Quote Originally Posted by MDHillSlug View Post
I've heard it said that you can't win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one there. Of the three events it's the shortest both on distance and time. While it may be hard to pick up speed in swimming it may be more important to become more efficient in swimming so that you use less energy and come out of the water feeling fresher for the bike.
Exactly!

And Syndirelah Whoo hoo on the muscle! No batwings for you when you are an old lady!

My stroke is pretty efficient and I can go a long ways holding steady. I am not fast by any means (I did 1:50/100 on our 20 min steady pace swim, could have easily kept going so really didn't push like I should have) I would have to work REALLY REALLY hard to even try to drop 5 secs off 100 anymore so I figure 5x5 = 25 secs on a sprint. W/ work I can drop 3-5 minutes off on the run because right now I am a REALLY bad runner so way more room for improvement

Also cycling is a great place to drop time but that is so dependent on course terrain and around here WIND ! ! !

The first tri I did someone advised me to stay to the side and count to 5 before starting out so I miss the chaos at the beginning of the swim. I took the advice - counted and started - I will never do that again! I ended up passing everyone (love wetsuits) Starting last I was still 14th out of the water w/o even trying to push it.
Now the run . . . . . that was another story

Another thought - If I was doing longer distance races like IM and HIM shaving a couple of secs off a hundred would add up if it didn't tire you out.