05/13/2026
Watching the swim at the Kinetic Triathlon Festival this weekend was a real reminder of how important swim readiness is.
I saw a number of athletes get pulled from the swim, and from what I observed, it did not appear to be because the conditions were unusually difficult.
For many athletes, the swim is not just about fitness or technique. It is fear, panic, open-water uncertainty, and not knowing what “ready” actually feels like.
One thing I really appreciate about Kinetic Multisports is that when an athlete is pulled from the swim, they can still continue with the rest of the race. They may not receive an official finish time, but they still get to experience the bike, the run, the finish line, and the race-day environment.
That matters — especially for newer athletes. The day can still become part of the learning process.
But it also reinforces the bigger point:
You do not need to be a perfect swimmer to start triathlon.
But you do need to be calm, safe, controlled, and prepared for the swim you are about to do.
That is why I refreshed this Triathlon 101 episode on swim fear and beginner swim readiness.
Watch the episode here:
https://youtu.be/5wfJIGoLtCI
Full Triathlon 101 beginner series:
https://tabularasaracing.com/triathlon-101