Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[alpinerabbit]

ummm the water is sort of bottle green... in nice weather, yeah...

[kelownagirl]

I'm thinking about going down to the lake to try my wetsuit. The air temp is 30C (90F). Think it's too hot to get all duded up?

[HillSlugger]

I'm thinking about going down to the lake to try my wetsuit. The air temp is 30C (90F). Think it's too hot to get all duded up?

Just try to get into the water as soon as possible! What's the water temperature?

[kelownagirl]

I did it - I did it! I dont' know what the water temp was but I was plenty comfortable. It was windy so there were some pretty decent waves at times so I just went out about chest deep and swam parallel to the shore. I got panicky a few times and kept inhaling water when I was trying to swim but overall it was pretty successful for my first time out. I am SO glad to have THAT monkey off my back. I still need to try swimming on a day when the water is calm and I need to swim out over my head next. :rolleyes::o

Here are a few pics hubby took. A friend added Ogopogo in the the last one. :D

[jesvetmed]

Way to go KG! It only gets easier from here on out! Unless that thing chasing you catches up :eek:

[alpinerabbit]

That sea monster is loverly.....

I swam another 2k group swim in the lake today, felt better and stronger than my first 3 wks ago - I think I went to the pool... 3 times since and 2k each time. Actually I did swim alone in the end but the others were "somewhere" which makes you feel safe. There were no boats except the big passenger one. The swim is scheduled so we don't meet it closely.

The lake is about 19-20°C right now (was warmer last week but they must have poured a bucket of ice cubes into it). Unless the weather is really bad these next 2 days I'll ditch the wetsuit for my sprint - will shave 20-30sec off my transition.

oh did I mention I did a reverse triathlon for this. It starts at 18:15 sharp and they don't wait.

17:15 - I'm in my office and notice I forgot my contacts at home. Run out (loads of cursing) to the bus stop. Bus comes at 17:20. 17:31, catch the train. 17:39, train enters station. Full run in slipper sandals to my house (it IS only about 300 meters) 17:42, I'm at my house, run inside, stuff lenses in my pocket, down to basement, get my bike, out by 17:45. Dodged every red light I could for the, say, 3K in traffic, 18:00 come to a screeching halt in front of the place, insert lenses, don bathing suit and wetsuit - pant....


EGADS: :eek:update as of this morning the local newspaper posts they are pulling more and more catfish out of the upper lake (that's where I swim) - giant, humongous catfish, up to 80 kilos.
they do usually keep to the bottom, but you never know. In lake constance, they caught one that actually bit dogs and swimmers.
they wrote they will eat ducklings....

[alpinerabbit]

*bump*
looks like everyone is settled into their swimming routine for the season????

I'm still chipping away at my 3 2K sessions per week. OW swim again today. We had some wind and the boat passed by again - I seriouslythought I wasn't moving anymore on the last 500 or so.
Also I veered way away from the shore and even trying to swim towards my left, I seemed not to get any closer to the shore.

Felt strong but the above weirdnesss.... was, well, weird.

Explanation?




i also had weird thoughts. I know people commit suicide in the lake, so there must be a couple down there. I also thought if there were "burials at sea", so I might be swimming through dispersed ashes. eeks. morbid. A bird flew overhead and it seemed huge, maybe a vulture - LOL. Bird droppings came to mind as well....:D

[kelownagirl]

I've been trying to get in to the lake every day, or at least every 2nd day, mostly to get over my fears. I'm crossing my fingers that a friend ismable to take go to the tri swim route with me tomorrow. It's quite a scary bit of rocky, weedy, deepish water and I need to face that challenge next. In the meantime, I swim alone, parallel to the beach, never over my head, and work on form and endurance.

Yesterday, I tried swimming 750m without a warmup, or rather, I tried to incorporate my warmup into my swim without having to stop, stand up, and catch my breath. It worked fine but I was pretty slow overall. I think my 750m time will be closer to 19-20 minutes. It's a catch 22 - I can swim faster, but when I get breathless, I get more nervous. It's easier to make up 2-4 minutes by going hard on the bike.

I bought tri shorts today and can wear them under my wet suit. Trying hard to track down the top that goes with it.

[HillSlugger]

I've been swimming regularly, but I haven't been posting. Last year I swam 113,990m. With today's swim I've surpassed my entire swimming total of last year! I expect to pass my goal of 175K and hit 200K.

