<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Swim - Tri247</title><link>http://www.tri247.com/index.html</link><description>Latest swim articles from Tri247</description><item><title><![CDATA[Swim  Training without a Pool]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6673.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[If you use a  turbo trainer for your bike training and a treadmill for your running, what can  you use to help with the swim? You could try a swim bench but they are not too  portable and quite an investment.
Well, enter  the Power Stroke Cord to bring the pool session to your home, or work, or  wherever you want. We have featured the product quite recently here but I have now had the chance  to try them out and see how they perform in practice.
Very simply the system works on a number of elastic cords to offer  varying levels of resistance, one cord for beginners and juniors and up to  three for a serious session. I have been trying out two cords and proving the  perfect level for my needs.
The instructional DVD offers enough advice to get you started and  progress but it really is about you adapting your swim catch to the cords. The  cords provide far more resistance than a normal swim session so they will  definitely help you with upper body strength, it&rsquo;s not like a weights session  but it is hard work if used properly. I have been using the system now more  than the pool as I have to confess they have been a really good replacement and  with the recent poor weather there has been no excuse for not swimming!
Now, back to how it performs, it takes a little practice and for me it  took a little concentration but the more I have used it the easier it has  become. I give it full marks for simplicity and ease of use. I really like the  way I can get away for the weekend and pop it in my bag and sneak in a few  minutes here and there. OK, so I don&rsquo;t get away every weekend but they have  been away once! There are not many items like this out there that offer the  sheer portability and value for money and they do work.

  
    The DVD offers some techniques to get the most out of the product and  quite a few different drills to try out, so well worth watching and it is not a  lengthy instructional video, just enough to get the key messages over in a  straight forward manner. Perfect for my limited concentration span and  eagerness to try them out!
      How about race morning? Need a warm up session before racing, you could  try these and be ready for the off. 
      Like many substitute training methods there are shortfalls, and it is not  exactly like being in the pool, how could it? But there are too many positives  to Power Stroke Cords to not give it a shot. I now notice that they have an  offer for clubs on their website, buy five systems, get a  free one and extra resistance cords. Buy now I say! 
    
    
  

Just watch the video here to see what I mean, simple and portable. If you  can&rsquo;t get out to the pool a few times and you can use the Power Cords instead  then they will be worth the money. If you can&rsquo;t afford or don&rsquo;t have space for  an endless pool or just need something to practice your swim drill on dry land  with whilst having a little workout then this could be what you need.
For more information and to get a set yourself visit the Fit4swimming  website at http://www.fit4swimming.com/ or email info@fit2surf.com ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Swim Europe to Asia]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6608.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Put simply, the Hellespont (aka the Dardanelles) is probably the most illustrious open water swim in the world successfully completed by Lord Byron 3rd May 1810.

To commemorate the celebrated English poet Lord Byron&rsquo;s inaugural swim crossing of the Hellespont, a once in a lifetime swim race is being organised by SwimTrek to follow in his wake exactly 200 years to the day.  The Byron Swim Festival will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend in May and will feature seminars, films and discussions, with the actual swim race taking place on the exact bicentennial date, 3rd May 2010. The swim festival is attracting people from all over the world including The Rt. Hon. Lord Byron and his son, The Hon. Charles Byron.  Charles Sprawson, author of the &lsquo;Haunts of the Black Masseur&rsquo; book is also swimming.

Lord Byron set out to swim across the waters which separate Europe and Asia as he was inspired by the romantic Greek myth of Leander and his lover the priestess Hero. It was the mythology of Leander&rsquo;s nightly swim across the 4.5 kilometre stretch of water to his lover that inspired Lord Byron to become the first known person to swim from Europe to  Asia.  On successfully completing the crossing he said: &ldquo;I plume myself on this achievement more than I could possibly do on any kind of glory, poetical, political or rhetorical.&rdquo;

This iconic race has only 200 places available and it is already creating a lot of excitement and spaces are going fast!  The organisers believe that this once in lifetime opportunity will attract people who want to  share in the adventure that inspired Lord Byron all those years ago and who can rightly claim they have swum from Europe to Asia.

For more information about the race and to book a space visit www.swimhellespont.com
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Triathlon training camps in Scotland]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6402.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[The Sheppard Swim School will continue to host outstanding training camps with a new venture in the summer of 2010 - a triathlon camp in the outdoor 50m pool in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This will give triathletes an opportunity to improve their swimming in an outdoor environment, which includes a 50m outdoor heated saltwater pool.

