The swimming part...

[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.

[Selkie]

Agree. I had one session w/a coach who videotaped me. Pointed out some flaws in my technique of which I was completely unaware, and taught me how to correct them. Even for someone who swims purely for the love of it and is not a competitor/triathlete, the session was well worth the $$$$.

[JennK13]

Depending on what you're looking for, it isn't all that expensive. I paid $114 for a 3pack of training sessions at my local rec center. I paired with the tri coach, and the help I got with swimming has made a huge difference. I wanted one-on-one coaching for that, but they also offer swimming lessons pretty inexpensively, and also single training sessions for $40. I would have been fine with one lessons for swimming and using the skills trainings she gave me; I'm using the other sessions for other things.
I also took an open water swim clinic that was very helpful. The teacher gave a lot of useful information on swimming in open water and skill tips.
I don't think you need a coach, but a lesson or two would be of great value.

[GLC1968]

I swam on a team as a kid, so when I signed up for my first tri last spring, I figured it wouldn't take long to get it back. I was wrong. As a kid, I only did sprint swims and I was never any good at distance. As an adult, that was magnified because I was also out of shape (cardiovascularly) when I started. Plus, I'm competitive, so just surviving the swim didn't appeal to me...I wanted to do reasonably well.

I tried taking lessons at the pool where I swam. I signed up for adult lessons and I got a lot of 'you look great' and 'I don't see what else I can help you with, just practice more'. She would give me drills (good ones, actually) but when I asked what the drill was supposed to teach me or what it was for...she didn't have any answers (or, she made it up!). It was a total waste of time and money. I gave it 8 sessons (4 weeks) before I quit.

Then I signed up for a 10 week (1 session a week) clinic taught at the pool where my first tri was being held. It was a long commute on a weeknight for me, but it was 100% worth it. This guy knew his stuff and after 10 weeks, I was swiming my 500y tri distance. I set a personal record during the race, too (even though I did have to breast stroke some). Since then, I've only gotten faster with more and more practice (and races). I've not had any more lessons since the clinic, but I just swam that same 500y distance last week at the exact same pace as my first race except that this time, I was swimming it easy as a warm-up.

So yes, lessons can make a HUGE difference in your speed, your form and most importantly, your enjoyment of the sport. BUT, make sure you get lessons from someone who can help you. If the HS swim team member teaching at your pool can't help, get your money back and find someone else.