The swimming part...

[Bike Chick]

What Oak said. I took lessons to learn how to swim (I wouldn't put my face in the water when I started) but have worked on my stroke and form on my own since. www.swimsmooth.com has helped a lot. If all you want to do is finish a sprint tri, just remember that all you have to do is get from point a to point b. You don't have to have perfect form or swim a certain way. I have seen people back stroke in the deep end and walk the shallow end in a pool swim and finish strong. You can make up your time in the bike and run.

[Veronica]

There were women walking the swim at my HIM. Okay, that only works if where you are swimming is kind of shallow.

Veronica

[Dogmama]

There were women walking the swim at my HIM. Okay, that only works if where you are swimming is kind of shallow.

Veronica

Or if your religion subscribes to walking ON the water...

[HillSlugger]

When I first went to the pool to start swimming for tri I realized that my swimming was very poor and I was going to need help. I had private lessons once a week for a few months and then continued to work on my own, doing lots of reading and video viewing on proper form. That got me through my first year or two. I had a major breakthrough after a one-day clinic that included underwater video and analysis.

I think that some instruction can really have a positive impact and get you using proper form before you put too much time into "perfecting an imperfect stroke".

[NadiaMac]

I also took a series of private lessons when I was getting back into swimming, and it was really useful. I improved a lot and even worked on new strokes (fly). And I loved it-- I loved getting drills and tips to practice and having skills and drills to do while swimming made the swimming itself more interesting. I know others who did group swim lessons who also had a positive experience.

[twoodard]

I just recently completed my first sprint tri. I couldn't even swim a 25 yard lap when i first started training and i would not swim in the deep end because i would panic. I swim at a pool where i saw a life guard giving lessons to a group of children. I asked if she could work with me for a hour to help with my breathing. She looked at my stroke, told me what to do to correct my breathing and gave me lots of tri advice as she does triatlons. It cost me $20.00. After that i practiced three times a week in the pool. I got more confident in my stroke and was able to swim in the deep end and the amount needed for the swim portion of the tri.

When i got to the triathlon venue the lake scared me (i had not done an open water swim--only practiced in the pool). The day prior to the triathlon the persons putting on the tri had a free open water swim clinic in the lake where we would be swimming. I went to the clinic and once again the person watched my swim told me i looked good and gave me lots of free advice about getting through the swim portion of the tri. I was able to complete the swim and it really wasn't bad. I was in full panic mode prior to the swim but all the support by the other athletes really helped to calm my nerves. If i can do the swim, anyone can. One of the reasons i decided to do the triathlon was to over come my fear of the water. I got hooked and am training for another one. I think you can swim on your own but it may not hurt to have someone look at your technique to give you some feedback. Good luck.

[colby]

Everyone has something to learn from a good coach/instructor. Even if you only take one lesson and they tell you "hey, you're doing awesome," it'll be worth it.

A friend of mine learned to swim (essentially) last year and I took the lessons with her (semi-private lesson style at the pool). While I was a half-decent Ironman-distance swimmer and she was starting from scratch, we BOTH got something out of it. Her improvement was much more significant, but mine was still incredibly helpful and worth the $100 or whatever it was that I spent on it.

My advice would be to give it a shot, it should be confidence building at the end no matter what.

[Melalvai]

www.swimsmooth.com has helped a lot.

I really like this site. This helps so much. Plus Mr. Smooth is funny.