Dive into Speed: 3 Tips to Amp Up Your Swim Race Performance

Many of you just finished Swim Miami, and maybe you want to get faster for your next open water swim race.

3 Techniques to Improve Your Speed in Your Next Open Water Swim Race

Video analysis
Getting a video of your swimming technique above and below the water is a simple way to get faster. Then, you can correct your technique by doing the drills prescribed by an experienced coach who can identify the areas you need to improve without changing your training! You will go faster if every stroke, kick, and breath is more streamlined. Smooth is fast in swimming. (Please set up a call with me if you want me to analyze your swim stroke virtually! Book a call here)

Speed Work
If you add speed training just 1 day/ week, you can unlock your potential for speed in races. Speed work examples would be: 30 x 25 on :45 seconds; 20 x 50 on 1:15 or 10 x 100 on 2:30.

Practicing speed and technique in the open water
So many swimmers only swim long distances in their open water swim training, but including speed work and technique drills in the open water will help you maintain the speed and technique in the open water where you will be racing!

Bonus Tip
This is probably the most important secret to getting faster in your next swim event. Check it out to access this essential secret that is a priority over all the others.

I’m shocked at how I feel in the water: Rockstar Swimmer Frantz Dunel

I’m shocked at how I feel in the water: Swim Testimonial, Frantz Dunel

Coach’s Notes:
Frantz has come a very long way in the swim. Already a very strong runner, we started training for a sprint triathlon.

The swim was definitely his limiter. Being so strong, it can sometimes be difficult to learn that in the swim its all about being SMOOTH, and not pushing hard. After joining my Swim Essentials program and learning the step by step progression of learning how to swim freestyle for triathlon, Frantz has learned how to glide and relax more in the water so he can save energy to then be able to bike and run strong.

Congratulations Frantz, you are officially a SWIMMER!

Why did you want to learn to swim?
1) Well I never knew that I didn’t know how to swim SWIM until FC asked me to swim a few laps in the pool. Jumping off a boat and waddling around for a few minutes or a few strokes to the edge of the pool is not real swimming is what I realized. I wanted to learn the proper technique to further challenge myself, be able to compete in triathlons and to continue being as well rounded as possible for my kids. We live in Miami, we are always traveling to beach destinations or in a pool. Swimming is critical.

What was the hardest part in the process?
2) The hardest part was overcoming the mindset that it was impossible for me to become a swimmer because I had not been doing it for 10+ years like the rest of the group or swimmers at the pool. Swimming I have found to be one of the most challenging sports because it is extremely technical. I found and still find it difficult to put all the pieces together in order to swim “effortlessly”…balance, proper pull, full rotation on the side for breathing, long reach, straight legs and kicking from the hips etc etc.

How does it feel different in the water vs 6 months ago?
3) I am proud and somewhat shocked at how I feel in the water today vs 6 months ago. Aside from the exhausting swim workouts, I genuinely look forward to getting in the water as I feel much more comfortable and confident. As I swim my laps I can hear Coach Erinne in my head and I use that to correct my form, slow down and try and glide vs a frantic gasping for my next breath.

I look forward to moving up to the Olympic distance in May!

JOIN US FOR SWIM ESSENTIALS CLINIC – February 17th & 18th!

Day 1: February 17th. Meet us at Miami Dade College South Campus Pool (9:00 am – 2:00 pm).

Day 2: February 18th. Meet us at our Full Circle Training Spot on Key Biscayne (8:30 am – 12:00 pm)

It’s an amazing opportunity to be in the water with our expert coaches getting hands on instruction to power up your swim!

Ready to Register? Click Here!

Use promo code SWIM100 to save $100 on registration until 2/7/24!


Or, click this link: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/umg5sS to schedule your FREE Triathlon Breakthrough Session to see if this program is for you!

Erinne Guthrie is a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. Creator of the 16 week Triathlon Transformation. She has been training, racing and coaching triathletes since 1997.  She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, Mermaid and much much more.

Rockstar Swimmer Christine Baldwin Focuses on Progress over Perfection

Rockstar Swimmer: Christine Baldwin

Coaches Notes: Christine participated in the open water session for swim essentials and our Ransom Everglades weekly pool sessions and has dramatically improved in the last month. She has already improved in just 2 months.

From telling me, “No” I can’t do that, to; “I’m working on it,” to “I can feel the difference”

Yes, this is called progress!

She just completed the Swim Miami Mile and has now signed on to train for the 8-mile Alligator Lighthouse open water as part of a 3-person relay.

Thank you so much, Christine, for trusting Full Circle and our process to break through some old barriers. I’m loving your progress so far and am even more excited for the next adventure with the Alligator Lighthouse Swim.

Age: 54

Profession: Manufacturing (yes, in Miami)!

