#TriathleteLive: Open Water Guru Gerry Rodrigues Shares Swimming Tips

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Triathlon swim coach Gerry Rodrigues of Tower 26 joins us from his home in Los Angeles, California to talk about swimming through the pandemic, answer your questions, and give away a few copies of his new book Triathlon Swimming. Watch the complete Triathlete Live above and check out our full series here.

4:01 “For those who don’t have access to the pool, what’s an out-of-pool regime you would recommend?”

8:13 “If you have access to open-water swimming, what’s the best thing to do?”

10:40 “What percentage of your overall training schedule should be devoted to swimming?”

13:56 “Is it possible to become a competitive age-group triathlon swimmer if you’re learning how to swim as an adult?”

15:16 Gerry talks about the progress of professional triathlete Cam Wurf.

16:12 “How often should I take breaths? Every third is fine for me, but every other keeps me fresher.”

18:18 “When you’re holding for a lingering breath, what’s happening with the rest of your body?”

20:34 “Should age-group athletes learn how to bilateral breathe? Do you have any tips for those who find it difficult to breathe on the weaker side?”

25:55 “If my technique is solid, how do I improve on my speed?”

26:40 “What is one of your go-to sessions for a speed workout?”

29:13 “Who is your favorite athlete you’ve ever trained?”

31:06 We announce the book giveaways!

33:10 “I have the endurance, but sometimes my arms say ‘not today.’ How do I deal with that?”

35:39 Gerry talks about coming back after so much time away from the pool with the COVID-19 pandemic.

36:55 “Why do some swimming pools feel slower than others?”

37:30 Gerry talks about how to approach swimming in a season without races.

43:28 “Is it better to have a higher cadence or a lower cadence?”

44:28 Gerry talks about strokes per minute (SPM). 

46:44 “How do you determine when to swim over or under a wave in an ocean open-water swim?”

50:08 Gerry talks about the skill required to exit the water with big waves.

51:48 “Any advice for breathing through choppy water in the ocean?”

52:10 “How does the average person get the stroke mechanics down to do it correctly?”

53:18 “How much do you recommend kicking?”

54:40 “What would you recommend for a swimmer who has sinking legs?”