Oh goodness yes, learn freestyle! I tell you I've encountered swimmers in crowded starts that do breastroke and I have gotten kicked in the ribs, its unpleasant! No one wants to be around you because of the kick, you are a lethal weapon!

But seriously, take up some total immersion, seek some help out here from some of the fishes. Once you start learning freestyle, you should be able to "cruise" with little effort. Once you learn balance in the water, you will be learning a sport which may be your most enjoyable and relaxing! Please learn freestyle, for the sake of the rest of us

I am 43 years old and have been biking for about 6 years. Last year I decided to do my first sprint tri. By bike and run were pretty decent but I am not a swimmer, so like you I could not do the freestyle so I decided to try the backstroke. Big mistake. Even though it was very easy to breathe (which is where my main problem is in freestyle) I was all over the place. To compound the problem, it was my first open water swim, which I was ok with but the current and wind were very strong on the first leg to the first buoy. This was only a 400m swim but it took me 23 minutes. I finished. but my average heart rate on the swim leg was 182! (whoa, way took high!) I'm surpirsed I survived at that pace. They pulled about 40 people out do to the strong current, not a great place to do my first swim. Anyhow this year I bought the Total Immersion swimming video and book and prior to trying this I could seriously on do about a 25m freestyle. I have been at it now for a little over 2 months and I can now do a 200m pretty decent for me. I put my wetsuit on the other day and completed a 400m in 12 minutes, which is slow but great for me. Do yourself a huge favor and try the Total Immersion system, IT WORKS. I am not associated with Total Immersion in any way just a hack swimmer trying to learn but so far I love it. I'll be honest, the starting drills seem boring but if you follow the instructions it will work. the system is designed specifically for triathlon and my not make you the fastest swimmer but the idea here is to complete the swim, save your legs, and feel great coming out of the water conserving your energy for the bike and run and I believe it will help you like it is helping me. My goal this year is under 10 minutes for a 400m, again not fast but awesome for me. My bike average on a good course should be around 22-23 mph and my run for a 5k is around a 7:30 pace (looking to get to 7:00 this year). My swim was killing me so I had to try something. Try it and I think you'll like it too. Good luck from one hack swimmer to another.

Besides the fact that you wont be kicking everyone around you, as a triathlete you will be doing yourself a huge favor by learning freestyle. Breaststroke is done by propelling yourself with your legs. Your pull is merely recovery. When done correctly, freestyle can be done using your legs only for balance, which you will be thankful for when you get to the run!!!!!!!!!!

I hope your freestyle training is coming along nicely.

I want to reiterate what others have said about the price of swimming breaststroke - it is very leg muscle intensive. You'll want to preserve your leg strength for biking and running. Also, if there is any kind of chop, you're gonna work yourself silly trying to make any forward gains using breaststroke. You really want to make sure you are properly prepared for the swim leg before getting in the water for this event.

Finally, I recommend that you find a Masters swim teach or coach to swim with. Even if you can afford on a couple of lessons with a coach, it is well worth the time and effort. You don't want to be imprinting bad form which you will only have to unlearn at some point, should you continue with triathlons. If nothing else, ask a friend to videotape you while you are swimming so you can see what your form looks like.

Watch Alex Popov swimming video on youtube to see a great example of a proper swim form.

GOOD LUCK!

Definitely learning freestyle is the way to go. Unless you've been a competitive breast stroker, you're probably doing it wrong. Many swimmers perform breast stroke kick-pull-kick-pull forming an "X" in the water and slowing themselves down. It should be performed pull-kick-glide where you actually get into a streamline position before you pull. This may help you until you learn freestyle.

Read the Total Immersion book AND watch the video. "Swim Power" is another decent video that teaches freestyle. Use fins when you do the skating drills. It will help speed up the learning process. Get someone to tape you swimming. Look at your form and compare it to the TI or Swim Power video. You'll be able to see your major stroke flaws easily (crossing the center, fish tailing, not reaching far enough, not pulling far enough, lifting your head to breathe instead of rolling, looking up/forward instead of down...) and start to correct them.

If swim lessons are too pricey, talk to a local triathlete that seems to be a very good swimmer or a masters swimmer. While I can't guarntee they'll help you, many of the better triathletes and former swimmers can look at your form and make some helpful suggestions. One thing about triathletes is that we love to talk about training.

Thank you for the "you tube" tip. I spend more time outside than online- I never thought to look for swim coaching there. I found an amazing amount of resources!!! So verry helpful!!!