3. Find an open water practice: Swimming down the same narrow lane back and forth can get a little old after awhile. What's more, swimming in a pool doesn't really prepare you for swimming in open water, which can be a daunting task to the uninitiated. During the summer, there is an easy fix for this—most areas have a swim beach, or a lake where you can practice open water swimming. Some areas even have triathlon "practice" where you can work on swimming different distances with a coach present. It's a great way to get some valuable experience, and better scenery, all at the same time.
4. Get your stroke analyzed: One of the hardest things about swimming is that you can't really tell for sure what your stroke looks like, and if it is as efficient and powerful as it should be. At SwimLabs Swim Schools, we will record your stroke and do real time, side-by-side analysis with some of the best swimmers in the world. This can really help give you a new lease on life in the pool, because you will know exactly what it is that you should be working on.
More: 7 Steps to Successful Swimming
5. Be a kid again: I don't think I can make an argument that going down a water slide will in any way improve your stroke. Doing a cannonball when you get into the pool won't either, but the fun you have might just give you the perfect frame of mind to push through those doldrums when you need it the most.
No matter why you chose to compete in triathlons, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to enjoy what you do. The next time you find yourself dreading that your next swim session, shake it up a little bit and have some fun! You might be surprised at how quickly you find yourself refreshed and ready to conquer the water.
SwimLabs Swim Schools are state of the art swimming facilities outfitted with video analysis and Endless Pools for a truly unique underwater experience. At SwimLabs, recreational and competitive swimmers can swim in a unique environment that provides them with the knowledge to learn, experience to continually improve, and the passion to enjoy a lifetime of healthy activity and competition. They currently operate locations in California, Colorado, Illinois and Virginia.
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