I keep watching other swimmers at the pool, noticing all the imperfections in their strokes. I've got to get myself videotaped to see what I'm doing!

[Iris616]

Hi,
Is it too late to jump in the thread? I'm on week four of a 12 week training program for a sprint Tri. I hit the pool last night and did a total of 400 yards.

I didn't even think to time myself. When did everyone start timing their laps?

Thanks.

[colby]

Swimming? :p

Actually, I'm going to get back on the wagon, was hoping to this week but I think it'll be this weekend. Maybe even in the lake, hooray! My wetsuit is hanging lonely in the closet, my swim suit lonely in my bathroom. It's time to get back into gear. ;)

I timed pretty much all of my workouts, but mostly to know how long I'd been out since I operate on a somewhat narrow schedule. In the pool, those times were useless on the days I did drills (9 out of 10) but handy to measure my improvement on the days I did one consistent distance. If you're just trying to finish, I wouldn't stress TOO much over your time, but it is really nice to see yourself improve, and compare your in-race performance to training. :)

[jesvetmed]

KG... you need to just SWIM YOUR RACE.. whatever you are comfortable with is what you need to do. Otherwise, you'll get too tired too fast. It will be hard with everyone else going all different paces, but find yours and stick to it! You are working SO hard! You'll do great. Can't wait to hear how you do!
Jes

[HillSlugger]

Hi,
Is it too late to jump in the thread? I'm on week four of a 12 week training program for a sprint Tri. I hit the pool last night and did a total of 400 yards.

I didn't even think to time myself. When did everyone start timing their laps?

Thanks.

Never too late!

I'm a data junkie. I started timing my laps pretty much as soon as I started doing lap workouts. I just love to see my improvement! :)

[Iris616]

Never too late!

I'm a data junkie. I started timing my laps pretty much as soon as I started doing lap workouts. I just love to see my improvement! :)

Thanks. I hit the pool again last night for another 400yards, followed by a 20 minute run. I learned a few things; like changing from swim suit to running clothes is an olympic sport all on it's own:)

I heard that the local running store has Tri wear, so I'm going to stop there and see if they have any suggestions for clothing.

Question: Do people use a specific watch for the pool? Any recommendations? For running I have a cheapo Target watch, but I don't know if that will do the trick for the pool.

One more question: (Sorry, but no one at the pool seemed approachable about these things). Goggle strap under of over the swim cap?

[alpinerabbit]

My pool has a regular clock on the wall and then a swimming clock on the ends of the lane. If you use our polar watch, don't press any buttons underwater. I hear it leaks.

Straps under cap for the race only - so it does not get knocked off. This only applies if you are jumping right in the middle of things in a mass start - not recommended for the first tri/try.

[Veronica]

If you use our polar watch, don't press any buttons underwater. I hear it leaks.


I press the buttons on my Polar underwater all the time and have not had any issues.

V.

[HillSlugger]

I use a Timex Ironman watch, 50 lap model. I've never had a problem with leaking from pressing buttons underwater. I've had it for more than 18 months and I'm still on the original batteries.

[wavedancer]

I did my first OWS sprint tri last weekend, thankfully with a favorable current for the longest leg! Full wetsuit in salt water=bob like a cork and you can drift to the finish if needed! I can actually stand vertically in water over my head without moving with the suit on in salt water.

Anyway, in an effort to get more comfortable with actually swimming the distance I am trying to get in an OWS after work. I drive right by several lovely beaches on my way home (Cape Cod). Friday night I donned my shorty wetsuit (water temps mid-70s) and started swimming out to the first buoy. Felt good, getting my rhythm, sighting...BAM! I swam right into a jelly. Tentacles strafed right under my arm and armpit. OMG, this was the most intense pain I have experienced in recent memory. I made a beeline to the shore and spent about twenty minutes in the parking lot trying to get it together enough to drive home.

Unfortunately, I also did the one thing you should NOT do after a jelly sting: rinsed the area with fresh water. This apparently caused the nematocysts (the cells with the toxins) to fire even more vigorously :( Dousing the area with vinegar (which I will now carry in my swim bag) is the preferred treatment and there are some commercial products out there as well.

The burn lasted through the night and I still have some welts today, but it doesn't hurt anymore.

I love swimming in the ocean, but I will be covering up with the fullsuit or at least wearing a rash guard from now on.

[crazycanuck]

The other option if you don't have any vinegar is to pee on the area!

