As water temperatures climb through June and July, open water swimming shifts from the cold-water acclimatisation challenges of spring to a different set of considerations: warm water performance, wetsuit decisions, and heat management. Here’s how to adapt your open water swimming when the thermometer rises. Understanding the Wetsuit Temperature Cut-Off British Triathlon and World Triathlon…
Most triathlon watches include a swim mode, but the pool of metrics can feel overwhelming: SWOLF, CSS, stroke count, distance per stroke — where do you start? This guide shows you how to actually use your swim watch data to train more effectively and improve your triathlon performance. The Most Useful Swim Metrics Pace per…
Swimming is the discipline that loses fitness fastest when you stop training — and rebuilds slowest when you return. For triathletes entering the off-season, maintaining your swim fitness doesn’t require epic effort, but it does require consistency. Here’s how to protect your hard-won swim base through the winter months. Why Swim Fitness Declines Quickly Unlike…
An aquathlon — a swim followed immediately by a run — is one of the most underrated entry points into multisport racing. It removes the bike entirely, cuts equipment costs dramatically, and leaves you with an event that’s exciting, competitive, and a genuine fitness test. If you’ve been thinking about triathlon but aren’t ready to…
No access to a swimming pool? It is one of the most common obstacles triathletes face — whether travelling, between memberships, or simply in an area without convenient facilities. The good news is that swim fitness is more robust than most athletes fear, and you can maintain a surprising amount of it with the right…
Most age-group triathletes believe the only way to swim faster is to swim more. More metres, more sessions, more time staring at the black line. But volume alone rarely unlocks meaningful speed. Technique, pacing, and deliberate practice are what separate swimmers who plateau from those who keep improving — and all three are available without…
Getting faster in open water is one of the most effective ways to improve your triathlon performance without spending money on new gear. Unlike pool swimming, open water rewards tactical awareness, efficient sighting, and the ability to hold pace in unpredictable conditions. Here are seven proven techniques to help you exit the water ahead of…
Who Is Tilda Månsson? Tilda Månsson became a household name in triathlon on 16 May 2026 when she sprinted past defending World Champion Beth Potter to win at WTCS Yokohama — the biggest result of her career, achieved the day after her 22nd birthday. The Swedish athlete had been climbing through the ranks of elite…
Why Swim Pacing Matters More Than You Think Most triathletes treat the swim as something to survive rather than race strategically. But how you pace your open water swim has a direct impact on your bike and run performance. Go too hard in the first 200 metres, and you’ll burn through glycogen, spike your heart…
Open water swimming is a core part of triathlon training, but knowing where to go can be a challenge — especially in the UK where venue quality varies enormously. We’ve rounded up the best UK open water swimming venues for triathlon training in 2026, from well-managed lakes to dedicated swim venues approved for wetsuit practice….
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