Q: I would like to try drafting during the swim, but I feel like I'm constantly swimming with people slower than me because I am so awful at triathlon starts. Any advice?

A: The answer to your question comes in two parts: starting right and picking the right person to draft. One easy thing you can do to improve your start is to position yourself appropriately in your starting wave. When that gun goes off, you want to be standing or treading water slightly away from the main crowd. Start as fast as you can but stay away from that crowd, even if it means swimming off-course. Most people group together at the start and beat each other senseless. You can take advantage of their misery by swimming away from them and waiting for the fast people to catch up to you and pass.

After 30 seconds of swimming, start moving in a straight-line direction towards the first turn buoy. The faster swimmers who got caught up in the initial crowd will be passing you at this time. Pick the person moving slow but steady by you (not one that flies by or one that struggles to go by). Once their feet are at your head, move straight behind them. You know you've found a good person to draft if you are working hard but feeling easy. Keep drafting in this manner for as much of the race as possible, choosing different people as needed. If done right, you will see a positive impact in your race results!

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