| Most of the points made about training and racing in competition swimming are true for triathlon also. But there is one major goal in triathlon swimming - survival. The last thing you need is to come out of the water in front but have energy levels off-peak as you head for your bike. As a triathlete you are serious about your training and probably have tools to help you improve two-thirds of the meet.. now complete your arsenal with the Wetronome in the water. |  |
The goal for that important first leg should be a controlled, efficient swim so you can get out of the water ready to attack the bike stage. Prepare for this by training smarter: develop a controlled efficient swimstroke. Use the Wetronome to help you work out your target stroke rates for the distances you cover. Then train at those rates so you have the best chance of producing the results when it comes to race day.
The Wetronome is used by most of the Australian Olympic swim coaches.
Be sure to see our "Dear Diary" page from one of our (enthusiastic) customers!
"Make it happen in training then let it happen in the race"
- Establish a baseline.
Ask a coach or friend with a stopwatch with a stroke rate function to measure your stroke rate for you, or time yourself for a lap swum at your "normal steady pace" and count your strokes. To count your strokes just count how many times you pull with one of your hands (you choose).
Your stroke rate is (number of strokes x 60)/(time in seconds). Round this to the nearest whole number. - Calibrate.
Set your Wetronome to this stroke rate and swim the lap again trying to coordinate each stroke with your hand of choice with the beep from the Wetronome.
Try swimming a longer distance at the same Wetronome rate.
Now try swimming that longer distance at the same Wetronome rate as well as making sure that you count your strokes for each lap and keep the count down to what your original count was (or less!) - Optimise.
Now that you can swim your race distance at a consistent stroke rate try varying the training parameters: - Increase the Wetronome stroke rate slightly but maintain the same stroke count per lap
- Keep the Wetronome stroke rate the same but try to reduce the stroke count per lap
- Who needs a pace clock or wrist/stopwatch?
Swimming at a consistent stroke rate with a consistent number of strokes per lap means you are swimming the laps in the same time. No need to keep checking the pace clock or your watch, this disrupts your stroke anyway; all the calculations can be done in your head.
We are establishing distributors where all quality triathlete products are sold. If your local equipment supplier does not stock the Wetronome, ask them to do so! You can also buy from us online. We use Australia Post's ExpressPost service for next delivery to Australian capital cities.
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