Why did you choose Swim Essentials to help with your swimming skills?

It was time to revamp my swim stroke and breathing.  I had already had a good experience with Erinne, who introduced me to OWS at a swim clinic in 2009!  I’ve been enjoying it off and on ever since (through 1 Full Ironman, about 4 halves, and countless swim Miami’s – all very slow), and a running injury later…  I figured it was finally time for more instruction😊. And Swimming is so low impact I can take it into my future decades. 


Please share your BIG swim goals:

I’m so excited about exposure to new challenges and taking on the Alligator Lighthouse Relay.  I can’t wait for the beautiful water of the Florida Keys!  

Tell me about your success at Swim Miami 2023:

After only working with Erinne for a few weeks and correcting my breathing, I could actually enjoy the swim course since I was taking on more oxygen. 

What were some of your biggest improvements:

I was far more relaxed and even paced due to breathing properly. 

This freed me up to use some new skills for sighting buoys, contributing to less bumping into others and meandering on the course.   

I still need to work on this, but I look forward to improvements from tweaking other aspects of my swim stroke.

Confession: I’m not a fan of metrics and times since I tend to chase endorphins and the expansive feel of long-course racing… but I’m curious about what using a Coach, swim watch, and training with other swimmers can newly develop.  Trying these new things is making routine training exciting again.

What would you say to someone on the fence about participating in our Swim Essentials program?

By removing the barriers to open water swimming, you can discover a sport that can keep you active into your future decades.  All while getting outside on beautiful beaches and meeting some of the most active, disciplined, AND fun-loving folks around. 

Are you interested in improving your swimming?

Click this link: http://www.scheduleyou.in/5ZIsVaU to schedule your FREE Swim Breakthrough Session today!

Erinne Guthrie has been a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. She has been training, racing, and coaching triathletes since 1997.  She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, and much more.

Rockstar Swimmer: Christine Baldwin

Rockstar Swimmer: Christin Baldwin

Coaches Notes: Christine participated in the open water session for swim essentials and our Ransom Everglades weekly pool sessions and has dramatically improved in the last month. She has already improved in just 2 months.

From telling me, “No” I can’t do that, to; “I’m working on it,” to “I can feel the difference”

Yes, this is called progress!

She just completed the Swim Miami Mile and has now signed on to train for the 8-mile Alligator Lighthouse open water as part of a 3-person relay.

Thank you so much, Christine, for trusting Full Circle and our process to break through some old barriers. I’m loving your progress so far and am even more excited for the next adventure with the Alligator Lighthouse Swim.

Age: 54

Profession: Manufacturing (yes, in Miami)!

Why did you choose Swim Essentials to help with your swimming skills?

It was time to revamp my swim stroke and breathing.  I had already had a good experience with Erinne, who introduced me to OWS at a swim clinic in 2009!  I’ve been enjoying it off and on ever since (through 1 Full Ironman, about 4 halves, and countless swim Miami’s – all very slow), and a running injury later…  I figured it was finally time for more instruction😊. And Swimming is so low impact I can take it into my future decades. 


Please share your BIG swim goals:

I’m so excited about exposure to new challenges and taking on the Alligator Lighthouse Relay.  I can’t wait for the beautiful water of the Florida Keys!  

Tell me about your success at Swim Miami 2023:

After only working with Erinne for a few weeks and correcting my breathing, I could actually enjoy the swim course since I was taking on more oxygen. 

What were some of your biggest improvements:

I was far more relaxed and even paced due to breathing properly. 

This freed me up to use some new skills for sighting buoys, contributing to less bumping into others and meandering on the course.   

I still need to work on this, but I look forward to improvements from tweaking other aspects of my swim stroke.

Confession: I’m not a fan of metrics and times since I tend to chase endorphins and the expansive feel of long-course racing… but I’m curious about what using a Coach, swim watch, and training with other swimmers can newly develop.  Trying these new things is making routine training exciting again.

What would you say to someone on the fence about participating in our Swim Essentials program?

By removing the barriers to open water swimming, you can discover a sport that can keep you active into your future decades.  All while getting outside on beautiful beaches and meeting some of the most active, disciplined, AND fun-loving folks around. 

Are you interested in improving your swimming?

Click this link: http://www.scheduleyou.in/5ZIsVaU to schedule your FREE Swim Breakthrough Session today!

Erinne Guthrie has been a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. She has been training, racing, and coaching triathletes since 1997.  She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, and much more.

Did You Know This About Coach Erinne Guthrie of Full Circle Coaching?

Check this out…

Recently posted on the “Swim Miami” blog about coach Erinne!! Written by Jaclyn Frishman, Please enjoy this read by clicking the link below:

http://swimmiami.net/full-circle-coaching-0409

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