

I've only done one race with with rolling start (IMLP), but I liked it better than a wave start. Seemed like less congestion in the first 300 yards of the swim when things seem most chaotic. Also, seemed easier to control your initial effort and HR from the get go. Since I anticipated a 1:15-1:20 swim, I seeded myself towards the front of the 1:10-1:20 area (always rather be a tad aggressive in seeding myself for a swim start). Suggest you get yourself ready to get into the group with a little time to spare. What started out as a "group" formation, eventually funnels into more of a line, and although it's ok to move yourself through the crowd while it's still in a group, I wouldn't want to be "that guy" who cuts in to the line. Regarding, swim warm ups, I think it really depends on the race. They may or may not have a designated area to warm up in. When in doubt, just leave yourself a little extra time.

Paul Hough

@ Brad - the fastest way for two people to swim is in a line, but the best draft is on another person's hip, not their feet. But drafting on a hip slows down the draftee slightly (which is why the line is faster). I would get on the person's hip if they are faster and not worry about cutting line.

William Jenks

Regarding seeding...you have to know whether they are seeding the swim or just telling people to go whenever they want. If it's seeded, the classic advice would be to try to go with people just a bit faster than you so you can draft with them. Of course, if everyone did that.... :-)

If it's random, then I really think it depends on your psychology and whether you want to be moving up through the bike group or not. If it's not too crowded, that is theoretically faster because you can micro draft off each person you pass...but if it's crowded, that would be a bad idea. thus on a giant IM, I would prefer to start closer to the front than the back if it were unseeded.