Pool Length

jsc77

Hi, I am a newbie to triathlon aiming to do my first sprint next year, and possibly an Olympic distance towards the end of the year. 

My swimming is the issue, as I haven't swum crawl in a long time. I've joined a tri club, and been along to a couple of coached sessions, but due to other commitments can't make it generally.

In order to practice I have joined my local gym, however, the pool is only 15m. Is this going to have a detrimental impact on my technique or fitness? I can go to my local leisure pool occasionally, where there is a 25m pool, but am restricted by the times they do lane swimming, whereas at the gym I can go anytime.  

Any comments appreciated. John

Fe ing Madness

The more times you "touch" the water the better and if that means a 15m pool then so be it, however the longer the pool the longer you will be swimming and not turning and therefore the better the training effect!

I think you need to get to the 25m pool as much as possible as this is probably where you will be competing at Sprint, for the Olympic distance I think the minimum is a 25m pool with open-water practice a definite advantage.

WildWill

i did all my IM training this year in an 18ft pool in my garden (using a tether)

Cheerful Dave

I would have thought that if the gym pool is relatively empty then you might get better training in it than in a crowded lane at the local pool.

Fe ing Madness

I like the tether idea Will - cheap endless pool

Elizabeth Dix 4

A shorter pool gives you more practice at turning however you will need to get used to the feel of the 25m pool.  Sometimes leisure centre pools get very busy and it is nigh on impossible to train in them though!  You can't win either way, what you can do however is work on your stroke technique and try to build up some stamina no matter what the length of the pool is.

WildWill

Fe ing Madness wrote (see)

I like the tether idea Will - cheap endless pool

Hi mate ... i found it great ...