The basic idea is to do a swim Time Trial (TT) once a month because over time this gives you a really great idea where your performance stands.

There is no real ideal length for your TT but usually you’ll want to base it around your swim competition. Because I currently compete in sprint triathlons, which starts with a 750m swim my swim TT is 500m.

However if at all possible you’ll want to use the same pool length each time or if you’re time trailing in the open water then you’ll want to do so at the same location to ensure the effort is comparable.

Use the “Entry Form Tab” to enter your performances and you can then check out the charts, which make it easier to identify trends over time. For a more extensive discussion of why TTs are important read this page.