How To Break 40 Minutes For A 70.3 Ironman Swim | GTN Training Tips

The swim section of an ironman 70.3 covers a distance of 1900m and while the bike and run sections are longer, getting the swim right can really boost your half ironman time! In this video, Heather and Mark take us through some training tips that can help you break the 40 minute mark for a 70.3 swim.

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[bencritterson]

I followed this guide and swam 37:50 yesterday at Timberman 70.3, thanks for the tips!

[alanjackman]

Really the Suckiest part about being a good swimmer in a triathlon is when you do a sub 28 min swim all that happens is you get passed left and right after. It's the hardest thing mentally you have a great fast swim and when you get onto the bike people just blow by you. It eats at you the whole time.

[tommylobotommy]

I think the problem is not fully described, it should be: how to break 40 mins comfortably. You can go into beast race mode with many people around, but then you will pay for it later :) I guess it's easier to make up for a slow swim on a bike.

[lakko]

My first swim on IM 70.3 in Zell am See 2017 was in 44 min. After four years of training, I swam under 35 min on IM 70.3 Gdynia 2020. But it was in wetsuit. Before the week at IM 70.3 Graz, I swam without a wetsuit and I swam only in 42 minutes. I am still a weak swimmer, especially when I swim without a wetsuit.

[mustaphab.]

Please consider the distance as 2K since that would be the case for many at this level (poor alignment and sighting)

[MrBraindead]

A great video with tips applicable to whatever your target time is.
Definitely get someone who knows swimming to check your technique!

[ChrisMarshallUS]

Thank you, have been enjoying these videos as I get back into regular swimming, my personal goal is to try a tri in 2022 so these really do help.

[cya]

dont get me wrong saying that but as long as you dont drown yourself at swimming, its the least important section. or i say it this way: if i wanna be trash in one discipline, its for sure swimming. being trash in cycling or running loses you way more time than you would in swimming.

[thesea]

Used to swim competitively at county level only ever did a 1.5k at a gala in 21 mins. Recently did a 2k non stop in training in 33 mins.

[pmbdk]

I didn’t follow this guide and now swims sub 35 min 1900 m 😊

Swimming sub 40 min on that distance has very little to do with fitness. What I see in real life is one major problem: Keeping your legs low in the water. This suddenly makes it 2-3 times harder.

So just work on that and save your fitness for the bike/run part

[jdani-zrlr]

Im very excited to do a half triathlon except i live in queensland australia where we do the swim in the sea and we have alot salt water crocodiles and jelly fish ect 😢. Im terrified of becoming a snack.😂

[KlemenSuligojTri]

That's my target and I really wish I'd achieve it ... but I've been stuck at 2:30/100m pace for a while now

[jamesmckenna]

One of the way the way to get used to be uncomfortable in the swim pool is go first thing soon as the pool opens lots a grumpy swimmers then and u need to keep up The pace 😂😂

[shadwabarghash]

what's difference meant between 100m and 2x 50m ?

[Bliboify]

Would you do a similar video for under 30 or under 60 for the full in the future? Would be cool to get your thoughts on this.

[justinhammer]

Any recommendations for preventing muscle cramps while in the pool? I've noticed that as I've increased my run/bike mileage and my body is already feeling those efforts when I start a swim workout, I've been cramping up midway through the swim. It tends to happen off of a flip turn where one of my calf muscles will seize up just below my knee. Or, I'll get a cramp in the bottom of my foot during a kick set. Anyone else experience this?

[shurrrig]

Why did you guys feel like 40 minutes is a good cut off? Like. i need about 45 minutes in the pool to swim 2k, pretty comfortably, and i'm by no means a good swimmer yet. Would 40 min in the iron man swim be considered really good? or just.. good enough? Im just curiious.

[leoreinardt]

What do you mean with „turnaround time 2min20“ at the main set of the pace workout?

[na-dkvm]

Im training for my first triathlon in june. Olympic triathlon. I can do the 1500m swim in 49 mins, the cutoff is 55 mins.

The only probelm i have is im so tired when im swimmimg. I take so many breaks. Im still getting in under the cutoff time but do i just keep doing 1500m sessions, or do i add easier swim sessions ?? Currently doing 2 sessions a week

[thenerdymamil]

I have participated in a few triathlons and recently did also a 70.3 (swmming was 40:47)

However, I have the feeling my swimming times do not really depend so much on my swimming abilities- but rather on the speed the pack around me is moving.

And to have a safe and pleasant swim I always try to avoid starting in the first group- so I am inavitably among slower swimmers.

So I would focus my training rather on the bike and the run.