The joys of swimming in the ocean :rolleyes:

[wavedancer]

I did read that pee was an always-available option. Not sure I could manage to pee on my armpit, though :p

[Iris616]

I spent last week in Cape Cod, and was able to get in some swims in the bay. I think I was doing about 400 yards (rough estimate). This was my first opportunity to do some OW swims, so I was psyched! I'm fortunate because I don't have any real anxieties about swimming in the ocean, and actually enjoy it.

I feel like I swallow a LOT of water when I am in the ocean. What am I doing wrong? If it's normal, how do you deal with it before getting on the bike?

[HillSlugger]

I spent last week in Cape Cod, and was able to get in some swims in the bay. I think I was doing about 400 yards (rough estimate). This was my first opportunity to do some OW swims, so I was psyched! I'm fortunate because I don't have any real anxieties about swimming in the ocean, and actually enjoy it.

I feel like I swallow a LOT of water when I am in the ocean. What am I doing wrong? If it's normal, how do you deal with it before getting on the bike?

Congrats on successful OWS practice. It's great to get this in before your first OWS tri. It's really great that you were able to do it without getting anxious. Try to bring that same calmness to race day.

How choppy was the water? OWS isn't usually as flat as in the pool so you need to get used to being hit in the face when you try to breathe. Possible fixes: only breathe on the down-wave side, roll further out of the water to breathe, lift yourself further out of the water to breathe.

[Iris616]

Congrats on successful OWS practice. It's great to get this in before your first OWS tri. It's really great that you were able to do it without getting anxious. Try to bring that same calmness to race day.

How choppy was the water? OWS isn't usually as flat as in the pool so you need to get used to being hit in the face when you try to breathe. Possible fixes: only breathe on the down-wave side, roll further out of the water to breathe, lift yourself further out of the water to breathe.

Thanks for the tips. The water was a little choppy. Definately worse than the pool, but fairly calm for the bay. I think I might be able to simulate it if I go to the pool during a swim team practice and take the lane next to them: Then try to get DH to share the lane and swim right in front of me:D. I'm only half joking about this.

[alpinerabbit]

Alright... I think I am ready for the Oly this Sunday. I think I'll survive.

Monday I did a final pool swim, felt pretty good already but the final test was today's last OW swim, about 2.4 K and I still felt strong at the end. 8 or 9 wks ago my arms were getting really tired on the way home.

Yoda, I'm stealing your 3+2 breathing rythm and I love it...

And I can run 10K these days. Haven't done a fast 10K but what matters is whether my legs hurt - and they don't.

[Wahine]

Nice!!!! Good luck this weekend.:D:D:D

[kelownagirl]

I always do bilateral breathing when I swim but when I did my tri, I found myself breathing on every 2nd stroke so I could get more air and go faster. Is that normal?

[Wahine]

It's normal if your pushing the pace for a sprint tri. That's part of the reason I sometimes do a 3 - 2 - 3, then I'm still bilateral but getting a slightly higher breathing rate. On a short sprint when I'm pushing hard I might breath every 2.

[colby]

I tried breathing every 2 this time and I find it almost harder to get a rhythm than breathing every 3-4. I feel more smooth when I breathe less often, but it does make sighting harder (for a while when doing OWS training, I was doing 4-2-4-2 and sight on the 2, sometimes 4-2-2-4-2-2). I watched some of the women in the olympic OWS and they were doing weird breathing patterns... looked like sometimes 3-2 and sometimes 2 and then 2 breaths in a row on each side.

My swim time this year came out to the same as last year, but I think I actually swam faster... I just sighted more and had foggier goggles. Still working on the perfect balance of swimming and sighting. (I think I also ran faster this year, but walked slower on my walk breaks... bad Colby.)

Loving everyone's pictures... :)

[Kimmyt]

Colby, I breathe every 3 strokes all the time, and when I do OW I tend to sight every 2 cycles of breathing. It works because I pull stronger with one arm so when I breathe off that side, it is easier and less tiring to get a good sight. I think if I sighted every breath I would be even more knackered than usual coming off the swim!!

[firenze11]

I was so nervous to go to my first stroke improvement class, my stomach was in knots and I was so worried I would be the "worst" swimmer there.

Of course, when I got in the pool I wasn't the worst swimmer there and everyone else felt they were going to be the worst, too. Actually, in my little group, they kept making me go first "because you're faster than everyone else" :eek: It really boost my confidence.