The camp will be organised by GB Olympic swimming coach Gary Vandermeulen and GB Paralympic Swimming Coach Anthony Stickland. Gary is well known as the coach who turned around Catriona Morrison&#039;s swimming.

These coaches will be complemented with a staff of experienced running and cycling coaches. The camp will be cost effective as a caravan site is adjacent to the pool - so save your hard earned pounds and stay in the UK instead of heading abroad. The Cost will be &pound;150 per five day camp, throughout July and early August.

The focus on the swimming will be on technique first and endurance second.  Each day will consist of two hours of swimming in the morning and an hour of swimming in the evening.

This camp will give beginners and intermediates a chance to learn about correct and efficient technique based on the training drills developed by Gary Vandermeulen. Gary spent a great deal of time with the American coach Bill Boomer. Bill is the backbone of the technical basis behind Terry Laughlin&#039;s Total Immersion programme. During your week of swimming you will learn how to have correct &#039;feel for the water&#039; therefore improving your distance per stroke, learn correct balance and correct timing.

The area of Stonehaven will give all campers an opportunity to bike and run along the seafront. There will be an opportunity to rent bikes including mountain bikes through TISO outdoor equipment in Aberdeen.

For more information visit www.sheppardswimschool.co.uk
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Power Stroke Cord]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6378.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[As a triathlete finding the time to swim, bike and run can be very  hard. Most triathletes have full-time jobs, families, and busy lives to lead.
Many triathletes now use the well known turbo trainer if they can&amp;rsquo;t get  out to ride but if you can&amp;rsquo;t get to the pool then there are not many options&amp;hellip;  this is where a Power Stroke Cord can be of benefit.

The Power Stroke Cord can help you focus on the front end of your  stroke, allowing focus on the catch of the stroke.
      There are up to 3 different resistance levels available for the user,  which can be changed in seconds.
      Whole training sessions can be achieved using the Power Stroke Cord in  the form of interval sets.
      Another way to boost your performance would be to go from a run straight  to a Power Stroke work out, a very good form of cross training.
      If you&amp;rsquo;re a junior or senior triathlete then the Power Stroke Cord can  be a great training aid!
You can find out more  here www.fit4swimming.com, or check out the video below 
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[NeroTX is Race Ready for 2010]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6286.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Swimming&#039;s  world governing body, FINA, has given the thumbs up to blueseventy&#039;s neroTX  swimskin. The new suit features the very latest in modern  textile fabric technology, making as much up to the minute technology as  possible available to the swimmer.
2009 has  been an exciting yet turbulent year in the pool, with uncertainty about the  direction of swimwear ruling. However, with suits now approved, swimmers can  look forward to 2010. The body suit has been banished, but a new generation of  suits is now ready to take the place.
CEO Steve  Nicholls commented: &amp;ldquo;We&#039;ve taken time to get the neroTX right and it&#039;s been extensively tested by scientists and  swimmers. Whilst staying within FINAs latest guidelines, we&#039;ve produced  a super light weight, compressive, hydrophobic  material that repels water effectively and drastically decreases drag.
&amp;ldquo;Swimwear  has commanded a lot of attention over the last eighteen months. We entered the  swimming market because we were fascinated by the bodysuit and its exciting  impact on the sport. We&#039;ve developed a loyal following and helped swimmers  break numerous records.
&amp;ldquo;We&#039;ve  applied the same passion for design and innovation to the neroTX that turned  the record breaking blueseventy nero into the top selling race suit in the  world.&amp;rdquo;
The  neroTX is made from a unique highly compressive, ultra low drag, water smart  fabric. blueseventy&#039;s exclusive fabric is produced using a warp multifilament  treated nylon, with an extremely thin yarn count. The entire neroTX range is  ultrasonically welded, further eliminating the drag that&#039;s created from  traditionally sewn suits. 
Nicolls  added: &amp;ldquo;We are committed to bringing innovation into swimming and have also  developed a carbon fibre goggle that is lighter and faster than any other  goggle we have tested. We&#039;re constantly looking at technology from other sports  that we can apply to the water to help swimmers go faster. Carbon fibre has  revolutionised performances in cycling and triathlon, and we think it will have  a big impact on swimming as well.&amp;rdquo; 
The brand  new Nero range will be available from January 2010 and a limited number of  Carbon RZR goggles are already in circulation. 
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Entries now open for British Gas Great North Swim 2010]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6265.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Entries have opened for the 2010 British Gas Great North Swim to coincide with the launch of the Great Swim TV series which will be shown on Channel 4 this Sunday. 

