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Open Water Swimming

By Coach Jeanne Jones

The early morning temperatures still might be a bit on the chilly side, but open water season has begun! Now is the time to dust off your wetsuit and refresh your open water swim skills for...Read More

Stay Injury-Free This Season

By Dr. Camille Reagan and Dr. Ron Tribendis 

Buffalo Springs Triathlon Camp

  By Coach Jeanne Jones

The early morning temperatures still might be a bit on the chilly side, but open water season has begun! Now is the time to dust off your wetsuit and refresh your open water swim skills for the upcoming race season, and Playtri is here to help.

Open water swimming is very different from pool swimming - in many ways it is a completely different sport. Issues such as balance, pack position, sighting and drafting play far less of a role in the pool - in triathlon, they are essential.  Many athletes considered to be "fast" in the pool will find that their speed isn't transferring to the open water. Believe it or not this is very common, and in 9 cases out of 10, a better understanding and practice of open water technique can mean vast improvements.

Answer the following questions to find out if your open water swimming is up to snuff...

Did you know that the best place to start a triathlon is on the edge of the pack, with the pack to the side that you breathe on so that you can sight off of them?  Except when you're doing an Ironman, in which case where the crowd is is the last place you want to be!

Did you know that it's better to follow a draft a little ways off course than to stay on course and swim by yourself?

Did you know that the shorter the race, the more important your swim warm up is?

Did you know that a poor run can actually be due to a poor swim?

Did you know that a great open water swim requires 100% focus?

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions then you are missing out on free speed in your open water races! 

Playtri has developed a series of open water swim clinics to help triathletes understand what we call the Five (5) Pillars of Open Water Swimming. These pillars help optimize the swim effort for the best race possible - making your swim more efficient, and leaving your muscles fresher for the events to follow. Used by amateurs, elites, and professionals alike, our pillars have been tried and tested in everything from local sprints to the Ironman World Championships.  In our clinics we provide explanation and practical application, and then practice each of the pillars together so that come race day you are prepared and focused.

All open water swim clinics take place at Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake. Check the Playtri website at www.playtri.com/club for more details on dates and times. We look forward to having you and helping you achieve your race goals in 2011!

Questions about clinics or open water swimming in general?  Email me at jeanne@playtri.com! 

Jeanne Jones is a Level II USAT certified coach, and a Level IV USA Cycling certified coach.  She has competed in countless Sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and IM triathlons, and has coached with Playtri for over 5 years.  She is the Camps Director for Playtri. 

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Stay Injury-Free this Season

By Dr. Camille Reagan and Dr. Ron Tribendis

Whether or not injuries have plagued you in the past, there's nothing like an ounce of prevention to save you from having to deal with them in the future.  Nothing can cut a good season short like an untimely injury.

Top local chiropractors, Dr. Camille Reagan of Chirosport Center in Dallas, and Dr. Ron Tribendis of North Texas Performance Chiropractic in Plano give us their tips for staying injury free in the coming year.  Do your best to incorporate these suggestions into your training plan for a great season!

1. As the weather heats up, make sure to stay hydrated before, during, and after workouts - in other words, all the time.  You are three times more likely to injure a muscle if it is dehydrated.

2. Use the foam roller - a few minutes spent on those tight areas before and after exercise can help increase performance, speed up recovery, and reduce soreness.

3. Make sure you are receiving regular adjustments to your spine and extremities from a chiropractor.  Misalignments in your skeletal system can cause excessive muscle tightness and imbalance in the surrounding musculature. This leads to poor technique and injury.

4. Find a USAT certified, experienced coach.  A big portion of a coach's job is to help you reach your goals while avoiding injury.  Let them organize your training to maximize benefits while minimizing injury potential by avoiding over-training and teaching proper technique.

5. Get a sports massage - ask around and find a reliable sports massage therapist in your area, and make regular appointments.  Just remember, you don't want a massage less than 48 hours before a big race or event.

Remember, always train safe and train smart - all of the training in the world is no good if it doesn't get you to the start line!  Best of luck to all of you this season.

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  By Coach Jeanne Jones

The famously tough Playtri Buffalo Springs Camp is right around the corner!

We're gearing up for the eighth annual Buffalo Springs Triathlon Camp - Playtri's original training camp and still one of the best!

The areas around Buffalo Springs Lake and Ransom Canyon offer an excellent training ground for any Ironman or 70.3 event this season, and especially for the (in)famous Buffalo Springs 70.3.

We combine challenging training days with educational seminars at night for a full circle approach to your tri-cation weekend. The camp kicks off Thursday, May 12th in the evening, with training starting Friday morning.  We also have optional workouts during the day on Thursday for those arriving early so you can get even more out of your camp experience.  To cap off the weekend, most campers will participate in the Buffman and Squeaky Olympic distance race at Buffalo Springs Lake on Sunday, May 15, 2011, or the Dog House Sprint the same morning.

Come join us for a weekend of Playtri tradition, tough training and a whole lot of fun!

Questions?  Email me at jeanne@playtri.com!

Jeanne Jones is a Level II USAT certified coach, and a Level IV USA Cycling certified coach.  She has competed in countless Sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and IM triathlons, and has coached with Playtri for over 5 years.  She is the Camps Director for Playtri.

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