The class was pretty huge, 20 people, but I'm hoping they break us into groups based on our skills and then teach that way.

Today we did mostly freestyle drills, which I found really hard. My body just wanted to swim, not to do drills. By the end of the hour class I felt more energized then ever about swimming and I can't wait to go back next week. I didn't want to get out of the pool! I'm thinking about asking some people in class if they want to do a second day of just swimming to keep our new skills fresh.

I feel like I'm really starting a path toward a tri now (thank goodness, I was feeling pretty disheartened after missing my try-a-tri this summer)

[Iris616]

Firenze-Congrats on the first swim class. I am a total hack in the water, so at some point this winter I'm sure I'll want to sign up for some sort of class. But the fear of being the slowest/least coordinated/weakest swimmer is very real for me.

when others talk about breathing patterns, I think "I don't have a clue what that's about...it's all I can do to breathe :)" It's not pretty, but I get to the end.

[colby]

Firenze, that's awesome. It's so fun to feel energized about something. ;)

[colby]

So here's one for the swimming thread... I get the Active.com newsletters (Active Insider or something) and was reading some of the swimming ones. I've been swimming a lot and am a little tired of the same ol' same ol' - and I don't want to burn out on the same material I use for IM training before we're even anywhere near close.

I was reading about breathing, some Total Immersion entry/article talking about how they spend time teaching people how to breathe in through the mouth, out through the nose, using/exhaling 100% of the breath they take in (don't hold your breath, then let it all out at once right before you take another).

I get the 100% of the breath thing, the only way to really build endurance is to breathe in a nice rhythmic pattern, and fill my lungs completely in a short breath so I can let it all out. It really shows when I do yoga at work, my breathing pattern is entirely different than other peoples' breathing pattern - longer and more controlled inhales, much longer and more controlled exhales.

But... I think I breathe in through my mouth and out through my mouth, except when doing flip turns or backstroke or something where I'm going to get water up my nose. I know during running/cycling there's advantage to breathing IN through the nose because of the quantity and method you get oxygen to your body/lungs, but I don't know what the advantage to breathing OUT through your nose is. Of all the things I got yelled at about when I was competitively swimming, breathing wasn't one of them.

Anyone?

(PS: Off topic - I was swimming the other day with a guy in the lane next to me, about my pace, slightly faster, but swimming less time/distance... seems everyone swims less time/distance than I do... anyway, I switched to a pull drill right about the same time he hit the wall and turned around - I'm not sure he was as excited as I was that I was able to keep pace using only my arms for 50 meters before I stopped to switch to the next drill ;))

[colby]

Swimming Light Bulb of the Day... DUH

I have not been running lately, and have instead been doing my PT exercises, yoga, cycling, and swimming. Today's swimming light bulb of the day is probably because of all the yoga I've been doing with more balance and core strength exercises.

When I figured out how to engage my core properly (as in, at all? on purpose? :p), I felt much smoother in the water. Why did it feel so A-HA? It seems so obvious, and I felt like I figured something out I should already know. I guess I was using my core, but not actively engaging it. Proof that you can read something a million times but until you finally get that light bulb moment, it just doesn't stick.

That's my DUH moment of the day. I expect to be sore tomorrow after this discovery. There's a good reason Michael Phelps and Dara Torres have those abs... ;)

[alpinerabbit]

I was checking an office mate's swimming (can you believe I'm "giving lessons" - a bit pretentious, eh?) and I advised her to engage her core and she immediately looked smoother and had a better position in the water.

I breathe out through mouth and nose, as long as no water goes up my nose .
(Did I tell you gals I HATEHATEHATE TI drills? I get tons of water up my nose.

Our partner club is training by that method. I think once you have the stroke down, they are pointless because they break your rythm. I'm speaking of stuff like triple-zipper or triple-under).

[firenze11]

Thanks Colby and Iris (and I hope you do sign up for lessons and enjoy them - it's worth the initial fear and hey, the whole point if for the instructors to help you with your weaknesses)!

I can't swim this week, my cold just turned into something disgusting in my chest. I keep waking up everyday thinking I feel better when I open my eyes but as soon as I sit up I realized it was just an illusion - and something new and grosser than before is going on!