The British Gas Great North swim took place in the summer and was a huge success with 6000 swimmers taking the plunge over two days. Britain&rsquo;s biggest one-mile outdoor swim took place at the Low Wood Marina, Windermere and attracted swimmers of all shapes and sizes from a 36-year-old mother or three with a fear of deep water to a 71-year-old Grandad. In addition to the masses, many of the world&rsquo;s top swimmers and Olympic heroes battled it out to take the honours in the elite races.

The event is part of the British Gas Great Swim series - four one-mile outdoor swims staged in some of the most stunning locations in the UK. 

The &ldquo;relatively new sport&rdquo; of open-water swimming will be televised on Channel 4 in a series of four one-hour programmes. The British Gas Great North Swim will be shown on Sunday 13 December at 8.00 am.

Colin Hill, Event Project Manager for Great Swim said: &ldquo;The Great Swim Team are now looking forward to 2010 and hope that these televised events will help bring a whole new audience and participants to take part alongside the world&rsquo;s best elite swimmers.&rdquo;   

Great Swim is open to swimmers of all abilities aged 16-years and over. There are limited places available and organisers urge those interested to enter soon to avoid disappointment.

The inspiring swim will return to lake Windermere on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September 2010.
 
For more information and to enter online go to www.greatswim.org.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[TriSport Coaching - New Premises]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6251.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[TriSport Coaching will shortly be relocating their coaching centre from their current base in Sutton to great new premises at the Open Water Sports Centre, Unit J Linsford Business Park, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey - which is just five minutes away from their lake.

Some of you may have already experienced the open water coaching sessions at The Quays, but now the good new is, that TriSport Coaching will be able to offer all of their existing services and analysis sessions at the new centre, which will be within a few minute&rsquo;s reach of TriSport&#039;s popular lake facility.

To celebrate TriSport Coaching  will be holding a grand opening and everyone is invited. All you need to do is go to: www.trisportuk.org/OnTheMove.aspx and register. All registrants will get a 10% discount on any analysis or coaching session taken at the new centre.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Swim For Tri website launched]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6245.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Regular Tri247 contributor and well known face on the triathlon coaching scene, Dan Bullock has been in touch to announce that the brand new Swim For Tri (www.swimfortri.co.uk) website is now up and running.
The site contains video clips, stats tools, fitness sessions, teaching sessions and much more.
As a special offer - get in quick (!) - the first five people to sign up to the Swim For Tri newsletter (HERE) will get a free pass to the members area, worth &amp;pound;40 which gives you access to even more great swimming content.
Check out www.swimfortri.co.uk for more. 

Dan also advises that there are just TWO places remaining for the SFT South Africa Training Camp, which judging by these details, looks stunning. As a regular visitor to the Cape Town / Stellenbosch area, your Editor can confirm it really is...there is also one place available to take part in the Argus Cycle Tour during the camp - again, another incredible event. ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[TRi20 open water swim trials]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6209.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[The guys behind the blueseventy Open Water Swim Centre in Reading have just launched an exciting new swim series for 2010. The TRi20 Open Water Swim Trials is a series of swim races to be held on the last Thursday of every month [starting May 2010] with three categories to choose from: 750m, 1500m, 3.8km. Each race will be timed and all three categories will start in the water together to simulate a mass start environment.

The venue, which is now called the Tri20 Swim Centre, also has a well stocked shop onsite for all your open water swimming equipment and offers wetsuit rental as well as sales. Renowned for its friendly and professional service, the centre is looking to appeal to both novice and experienced triathletes and open water swimmers. If you want to enter or just find out a little more information click here.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Record breaking weekend for Richard Stannard]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_6082.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Great Britain triathlete and Leatherhead Swimming Club member Richard Stannard broke two European and five British Masters Records at the British Gas ASA Masters and Senior Age-Group Swimming Championships in Sheffield last weekend. 

He competed in five events, the 1500m, 800m, 400m, 200m Freestyle and the 200m Butterfly. Richard took Gold and set records in every event.

Richard said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been an amazing weekend. I was hit by a car earlier this year while training on my bicycle breaking both my pelvis and my hand. It wiped out my triathlon season, and made training impossible. I had to change my focus. It&rsquo;s been very hard and to start my come-back with a weekend like this by breaking so many records is fantastic. I start running and cycling next week in preparation for next year&rsquo;s triathlon season. I just hope my injuries have healed sufficiently and I do not suffer any further problems from the crash.&rdquo;

Richard was very close to breaking the Masters World Records in the 800m and 1500m and will be targeting these records early next year.

 
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