The sport of triathlon, consisting of three separate legs of swimming, biking, and running of various distances, has become more popular lately. Many established runners have added the additional disciplines of swimming and biking to their running efforts,

三项全能运动，分别包括三种，即两腿分开的游泳，骑自行车和不同距离的长跑，最近越来越受欢迎。许多成熟的跑步运动者，开始努力将游泳和骑自行车的原则加入到跑步运动中，目的是为了在三项全能运动中比赛，

either to compete in triathlon events or to achieve a total cross-training fitness regime.

或者为了实现完整的交叉训练健身计划。

Most training occurs in a swimming pool, following the black line at the bottom of the pool lap after lap, with no one else nearby, and a chance to rest for a moment or two at the turn end.

大多数训练都在游泳池中进行，从游泳池底部的黑线开始一圈一圈得游泳，身边没有其他人，在一轮游泳结束的时候有休息一两次的机会。

Sometimes the swim portion of an event is in a pool but more often occurs in an open water setting, such as a lake, river, or even the ocean. One snag many athletes encounter is a sense of discomfort¹ or even panic during this part of the event.

有时候游泳比赛环节在游泳池进行，但是更多的是在开阔的水域进行，比如琥珀，河流，甚至海洋。许多运动员遭受的一种障碍就是不适感，甚至是在这一比赛活动中的恐慌感。

If an athlete is to encounter difficulty during a triathlon, it is more likely to occur at this stage than any other. The primary issue is a sense of being kicked, trampled², or pushed in the water, especially at the beginning.

如果一个运动员在三项全能运动中遇到了困难，在这一环节出现的可能性最高。主要的问题是一种在水中被驱逐，被践踏或者被推动的感觉，尤其是在开始的时候。

Many participants never make it to the bike and run for not being able to complete the swim.

许多参赛者因为没能完成游泳项目，而不能继续进行骑自行车和长跑比赛。

Here are some strategies for the beginning or even intermediate-level triathlete to help cope.

下面来看一下三项全能初级或者中级参赛选手应对的一些策略。

First, practice some swimming prior³ to the event in an open water venue⁴; if this is not possible, try your pool swims without touching the wall at turns, just to get the sense of swimming the full distance without a stop.

首先，在比赛开始以前，在一些开阔的水域练习游泳；如果这不可能的话，试着在你的游泳池游泳，但是在掉头的时候不要触摸墙壁，这是为了找到一种不停歇游玩全程的感觉。

If wearing a wet suit for the event, make sure you have had a chance to practice swimming in the suit before the actual event (but not in a chlorinated swimming pool).

如果你在比赛中穿着湿衣服，那么在真正的比赛开始之前，要保证自己有机会穿着这件衣服练习游泳（但不是在消过毒的游泳池中）。

Same with goggles⁵ – make sure they fit comfortably. Don’t try anything new the day of the event.

护目镜也是一样——保证护目镜戴着很舒服。不要在比赛当天使用任何新的东西。