Two Different Goals, Two Different Sessions
General swimming lessons build confidence and stroke mechanics. They are the right starting point if you are new to swimming — and a solid base before you start triathlon training. But if you have a race date booked, they will not get you to the start line ready.
Triathlon swim coaching prepares you for what the race actually demands: open water conditions, sighting without losing position, bilateral breathing under pressure, navigating a mass start, and arriving at T1 with enough in the tank to still run and ride. These skills do not come from lane sessions alone.
The gap between the two is wider than most triathletes realise until they are in the water on race morning. This guide makes the difference clear before you spend money on the wrong thing.
Triathlon Training vs General Lessons
| What matters | Triathlon swim training | General swimming lessons |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Race-ready: survive the swim, exit T1 strong | Build stroke technique and water confidence |
| Environment | Open water, wetsuits, race conditions | Pool-based only |
| Key skills | Sighting, drafting, mass starts, bilateral breathing, T1 exit | Breathing rhythm, stroke mechanics, turns |
| Endurance focus | Race pace and race distance | General fitness — not race-specific |
| Open water confidence | Built directly into every session | Not covered — needs separate follow-up |
| Best for | Anyone with a triathlon booked | Beginners building a base before race prep |
If you have a race within 6 months, triathlon-specific coaching is the right call. If you cannot yet swim 200m comfortably, start with general lessons first, then switch.
Where Each Session Gets You
Triathlon Swim Training
- Open water sighting and navigation under race conditions
- Wetsuit swimming and a clean T1 transition
- Mass start survival and legal drafting
- Race-pace endurance over your event distance
- Bilateral breathing and stroke efficiency under fatigue
- You cannot yet swim 200m continuously
- You have no race goal and just want to swim better
General Swimming Lessons
- Stroke mechanics — freestyle, backstroke, turns
- Breathing technique and water confidence
- Building from beginner to competent swimmer
- Useful as a foundation before triathlon coaching starts
- You already have a triathlon booked
- You can swim but need open water and race-specific preparation
General lessons will improve your stroke, but they will not prepare you for open water starts, sighting, race pacing over distance, or a fast T1. If you have a triathlon within the next three to six months, you need training that mirrors the demands of race day.
Brian's triathlon swim coaching covers all of this in 1-to-1 private sessions — pool and open water venues across Hertfordshire and North London. Tell him your race date and he will build a plan around it.
⚡ Book Triathlon CoachingFrom Training To Race Day
Had swimming lessons with Steven over the past few months and he was really brilliant. I never learnt how to swim as a child, and having tried a few adult group and one on one lessons in the past, I found the whole experience...
Brian and his team (Eva and Claudio) helped me achieve my long-held dream of learning to swim. With a patient, guiding and positive style, they helped me learn the front-crawl/freestyle technique.
I had a medium fear of water when I started swimming lessons with Brian FitzGerald. Initially, a fair bit of time was spent building my confidence and getting used to having my face in the water, something I was never comfortable...
From Your Race Date To The Start Line
Common Questions Answered
Race Booked. Tell Brian The Date.
Share your event, distance and current level. Brian will tell you exactly what you need and how many sessions will get you there.
Triathlon Swim Coaching In Hertfordshire & North London
Private 1-to-1 triathlon swim coaching at Borehamwood, WD6, with open water sessions available across Hertfordshire. Clients travel from Barnet, Finchley, Watford, St Albans and across North London.