But I didn't come here to tell you about that, ew. Apparently my instructors are using TI drills and I didn't know it, I looked up triple-zipper and triple-under after Alpine's reply and we were doing those the other day. I felt really uncoordinated doing them. Hmm, interesting.

I'll have to try to engage my core more, too. I don't think I even think of it at all when I'm swimming, but it makes sense that it would help by at least keeping you aligned.

[colby]

I was checking an office mate's swimming (can you believe I'm "giving lessons" - a bit pretentious, eh?) and I advised her to engage her core and she immediately looked smoother and had a better position in the water.

Sometimes it takes someone else pointing something out before you think of it... I'm not sure what made me think of it. Of course it's something that I "knew"... but dang. ;)


I breathe out through mouth and nose, as long as no water goes up my nose .
(Did I tell you gals I HATEHATEHATE TI drills? I get tons of water up my nose.

Our partner club is training by that method. I think once you have the stroke down, they are pointless because they break your rythm. I'm speaking of stuff like triple-zipper or triple-under).

I do some similar drills, but not really the TI way. I have also incorporated in my "off season" maintenance swimming the other standard swim strokes after reading some of the benefits of adding them to the rotation (that might have been one of those active.com articles I read in my buffet of swimming reading).

I do have to say a drill similar to the triple-whatevers does make me track more straight in the water. When I first started them, I would not track down the pool in a straight line, weaving to one side, then the other, and now I am more aware of what direction I'm going. I don't have a problem doing a straight backstroke, but something about being on my side and not looking up or down or using peripheral vision to see lane lines or the wall just tripped me out (thankfully I don't usually have to share a lane). I'm thinking that might help in open water... at least I can swim straight in the pool ;)

Firenze, I've got some of the "crud" too. I still went swimming yesterday because I was feeling pretty well, but I just can't seem to get over it. Thankfully it's mostly in my head and not my chest, but I'm really tired of it. :p

[firenze11]

I think I'm in love with swimming again. Head over heels.

This week I re-learned my breast stroke kick, re-learned backstroke arms/kick, did some good freestyle and worked on stretching out in the water.

After the hour class was up I just wanted to stay and join the Master's swim session. The little kid inside of me was throwing a hissy fit "do we have to go now? Just five more minute, pleeeeeeaaase. Maybe by next semester I will be strong enough to do masters swims!

Hope everyone else's swimming is going swimmingly :D Ha! Couldn't resist!

[crazycanuck]

I need some help with my swim stroke. I seem to roll a bit too much on my right but when i try and correct it, i go slower. Our coach keeps reminding me & I am working on it.

I am going crazy..help!!!

C

[alpinerabbit]

Short of attaching a vid can you describe more precisely?
I’m having trouble imagining what „too much rotation“ might be – As long as you do not end up on your back…!!

First thing that comes to my mind - perhaps engaging core-butt muscles will help.

Usually ppl rotate too little.
TI emphasizes full rotation to “side swimming” – at least during drills.
Then, in full stroke, you don’t go as far.

Or is it a balance issue?
Perhaps do practice the simple balance drill with rotation from one side to the other so you find your balance when swimming on your side, then start skate and zipper swimming.

[crazycanuck]

I am at a loss to explain exactly what exactly i'm doing.

I think i might practice balancing against the wall whilst on my swiss ball. At least that's what the folks at the pilates studio I go to suggest.

We work on tons of drills..:rolleyes:

[alpinerabbit]

I meant balance while swimming in the water. dryland exercise won't get you very far. my opinion.

[HillSlugger]

I need some help with my swim stroke. I seem to roll a bit too much on my right but when i try and correct it, i go slower. Our coach keeps reminding me & I am working on it.

I am going crazy..help!!!

C

I find that when I try to alter my stroke I usually go slower for a while until the new stroke becomes second nature. Possibly if you stick to your correction you'll be faster in a little bit. BTW, sometimes slightly slower but more efficient is better anyway, especially for triathlon.

[Kimmyt]

We watched these amazing vids (http://www.amazon.com/Swim-Strokes-Kaitlin-Sandeno-Vendt/dp/B0009WSO7U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1222956437&sr=8-2) last night before swim class, and they helped me a TON, or at least it felt like it, my lane partners were commenting on my speed, but I didn't feel too winded and their comments surprised me because I felt like I was going normal speed. Basically, I agree with alpinerabbit, in that after watching these vids I'm wondering what 'too much rotation' could be. The film segments in this video are great, and they really emphasize the rotation. Unfortunately we didn't watch the freestyle one, but for the backstroke one I was struck by how they aren't EVER kicking on their back. All kicks are done almost completely 'sideways' very rotated on the hip. I'm imagining it's pretty similar with freestyle.

