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An overview of the benefits of swimming vs. a gym workout

Body: TRAIN YOUR MIND RIGHT Let the water clear. The biggest mistake triathletes make, says Scott Berlinger, founder of Full Throttle Endurance, is “training too hard all the time. We call it muddying the water. And if you keep the water muddy, you won’t perform well.” Respect your rest weeks and, he says, “stay within the confines of your workout.” Yes, even when your archrival passes you in the park. Remember, he may be doing speedwork, you may be doing distance. Focus on the process, not the outcome. “Micro goals help you achieve success,” says Paul Weiss, PhD, founder of...

If you are a middle of the pack Ironman athlete and wonder where you can make your biggest gains, the answer usually lies in the run. Although a large percentage of Ironman participants are capable of running a marathon in under four hours, in most iron-distance races less than 10 percent finish the run in under four hours. How many times have we heard participants say, “I had a great swim, a great ride and a horrible run?” Why is this? The answer is: They walk it. There is nothing wrong with walking during an Ironman—if you plan to. However,...