How Pool Training Improves Your Open Water Swimming!
Photo Credit: Helen Cogan Photography
Open water swimming is an experience like no other and in most cases blows the pool swimming experience away. That being said, pool training plays a critical role in preparing someone for the open water and making them a stronger open water swimmer. Although the environments seem drastically different, the pool is a great place to work on aspects that the open water makes difficult.
Technique Improvement
The pool is a controlled environment which makes it a great place to work on the fundamentals of your stroke. You can focus on improving you body position, kick, stroke, and breathing without the variables of open water. It is very hard to do drills or focus on improving your stroke when wind or waves through your body into strange positions every few minutes. This controlled environment allows you to refine you technique which will make you a faster and more efficient open water swimmer.
Strength and Endurance Building
In the pool, you can structure your training to improve specific aspects of fitness, such as strength, endurance, and speed. The pool with a pace clock allows you to focus more on Interval training, drills, and using training equipment. The ability to train many different elements of swimming will enhance your physical condition, setting you up for successful long-distance open water swims.
Drafting Practice
Although it might seem counterintuitive, pools are a great place to practice your drafting in a safer environment while really being able to see the benefit of it. Drafting is when you swim close behind or beside another swimmer to save energy. This is a particularly important skill for triathletes to master so they can swim best test with less effort! If you swim with a buddy or in a masters program, you can take turns leading and drafting with a partner in a lane to simulate open water races. Learning the best placement and how to swim close to other people will not only improve your pace but your comfort in the open water when racing with other people swimming almost on top of you.
Mental Preparation
Pool training provides the opportunity for mental conditioning. Developing a strong mindset and strategies for staying calm under pressure in the predictable pool environment can significantly benefit when transitioning to the more unpredictable open water. Additionally, the pool is an incredibly boring place. If you have done long swims in the pool, then you know that staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool is enough to make you crazy. Learning how to cope with this boredom will translate to your marathon swimming and will give you more tools for your tool box to be successful during your long open water swims.
While the adventure of open water swimming may be irresistible, don't underestimate the power of pool training. The skills, endurance, and mindset developed in the pool create a solid foundation for taking on the challenges of the open water. Whether you're an experienced open water swimmer or looking to dip your toes into this exciting sport, adding pool training into your routine will be a game-changer!