So I'm wondering if your 'over-rotation' is more of a problem with over-rotating your shoulders as opposed to your hips, which seems to be where the rotation should come from as you swim...

K.

[alpinerabbit]

Whaddaya think of my 2000m time trial mark (blech, I was not amused when it was announced) - I did not over-exert myself, and I had even splits on all 500s:

40:40 :D

well...it's not living up to the 18:40 1000m I did back in February (don't ask me how) but it's something..

[crazycanuck]

I have figured out the issue with my right side & am on the way to perfecting me stroke.

This is how i describe it-When you 'rotate' left, i wasn't holding onto the top of the water long enough with my right arm. My coach is back from holiday & said my stroke is better.

My pilates studio & I are working on it with varying exercises :D

There is hope :D

[firenze11]

My pilates studio & I are working on it with varying exercises :D


That's so cool that you're using pilates to help and they can give you exercises to help. I'm curious about pilates, I have friends who just love it.

Does anyone have tips for mastering (haha, take that word loosely) the butterfly? I know this is the triathlon thread and triathletes usually opt for freestyle, but I thought I'd go ahead and ask. I just started learning it last week and I'm awful at it. I can't get the kick right even though I seem to have the hang of it on dry land, well, the wavy body part. And when I try to add the arms in, I can only take two strokes (also used loosely here) before stopping. Mainly I feel like there's no power in my kick. My instructor is great but I was just wondering if you had any tips/tricks.

[slowlane]

Do you do any fly-specific drills? i.e. - one-arm - or just kick? I'm a masters swimmer who does the 200 & 400 IM & what I find the best practice for the fly is: kicking with fins to get the proper rhythm - also - go to USMS.org and look up 'training' they have lots of good information. Jane Katz has a book for beginning swimming with good illustrations also (I'd give you the name, but can't remember it).

[firenze11]

Do you do any fly-specific drills? i.e. - one-arm - or just kick? I'm a masters swimmer who does the 200 & 400 IM & what I find the best practice for the fly is: kicking with fins to get the proper rhythm - also - go to USMS.org and look up 'training' they have lots of good information. Jane Katz has a book for beginning swimming with good illustrations also (I'd give you the name, but can't remember it).

Wow, thanks! The USMS website looks really helpful. And I'll look up the Katz book.

We did one-armed fly drills on Wednesday and I found that helped a lot. I think going straight into it just confused me. We don't have fins but I might look into buying a pair if I get more serious about swimming.

[alpinerabbit]

I think the trick with fly is the timing between legs and arms. I can do maybe 15 meters these days, 6-8 strokes - almost a whole short length of the pool if I dive long in the beginning (which is no sin, I'm told).

I guess everytime you push off the wall from now on, you can add a couple dolphin kicks. also do some dolphin dives everytime you cool down.

I think it's not entirely correct but if you breathe to the side, you don't have to lift your head out of the water quite as high.

I also started just doing a few easy strokes without breathing and without actually lifting my arms wide out of the water, to get the rhythm down.

[eclectic]

I need some help with my swim stroke. I seem to roll a bit too much on my right but when i try and correct it, i go slower. Our coach keeps reminding me & I am working on it.

I am going crazy..help!!!

C

Have you tried the drill where you put a kickboard between your thighs so it sticks out like a shark fin? then as you pull back w/ every arm stroke you touch the board.
Helps w/ body roll and back hand pull.

Just don't put lotion on before swimming - it causes the kickboard to constantly pop out :p

Also a good one for body roll is the "Popov drill"
perfect streamline body position w/ roll for 3 arm strokes no breathing then as you "snap" on the stroke roll to side and kick 6 counts "snap" back 3 arm strokes "snap" to other side, kick 6 counts

What happened when I was rolling too much is I was fishtailing. when I corrected I had to think and so went slower but now am better and back to speed

[alpinerabbit]

eeks. I caught something - maybe a slight infection - in the eye. 's gotta be from the pool. I went into the kiddie pool (that's really the teaching pool) for some technical drills on friday just after the school kids had left (did I tell that I dislike kids, among other drawbacks they have, I think they're bacterial incubators. Elementary school kids smell. Should put that over in the "mom" thread.)

