If you are looking for a training device for developing endurance and upper body strength for the swim portion of your triathlon event here is something new to check out. Speedo has introduced a new, technically advanced pull buoy flotation device for use in your swimming training drills.

"A pull buoy is a foam flotation device that is placed between a swimmer's legs to provide support while practicing different strokes. It is used to elevate the legs and properly position the body in the water. Pull buoys allow swimmers to focus on their arm movements and build upper body strength. The pull buoy should be positioned between the upper thighs, near the crotch, for proper body alignment." [via eHow]

The new Speedo Fillable Pull Buoy has a unique feature of variable buoyancy to suit different training drills. The variable buoyancy is done by filling the pull buoy with water to vary the flotation and drag. The variable buoyancy in the pull buoy promotes proper body position during key swim strength training sets.

New Book Celebrates Overachiever Mentality of Fastest Growing Adult Athlete Group – Triathletes

“Overachiever’s Diary” Provides Swim Training Insights Based on World Contender U.S. Army Triathlon Team Regimen

Upper Nyack, New York - Triathletes are the fastest growing competitive adult athlete group in the world. Now, a new book aims to help beginner and seasoned triathletes tackle one of the most challenging portions of a triathlon – the swim.

Overachiever’s Diary: How the Army Triathlon Team Became World Contenders, celebrates the competitive drive of all triathletes by chronicling the rigorous swim training methods of some of the greatest overachievers in the world – the West Point cadets of the Army triathlon team. Based on the team’s training regimen, Overachiever’s Diary also provides critical information, more than 100 photos, and insights that will help any swimmer improve performance and increase confidence in the water.

“It’s not about mindless sets, or swim ‘toys’ like kickboards,” author and Army triathlon swim coach Louis Tharp said. “Overachiever’s Diary is about testing psychological and physical limits in the practice environment so you can improve your performance and achieve victory in competition.”

Overachiever’s Diary brings to life the story of the internationally recognized Army Triathlon team through the informative, inspiring and often humorous emails of coach Louis Tharp, a competitive swimmer, World Masters and Gay Games medalist. Under the direction of Coach Tharp and other coaches – and thanks to the determination of the cadets – the Army triathlon team, in 2007, took home an individual gold in Age Group Nationals, placed fifth overall in Collegiate Nationals, and earned an individual bronze medal in the International Triathlon Union World Competition in Hamburg, Germany.

If you are looking to improve your swim times in shorter distance triathlon races Speedo has introduced a new swim fin designed for speed training. In general training fins are a great training tool for swimmers and triathletes.

The short blade hydrodynamic fin design balances propulsive force while maintaining kicking tempo while the convex blade curvature and pass through vents promote optimum speed and six beat kick when training. The blade curvature and ridges create more pressure on the upkick creating balanced propulsion and muscle work. The open heal design offers greater ankle flexibility and comfort and it's lightweight and pliable footbed material provides an ideal fit and comfort.

Sizes:
• S = Green (mens sizes 4-6)
• M = Blue (mens sizes 7-9)
• L = Grey (mens sizes 10-12)
• XL = Black (mens sizes 13-15)

Speedo Speed Training Fin - MSRP: $39.99

Aqua Sphere’s newest innovation provides a sleeker profile, greater durability and panoramic views

Vista, CA (October, 2007) - Aqua Sphere, the leader in high-end, innovative swim products, revolutionizes aquatic eyewear with the Vista Cross-Swim Goggle ™ – a brand-new hybrid product offering the wide views, comfort and fit of the company’s popular Seal and Seal XP products, with the performance of a competitive swimming goggle.

“The design of the Seal and Seal XP were based off of SCUBA masks, which naturally offer a wider field of vision, provide a better seal and are more universal than traditional swim goggles when it comes to fitting face shapes. We’ve taken that technology and applied it to our goggle development process to come up with a completely new Cross-Swim Goggle ™, the VISTA” says Olivier Laguette, director of marketing for Aqua Sphere.

Designed with leisure and serious fitness and open-water swimmers in mind, the streamlined Vista virtually eliminates drag with its low-profile and hard, contoured frame. “Vista is geared toward fitness swimmers and triathletes who know that proper fit and comfort matter during a workout or in a race,” says Laguette.