How to Make Size Not Matter in Triathlon Swimming

Let’s face it. Triathlon swimming can get quite physical. Everyone is out there slugging away, and it is tough to get an edge unless you have size to your advantage. Of course, size is more of a liability for the rest of the race, so you can get an edge if you can just survive that swim! So, what do you do when everyone else in your triathlon swim racing wave towers over you? This article discusses techniques for drafting and passing your competitors in ways that make the most of your competitors waves/draft and minimizes the risk of any physical pushing and shoving.

I must admit that I have never had to consider these factors in my own triathlon swim. I am male, and typically weigh 20 pounds more than my triathlon competitors. So my opinions here are un-tested. I would love feedback from anyone out there who can confirm or deny the strategies I recommend.

First of all, let the guys with size have the start. Go through the motions, including a fast run in and initial sprint. But your goal is not to emerge on top; your goal is to tag onto the back of the lead pack. You might be just as fast as the best in the field. But you shouldn’t power through unless you can drop that field from the get-go. Here’s the reason. A bigger size mass in front of you will give you a better drafting benefit. So you want to swim behind the biggest size guy out there you can find. Call him your donkey, because that’s what he is.

You want to stay in this draft for a long time, and defend it viciously. Do make sure you feel plenty rested throughout. Gaps between you and your donkey can open up fast, especially around triathlon turn buoys. You must close gaps as quickly as they open which takes short bursts of speed and effort. If you don’t close it fast, you may find yourself fighting physically against someone else. And if they are bigger in size than you, then you stand a decent chance of losing. But if you can close gaps quickly, it will discourage anyone from taking your place in line.

Don’t think about passing at turns, even though it may be tempting. Progress near a turn buoy is almost always close to your competitor. Everyone is bunched together while swimming, and this can create problems if you don’t have size in your favor. So unless you are really fast and can swim to the outside and around the pack bunched around the buoy, don’t pass at turns.

Instead, you want to pick a random location away from turns that occurs sometime after the first half of the race, when everyone is tired. Preferably the 3rd quarter, as this is when your competitors are at their weakest mentally. Any blocking barrier that divides you and your donkey is a great place to attack. This could be in the form of a slow swimmer from a previous wave you are both passing. Or, it could be a lifeguard in a kayak that wanders onto the course. Or, it can be a marker buoy (not a turn buoy). The trick is to go around these barriers in the opposite side of your donkey. And then you sprint like heck to get around them. Refer to the figure for a detailed illustration.

Step 4 covers an interesting illusion that occurs in swimming. Most people turn their head to the side but slightly towards the feet when they breathe. However, you always perceive your head turning exactly sideways. Thus, a swimmer that is even with you and some distance away appears like they are ahead of you. A horizontal distance between 5-10 feet is good. In step 4, the donkey swims closer to you because they think they are gaining on you when they do so. This is what lures him out of the pack. Then they get themselves into trouble because they are out of the swim draft, breaking their own water and worn out because you’ve made your move in the toughest part of the triathlon swim race.

It is true that the scenario described in the figure makes some assumptions. Maybe your donkey doesn’t break from the drafting line as expected in Step number 4, or maybe you don’t have enough steam to completely pass in Step 5. Or, maybe the donkey gets a burst of speed when you try to merge in Step 6 and prevents you from getting there. These are all risks. It is up to you to decide if the potential gain in passing is worth the effort.

This article gives you some ideas on how to win in close races where size and strength are not in your favor. As I said, I would love to hear of actual stories with these and any other strategies that athletes have used to hold their own in open water triathlon swimming against stronger, larger size individuals. The trick is to swim behind a bigger competitor in size for most of the race, because the drafting effect is much more pronounced and you can hold the same speed more easily. You want to pass in such a way that avoids physical contact so that you aren’t stuck in a slugfest with someone stronger than you. And once you pass, you want to use your own wake to your greatest advantage to push your competitors backwards and ensure that they are gone for good once you make your move. Hopefully, this will help you achieve all of your goals in the sport! Until next time, happy training.