We went for another swim yesterday morning. It itched all afternoon yesterday - last night it started producing the grossest slime, I had a lot of it overnight. in the morning it was better, no more slime but it is still itchy.

[eclectic]

eeks. I caught something - maybe a slight infection - in the eye. 's gotta be from the pool. I went into the kiddie pool (that's really the teaching pool) for some technical drills on friday just after the school kids had left (did I tell that I dislike kids, among other drawbacks they have, I think they're bacterial incubators. Elementary school kids smell. Should put that over in the "mom" thread.)

We went for another swim yesterday morning. It itched all afternoon yesterday - last night it started producing the grossest slime, I had a lot of it overnight. in the morning it was better, no more slime but it is still itchy.

YUCK! That is why I really don't like swimming in our Y pool - too many little bodies all over the place.
I am a teacher but i have to agree w/ you, elementary kids and school do have a different odor. I teach HS and they, for the most part smell, a little too good, the perfumes and scented lotions can get a little sickening after awhile.

Do you swim w/ goggles? If so, don't forget to disinfect them!

BTW I find my eyes get itchy when I use the anti fog spray - I have a lot of allergies and I think I am sensitive to it. Soooooo what do I do? about the most unsanitary thing a person can do - after about 200 yds I lick the inside of my goggles :eek: Hey! it works :D

[alpinerabbit]

We had our tri club's annual new year's swim today. The pool offers bubbly and snacks.

You can go all the way to 100x100 if you can from 9am-1pm.
I can't, but I can do 50x100!

I felt really good, just a little pain in the shoulders by the last K, and paddles did not really feel good on K 4,5-5.

I then went home and slept for an hour.

[eclectic]

We had our tri club's annual new year's swim today. The pool offers bubbly and snacks.

You can go all the way to 100x100 if you can from 9am-1pm.
I can't, but I can do 50x100!

I felt really good, just a little pain in the shoulders by the last K, and paddles did not really feel good on K 4,5-5.

I then went home and slept for an hour.

Wow! What a fun event! and a great way to start the year. 100 x100 :eek: I think my arms would fall off

Great job on doing 50 x 100 that is amazing too :D and some w/ paddles? ? ? I think I would have to wear fins a snorkel and find a motor for the last 1000 :D

Great job and you only slept for an hour :)

[jesvetmed]

Impressive, Alpine! Great job.
You are inspiring me to get my butt back to the pool. Yet another of my new Year's goals!

[jesvetmed]

OK.. I did it! Back to the pool for the first time since September! I wasn't as out of shape as I thought, but have lost a lot of my technique. Not very smooth! But it's a start. I'll promise to go 2x/week for now and get back into it more closer to tri season. Thanks to you ladies for the inspiration for the jump start.
J

[alpinerabbit]

You'll get smooth again.

Me, I've overdone it again. Now I have definite shoulder pain (started before the 5K) in addition to not being able to run to my heart's content.
Had to swim 4K in practice last night and paddles (800) positively hurt.

I am frustrated and don't know how I'll keep the weight off until spring...

[jesvetmed]

Alpine: 4K is such a long way! Wow. Sounds like you need a couple days of rest on that shoulder, and to lay off the paddles!

I too am frustrated with injury (calf) and cannot run, and it is so frustrating waiting to heal! There is weight to be lost, and "shape" to get into! And I am having trouble doing it!

I guess we can only do what our bodies allow, and have to find some other way in the mean time. I'm heading to boot camp tonight, and hitting the trainer on the bike and the pool, and throwing yoga back into the mix (probably the smartest thing I can do is more yoga).

I hope the shoulder is feeling better soon!

[crazycanuck]

I've not swum in two weeks :o due to our trip.. I want to go to our group swim session tomorrow but am worried about how unfit i am. Then again, tis a good way to get fit again..

[kelownagirl]

I went for my first swim in over 3 months today! I thought it would take me several weeks to get back into shape but after a couple of lengths, I felt like I hadn't been out of the water! I didn't push it too hard and only swam for half an hour. Felt good to be back (once I got past that first plunge into cold water - I think I'll always hate that. :) )

[Jolt]

One of the other lifeguards at the Y where I sometimes work is doing swim workouts twice a week for whoever wants to participate, so I decided to go tonight. Sounded like a good idea, especially since I slightly irritated my left knee running on the treadmill last night. I walked into the pool area and saw these buff-looking guys (the guy running it is a former bodybuilder) and thought "uh-oh, I am going to get my butt kicked!". Well, it turned out that I was able to keep up just fine for the whole 1500-yard workout we did (all freestyle, including a 200 pull and 200 kick) which was a relief. It felt good to do some swimming and it was nice to not just be trying to bang out a mile by myself (boring).

