Triathletes. Talk to me about the swim (clinic-related).

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'm putting together my plans and marketing for the triathlon clinic(s) at the pool this summer.  I'm not a triathlete, but I'm a pretty serious OWS (in case you didn't know).  I'm probably doing two clinics - a beginner one to address the obvious things, like sighting, bilateral breathing, staying calm in the face of the physical assault that is an open water start, good finish, cornering tips, etc ... Then, a smaller, more advanced one for actual stroke correction.

I'm planning both of these on the premise that the attendees will be the folks who went into triathlon without the swim skills that someone like Susie or joenali (that is, former/current competitive swimmers) has.

However, I'm missing the triathlete's perspective.  What are some things you wish you'd known about the swim leg going into triathlon?  What would be helpful for you as a triathlete?  What would sell you on attendance at a clinic?

[katinthehat]

This is the problem I struggle with over and over - how do you translate what you learn in the pool to what you encounter in open water? It's like if you only trained for a marathon on the elliptical (in my mind at least.) I'd like a course to cover how to swim in a chop and in a current and generally rough waters. I think things like, removing lane dividers and having everyone jump in and swim to the end would be helpful. Practicing different kinds of starts like jumping in and treading water, wading in or diving starts would be good.

[mrs.jacinthe]

What about offering an actual open-water "trial" swim? I've been hesitant about it, because it would be in a non-guarded state park and *liability*. Our only guarded state park lake's water level is questionable for the year, depending how much rain we get this month (COME ON, MIRACLE MARCH!). I'm a guard, but I can't guard AND coach 15+ people in an open water setting without feeling a little uneasy about it.

[Susie]

Mar 3, 2014 17:04:26 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

What about offering an actual open-water "trial" swim? I've been hesitant about it, because it would be in a non-guarded state park and *liability*. Our only guarded state park lake's water level is questionable for the year, depending how much rain we get this month (COME ON, MIRACLE MARCH!). I'm a guard, but I can't guard AND coach 15+ people in an open water setting without feeling a little uneasy about it.

I would be super uneasy about that too, unfortunately.  And I'm not sure what kind of insurance you'd need for that--I assume you'd need some.

I am doing a swim clinic (I think I mentioned that?) for my tri club starting this week.  It remains to be seen whether it is useful to people or they find it worthwhile.  I have tried asking people in the club what they'd like to learn, and have gotten no good feedback, which has been frustrating.  They all just want it to be easier and to "suck less" and to be faster, which of course I can't just give them.  In the absence of meaningful or specific feedback, I'm just going to teach what I know really well, which is stroke mechanics/technique.  That is applicable no matter what kind of water you are swimming in.  I also believe that the majority of the difference between OWS and pool swimming is tied up in a combination of needing stronger, more effective strokes, and being mentally ready to adapt.  (There's some specific skills associated with ocean swimming, but that's not what most triathletes are dealing with.)  Since you just can't simulate open water in a pool, you do the best you can and provide the stroke technique, comfort in the water, and the tools for adaptability.  Beyond that there's a certain amount of "gotta go and do it" that you can't give people.  KWIM?

[emilyj]

Everything you mentioned is what I would have said I would have wanted to know. Even after a couple of tri's, I still would have wanted more instruction on the open water start. The rest of the swim I picked up on pretty quickly, but that start is still a damn disaster for me.

Short of actually getting in open water, I really think you have a good plan.

Do you have the ability to either hire a couple of guards and do the clinic out in open water, or hire one guard and do an open water clinic for a lesser amount of people (whatever your limit is)?

[kams]

There's a coach here who does occasional open water clinics. I'm not entirely sure what that entails on her end, but I know we have to sign a waiver and have a usat license (annual or $12/day). She sets out boueys (sp?), opens the course, requires a sign out, and offers a clinic. She gets big crowds. You get all kinds of triathletes, too, because even ppl who aren't interested in a clinic are happy to pay for the open water course to be open.

Because I pay my masters coach, I would personally only pay for open water practice.
ETA: ^^ the above sounds really rude - I didn't mean to sound that way. My reasoning for mentioning that was just to say that I think the greatest value for the largest number of triathletes is extra open water practice, so I think you will surely get participants if you can get into open water. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

Mar 3, 2014 19:02:00 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Everything you mentioned is what I would have said I would have wanted to know. Even after a couple of tri's, I still would have wanted more instruction on the open water start. The rest of the swim I picked up on pretty quickly, but that start is still a damn disaster for me.

Short of actually getting in open water, I really think you have a good plan.

Do you have the ability to either hire a couple of guards and do the clinic out in open water, or hire one guard and do an open water clinic for a lesser amount of people (whatever your limit is)?

Technically, I'm the aquatics director, so I can hire as many guards as I want.     I'm just thinking for sake of affordability for participants, it would be better for it to be just me, but perhaps I should rethink that.  Additionally, if we go to any of the nearby lakes (water or no), there's a $10/car parking fee, which is a real bummer.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Mar 3, 2014 17:25:00 GMT -5 Susie said:

Mar 3, 2014 17:04:26 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

What about offering an actual open-water "trial" swim? I've been hesitant about it, because it would be in a non-guarded state park and *liability*. Our only guarded state park lake's water level is questionable for the year, depending how much rain we get this month (COME ON, MIRACLE MARCH!). I'm a guard, but I can't guard AND coach 15+ people in an open water setting without feeling a little uneasy about it.

I would be super uneasy about that too, unfortunately.  And I'm not sure what kind of insurance you'd need for that--I assume you'd need some.

I am doing a swim clinic (I think I mentioned that?) for my tri club starting this week.  It remains to be seen whether it is useful to people or they find it worthwhile.  I have tried asking people in the club what they'd like to learn, and have gotten no good feedback, which has been frustrating.  They all just want it to be easier and to "suck less" and to be faster, which of course I can't just give them.  In the absence of meaningful or specific feedback, I'm just going to teach what I know really well, which is stroke mechanics/technique.  That is applicable no matter what kind of water you are swimming in.  I also believe that the majority of the difference between OWS and pool swimming is tied up in a combination of needing stronger, more effective strokes, and being mentally ready to adapt.  (There's some specific skills associated with ocean swimming, but that's not what most triathletes are dealing with.)  Since you just can't simulate open water in a pool, you do the best you can and provide the stroke technique, comfort in the water, and the tools for adaptability.  Beyond that there's a certain amount of "gotta go and do it" that you can't give people.  KWIM?

You know, I think the bolded is definitely the most important part of OWS.  I've never had trouble during a swim, and I think it's partially because of adaptability.  Even cold open water with a strong tidal pull, I was just like "WOW, choppy!" and kept swimming, but I can see how conditions like that would be terrifying to a swimmer who normally only pool swims.

As far as insurance goes, I'm covered by the club insurance as a coach/employee, but I'm presuming that does not extend to insurance in a non-club setting.  So I suppose I could require everyone to be USMS members, but as a non-sanctioned event, I don't think they'd cover that, either.  I'll have to get clarification on that from club services.

Let me know how your clinic goes - I'd be interested in the feedback and more information on why the swim sucks so much for non-swimmers (other than, you know, it's a hard skill if you're not great at it.)