I am using my imagination here to write this article. See, I live in Miami, Florida which if you got a C in geography you know is surrounded with open water. So, what does a guy who in ten minutes can jump into a warm ocean year around know about simulating open water swims in pools?

So you've been swimming up and down the length of the pool for years and are ready to get out there and do some open water swimming? Open water swims and triathlons have gained huge popularity in the last few years.

I spent this weekend going through the Swimming DVD Swim Smooth (http://www.swimsmooth.com) by Paul Newsome. Swim Smooth is a box set DVD and CD-ROM program. The information is pretty comprehensive and was developed to help you clean up your stroke and improve your efficiency.

Q: "Is there a specific technique for the start of the swim wave? I am getting caught up in the wave and it is taking me 300 to 400 meters to battle through the crowd to get to clean water. Overall, I am a pretty strong swimmer and I usually finish in the top 5%."

1. Should I wear a wetsuit? It depends on if wetsuits are allowed in the race. Most of the age group races allow wetsuits. In this case, by all means, use a wetsuit! You will not only be able to withstand cold water, but you will also be given the gift of buoyancy by your apparel- which will make it a lot easier to get through the swim.

Press Lung: Ideal buoyancy in the water is achieved when the lungs, your body's natural life preservers, are pressed down towards the bottom of the pool. This is the foundation of downhill swimming and the position that allows for a more streamlined body. Think of your body as a teeter-totter, with the hips as the fulcrum.

Swim what?

What follows is an attempt to help each triathlete for the preparation, strategy, and "game-plan" of racing a "Pool-sprint" style race. We approach this in a format to answer real questions that we have been asked about these types of races.

The most common question I hear in the triathlete world about the mysteries of swimming efficiently usually involves something with breathing. In freestyle, it is the first step to get your body position right. Then, for many, you throw in breathing and everything goes haywire! This has to do with lack of balance, using your head instead of your core to breath, and a few other factors.

You may have been training for weeks or months already, but now it is 2 weeks before your race and it's time to think about resting. Many triathletes find this more difficult than swimming 5,000 yards, biking the hills, or running a half marathon! Here are some things to keep in mind if you are beginning your taper or rest period before your race.