The start of a triathlon can be nerve-wracking, tiring, intimidating, frustrating, and even discouraging (why do we do this sport??). But don't let all this get to you!

You may decide that after reading several swimming books, practicing drills and workouts in the pool on your own, joining a masters swim team, and even ordering The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming online, that you need a little outside help to get your swim where it needs to be for a tri. You're normal! Unless you have a little swimming experience under your belt already, it may be difficult to make the improvements you need to make without a coach.

I highly recommend hiring a coach, if you are a beginner or just looking to become a better swimmer.

Athletes often ask me when they should begin doing fewer drills and more swimming. I feel there is a swim pace that is the line between swimming for technique and swimming for speed and fitness. My intuition and experience tells me that this pace is about 17:00-17:30 per 1000 yards, or about 1:40 per 100 yard pace. If you want to express it as a "Swim Golf" score, the goal that I give my athletes is sub 80, or less than 40 strokes (for 50 yards) and about 40-44 seconds.

Well it is that time of the season where you have either completed a couple of races or you are getting ready for the first open water swim. Now it is time to leave the comforts of that nice , clear, warm community swimming pool. I have compiled a list of a few tips that might make that experience a little less stressful.

As technical as the sport of swimming can be, it is tough to narrow down the answer to the often-asked question, 'what should I concentrate on?' So, I came up with a 'top ten' list of steps to improving your swim for a triathlon. These aren't necessarily in any order, but should go a long way in helping you achieve your goals, whether you are a beginner or trying to go pro.