In my last race, around half way through the 1.5 km swim of an olympic distance, I realized I had someone right behind me. After checking a good 5-6 minutes later, I saw the same person behind me.
I tried shaking the person off by picking up my speed, which I was able to do. I was surprised at how much speed I was able to pick up even though it was the final 300-400 meters of the swim.
My question is: is drafting in the water like on a bike, in that having someone right behind you can also make you faster?
(I believe I was able to go faster in the last part of the swim because the person behind me was drafting so well, eliminating the vortex right behind my legs from coming close together and slowing me down... )
so, for swimming at the exact same speed, the effort needed is SWIM ALONE (more effort) > SWIM IN FRONT > SWIM BEHIND (less effort)
(in front and behind would be in line to form a "drag train")
If so, I think I will try to get closer to the swim leaders, and let some slightly faster swimmers draft me, and then draft them when they pass me.
I tried shaking the person off by picking up my speed, which I was able to do. I was surprised at how much speed I was able to pick up even though it was the final 300-400 meters of the swim.
My question is: is drafting in the water like on a bike, in that having someone right behind you can also make you faster?
(I believe I was able to go faster in the last part of the swim because the person behind me was drafting so well, eliminating the vortex right behind my legs from coming close together and slowing me down... )
so, for swimming at the exact same speed, the effort needed is SWIM ALONE (more effort) > SWIM IN FRONT > SWIM BEHIND (less effort)
(in front and behind would be in line to form a "drag train")
If so, I think I will try to get closer to the swim leaders, and let some slightly faster swimmers draft me, and then draft them when they pass me.