Question from a Non Swimmer

bamcginn

This is going to be my first year of triathlon.  I really want to do the Muncie 70.3 in July, but I will need to see how I progress before making the decision on that.  I am sure I can get to a point to complete the bike and run, the swim has me concerned though.  I can swim (that is to say I can get in the water and get myself to move and not worry about drowning) but not very far and not very fast.

So my question is, has anyone else out there been in a similar situation and succeeded in getting to a point to be comfortable in the water and able to do a 70.3 in say 8-9 months?  I am not sure if it is too much to take on or not.  If anyone has been successful at this, I would love to hear what you did and  what worked and didn't work for you.  I am sure I will need to get some lessons, but really don't even know where to start at this point.

Am I crazy for even thinking about this?

Paul Hough

Bryan - I started triathlons in Sep 2006 (with the exception of 2 in 1980). At the time, I could breathe only to the right side and my stroke mechanics sucked. I signed up for the Florida 70.3 in May 2007 - similar timing to what you are contemplating. I wasn't worried about the bike or run, just the swim and decided I needed to join a master's group, and also to get some lessons. I made it through the swim OK with that approach. Since then I've continued to attend a swim camp per year to further refine the stroke. Four years later, I can say I'm a decent swimmer although I realize I can never catch up with the guys/gals who have a background in it. Get the lessons and go after your goal!

Tom Glynn

Bryan,

join the club! I signed up for my first IM in 2005 and couldn't swim 50 yards. I figure I had a year to learn. Confidence or stupidity, it's a fine line! I found a Total Immersion weekend clinic and got the basics. I still couldn't swim very far, but months and months of drills paid off. I was scared to death and thought I would drown on many occasions, but I'm still kicking, many years later. No, I'm not that fast, but it's good enough

Here is there link http://www.totalimmersion.net/home

Unknown

Bryan - I had a similar story as you and others. I signed up for IMFL 2007 and had not even swam a lap. I remember the panic I felt the first time I swam 50 and was huffing and puffing...I thought I would never be able to do it. After a bit I became more comfortable but still 500 seemed like a loooong way and I was still pretty pessimistic that I would ever be able to do 2.4 miles. I just kept plugging away and then there was a week where things just sort of 'clicked' and i was just able to swim forever it felt like (slow...but forever). I still struggled with some open water panic for a while but thats another story. I am still not a great swimmer but can get by..



Like tom says - Total Immersion clinic or lessons go a long way. Get to a few local open water swims as soon as you can. Dont let the first time you swim in a wetsuit be in a race

phaedrus

Same situation as you 2 years ago but set a 2 year plan to do a half than a full. I bought th e total immersion DVD and got to work on the drills in about December and was swimming "happy laps" as they say within 2 months. Im now a middle of pack swimmer (87 min at IM Moo) but I can swim all day without getting my heart rate up, which was my initial goal. I debate getting the one on one lessons now to get faster but it seems like a lot of work to shave 15 min and Im drink in the kool aid about spending my time getting faster on the bike and run. In any event very happy ti customer

bamcginn

Thanks everyone for their comments letting me know I am not crazy.  I think I will jump in and likely go to a TI clinic and then try that out to see if I can get proficient enough by drilling with what I learn there or if I need to get lessons.  How I progress will determine if I try the 1/2 in 2011 or wait until 2012 (I really want to do IM Lou in 2012 though).

Thanks again for the comments, truly appreciated.

 

Nemo Brauch

One other piece of advice for you Bryan (from another non-swimmer who nearly didn't do Tri's because of the swim). Try to get some open water swimming practice in BEFORE your HIM. Do a few sprints, an Oly, or just find local OWS races to join. Swimming in a pool is very different than swimming in the open water with people around you and it's best to sorta test those waters in a shorter distance event if you can.

GS1962

Yes it is definitely possible.  I stayed away from Tris due to the swim, always thinking that I wouls love to some day do a full IM.  I could swim, but the kind where you swim from your boat to water skis etc.  I had a friend just jump sign up and do the Muncie HIM.  He was a swimmer in high school.  I thought that guy has guts so decided I would "jump into a HIM".  That was June, I signed up for Steelhead in August (less than 3mos).  I swam and swam, still pretty bad but confident I could make the distance, got to Steelhead and they cancelled the swim because of the rough water and undertow.  Because it was swim bike run I qulaified for Clearwater (Nov), went there and did the complete HIM with the swim.  To prepare for that I swam about 3 days a week, mostly by myself, but did join a masters swim group.  I tried to get the instruction form the masters swim group and did long sets on my own.  In Clearwater, I was one of the last one's out of the water (being worlds, they were faster than the ave). I was still thrilled to have faced my fears.  Definitely do some smaller races where you OWS before Muncie so you can get used to not going out too fast and relaxing into it.  8-9months is plenty to make it.  The swim is still my worst, but gives me the biggest buzz. Fear is a great motivator to get to the pool.

Ben V

It's definitely possible - this year was my first triathlon season which included Vineman 70.3 HIM. When I hit the registration button last year in November, I couldn't swim. I would push myself off the wall, and would not make the middle of the pool with all my kicking and crazy moves with my arms. I started with a beginners class in the local pool, I remember being very frustrated after the first lesson with the other adults at least showing some progress and I was the worst in class. Key was to practice what I learned, and at the end of the 4 week program at least I could swim to the other side of the pool (25 yards). From that, I gradually built distance using a program I found online (google 'zero to a mile' ) which worked well. After approx 5 months I could swim 1500m which was enough to do my first olympic; I did two more olympics before the HIM to get more experienced and improved quite a bit along the way.

I think in my first olympic I was probably the last swimmer in my age group, and in my HIM I was still towards the end of the pack but that didn't matter. (swam the 1.9 km in approx 45 mins - something I never thought I was gonna be able to do 8 months earlier).

So yes, it's doable for sure. Get lessons, become more confident in the water (and practice open water swimming!), and you'll have plenty of time.

bamcginn

Thanks for the encouragement. I am signing up tonight after church (will also be changing from trial membership to member tonight), I have been in and out of doing this for about 7 years now andnever committed. For my 40th Bday next year (it is a few days before Muncie) I am going to do this and then IM Lou the following year. it is something I have always wanted to do, it is just time to do it and quitting making excuses.

Thanks again to all of you that shared your experience and ecouragement. It is greatly appreciated.

Tom Glynn

Bryan,

congrats on your decision! I'm confident you'll have a great year.

Swoodowrth

Posted By Nemo Brauch on 26 Sep 2010 07:38 AM

One other piece of advice for you Bryan (from another non-swimmer who nearly didn't do Tri's because of the swim). Try to get some open water swimming practice in BEFORE your HIM. Do a few sprints, an Oly, or just find local OWS races to join. Swimming in a pool is very different than swimming in the open water with people around you and it's best to sorta test those waters in a shorter distance event if you can.

Remember that Cliff Bar commercial where the guy was swimming and his buddies were whacking him with the oars.  That's what I thought of when I read this....

Tom Glynn

 Sheryl,

 

classic stuff!  www.youtube.com/watch