Using HD filming, heart rate and stroke analysis with an expert triathlon coach, we find the opportunities in your technique, race pacing and training structure, designing a personalised plan in line with your triathlon goals and potential.

We combine HR and swim data with observation in a unique service, to not only allow you to improve on your technique and efficiency in the water, but also to target your specific training pace, and build a race plan to allow you to execute the perfect swim, balancing all of this with the needs of the specific sport.

Outline of the service:

• We spend 30-45 minutes in the pool, we kit you out with our swim watch and heart rate monitor before you get in the water.
• The first part of the in pool time is recording your current technique with our HD equipment (under and above the water)
• We normally then ask you to race 400m, recover and then race 200m (or relevant distances), during this your heart rate, stroke length, stroke rate, distance per stroke and speed is monitored and recorded for later.
• While our equipment monitors what’s going on your coach will then film you poolside so we can link the data to actual stroke patterns and real time events.
• Your coach will also use this time to make poolside observations to discuss later and will begin to break down your stroke looking for the strengths and areas to develop.
• We then work on some relevant in pool drills to help you understand some of the things we may ask you to do as part of your plan.
• Once back at the clinic we review your current swim training and plan, review your HD video footage (you’ll get a copy of this on the day), additional pool filming and all the data we’ve captured.
• This is built into a plan and we show you through computer simulations and pre-recorded drills what’s relevant for you, we will provide links so you can find the drills at a later point.
• As your coach is a qualified level 3 (that’s the highest level) BTF coach they will also ensure it aligns and works with your overall triathlon goals and training plan.
• Normally your coach will prefer to reflect back on the workshop and sanity check you have everything you need, they will then send through your completed plan at the latest the following day.
• Your coach is then available for questions on your plan of anything you forgot to ask during the session.
• It’s then over to you to work on the plan!... for us a great result is a quicker swim or we deliver you in a better state ready to execute a superb triathlon result, we’ll discuss this on the day.
• We then look to book you back in at a relevant timeframe to check in on progress and adapt the plan.

The session will usually last in total about 3 hours and timings are confirmed at the point of booking.

How does it get better?

After some early rapid breakthroughs that can excite, the rapid trajectory plateaus and improvements seem to reduce for a while, which can be frustrating. Aligning better pathways of the propulsive limbs will make for instant improvements to speed, because they can be completely wrong early on.

Less drag will reduce fatigue, so early on progress can seem quite easy. Practicing these movements to the degree that they are on autopilot and in the subconscious takes a lot of time.

Most people who come for an initial consultation can swim 25 metres in 25 seconds, some can swim 1:40 for 100 metres, but few can swim 25 minutes for 1500 metres. These are all the same speed.

You don’t need to get faster, but rather you need to keep doing what you did for 25 metres. If breathing is relaxed and under control this should be a lot easier in terms of effort compared to average efforts biking or running.

To make the stroke repeatable, accurate and sustainable with low levels of effort takes time, and a lot of relearning after erasing bad habits. Swimming more often at this stage, as long as it is done with some instruction and correct movements, is key.