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Why are turn buoys so important in open water triathlon swimming? After all, they are few and far between (there are usually only 2 turns in an entire race). The logic would suggest that they are inconsequential, which couldn’t be further from the truth. It is not the time to go around a turn buoy that makes them so important. Instead, they are critical because they create an “accordion effect” which can split a whole race apart and separate the winners from the contenders.
A turn buoy in a triathlon swim is analogous to a construction zone on a highway. It is pure gridlock upstream as the number of lanes and speed limits are reduced. At the construction site itself the cars move in slow, uniform procession. Once through, all of the sudden there is a huge path of open road in front. All those cars that were bumper to bumper ahead are now on the horizon. This model happens in identical fashion in a triathlon race at every turn buoy. The only difference is that when you are swimming, you cannot see around you enough for it to be obvious.
Q: I would like to wear my watch and heart rate monitor during the swim portion of a triathlon. How much will it slow me down?
A: Well gosh, you might as well throw on a boat anchor and drag yourself through that water! Seriously though, anything that can accumulate water is going to slow you down, particularly on what’s moving (hands and feet). Even the monitor itself slows you down because the strap accumulates water weight which is more mass you have to move. The time loss is small: expect to lose a few seconds per half mile. For most people, the utility of wearing that watch and heart rate monitor exceeds any time loss. It is so important to pace the bike and run correctly, especially in longer races like Iron distance. Try and put all that stuff on in transition before the bike and you lose a lot more time than just wearing it through the swim.
Coach Dobko will pick one of your questions each week and give you some insight into swimming. E-mail your questions to duanesworlddobko@worldnet.att.net.
Ankle Stretching
Want to improve your swimming while relaxing in your living room this winter? A great activity to do is ankle stretching. You just sit down on your feet with your knees bent in front of you. Then you pull your knees as high as you can. Hold for a couple of seconds, and then repeat.