Today we celebrate the UK release of ‘Free Speed: A Winning Formula for Swim Efficiency and Faster Triathlons’ by Paul Eaglestone
With Paul having coached Alex Yee, who better to say a few words about Paul and the book:
“I’m recommend this book to any aspiring triathlete wanting to be better. Paul had a huge influence on my career when I was a teenager. He took me from being a poor swimmer to a competitive one and gave me enormous belief and confidence that made me the athlete I am today. He is a passionate and charismatic coach that will get the best out of you!”
Alex A Yee, 2024 Olympic Triathlon Champion. 2024 World Triathlon Champion
‘Free Speed’ is coach Paul Eaglestone’s breakthrough training method that combines efficient swimming technique with a pace-setting formula to achieve faster triathlons. The idea behind Paul’s innovative training system is loosely based on ultra short-race pace training, but with fewer sets, and maintaining effort levels rather than working at constant maximum effort. By measuring efficiency through stroke count against time-specific goals and with Paul’s swimming technique – including better muscle performance – the triathlete is able to preserve energy for the cycling and running legs of the triathlon without sacrificing pace in the water.
In the book, Paul explains how to train and practice using the best swim technique and how to improve pace over short distances using his 17/20 method before progressing to race distance, as well as every other aspect of triathlon swimming-basic equipment, race planning, open water swimming, starts and turns, and more. His method brings a cycling mentality to swimming through hydrodynamics, attention to detail, and marginal gains through mental training. The readers are also given the tools to design their own training sessions based on their own specific goals and targets, and always with an eye on getting the most out of each session.
About Paul
Paul Eaglestone is a specialist in swim mechanics, with a deep interest in the link between technique, efficiency, and performance. ‘Free Speed’, his first book, presents a detailed and applied exploration of how triathletes and swimmers can achieve faster times through biomechanical precision and intelligent adaptation to training at race pace.
Paul developed his coaching methodology during his work with athletes, most notably Alex Yee, who went on to win gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in triathlon. Influenced heavily by great coaches such as Ernest W. Maglischo, Paul also calls on his fascination with other sports, such as cycling, to underline the importance of hydrodynamics and mastering good technique – something that he felt let down his own progression as a junior swimmer who was training with Olympians.
Based in South London for many years, Paul has more recently moved to Wakefield to support the aspirations of his active and high-achieving sporty family. Paul penned his first book during the Covid pandemic lockdowns, which gave him the time and space to translate years of experience and passion into words for this book.
‘Free Speed: A Winning Formula for Swim Efficiency and Faster Triathlons’ is out now and is available through all good bookstores and online retailers.