[badger]

goody, I found the swim thread :)

I haven't read all 11 pages of this, but I'll jump in from the last page.

We recently did the 100x100m challenge as well, It was some Masters swim club anniversary thing. But we only ever have 1.5 hours pool time, so 100x100 didn't work for us, but most of us did the 100x50 or 100x25. We never swim continuously for an hour and a half, so it was a good challenge for me. It's

And I always lick my goggles before a practise. Gross, but works rather well in keeping them from fogging!

[Miranda]

This is quite an inspirational thread:cool:.

I confess I have never been a swimming/pool lover. Although, I have been told many times by my docs etc. I *should* be. Well, it's a new year, and I think my body could certainly use some cross-training cardio.

:oMy humble goal is to: a) make it to the pool at my gym (and not weenie out), b) just kick board some laps (this was suggested to me by a swim loving friend). Once a week pool visit is my goal. Yes, I said it was humble:rolleyes:... But a start:).

I never thought about wearing fins to kickboard until I read this thread. Wonder if I should? :confused:

[badger]

Good for you for trying swimming!

I actually hated swimming as a child, even though I was actually pretty good. I hated being cold :p So, after a 20+ absence from the pool, I decided to take aquafit to fill in the time while we were on strike. I soon got bored of that and took a swimming lesson. Then I joined a Masters club, and before I knew it, I LOVED swimming.

Fins are good if your ankles aren't flexible. And when kicking, remember to kick from the hip and not at the knees - you lose all your power if you kick from the knees.

I personally don't use fins because they bother my knees, and there's just something really deflating when you take them off and feel like you're going nowhere!

[crazycanuck]

After 3 weeks I finally got back into the swimming swing of things this morning..

Ahhhh..back to regular programming..:)

[Miranda]

Good for you for trying swimming!

I actually hated swimming as a child, even though I was actually pretty good. I hated being cold :p So, after a 20+ absence from the pool, I decided to take aquafit to fill in the time while we were on strike. I soon got bored of that and took a swimming lesson. Then I joined a Masters club, and before I knew it, I LOVED swimming.

Fins are good if your ankles aren't flexible. And when kicking, remember to kick from the hip and not at the knees - you lose all your power if you kick from the knees.

I personally don't use fins because they bother my knees, and there's just something really deflating when you take them off and feel like you're going nowhere!


Thx for the encouragement and the tip about the fins:). I think they have it all (gear stuff) for anyone to use. Even though I'm not a big pool lover, I'm actually really disappointed I didn't get to swim today:(. Go figure:rolleyes:. I went to the gym with my stuff ready to go and the pool was closed! The schedule is different than the weekdays and the pool closes early. Sooo... it's gotta be this week then.

[kelownagirl]

2nd swim workout this week. Took http://swimplan.com plan in hand but found out lane swimming wasn't available. Did 1/2 laps for 30 minutes and worked on sighting (lots of kids). :)

[kelownagirl]

Got swim #3 in on Wed. Took my son so he could play while I swam lengths. I did 1500m in about 45:00. It was crowded so I couldn't really follow my plan so I just practiced form.

[Miranda]

After three years at the gym of saying "I'll go to the pool tomorrow":rolleyes:, I finally made tomorrow "today". Well, yesterday as I'm posting now...

Btw, I feel too humble :o to even be in this thread with you amazing ladies that do tris. My docs won't let me do any impactive exercise (like run), so I would never be able to do a tri. The non-impactive exercise order is how I re-discovered my love for riding a bike. I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.

Well, you ladies are quite the inspiration in reading this swimming thread. Thus, I got brave enough to enter the pool.

I just kickboarded and did some backstroke (for some reason, that's one stroke I can do better than freestyle). There was only one lane open for fitness and it contained a very good swimmer. It was almost a good excuse to chicken out. But, she graciously said, "I'll share, come on in!". She was encouraging as she told me kickboarding was how she started at the pool.

But, I did it. Actually, it was enjoyable once I got over my silly fears.

The only mishaps was some foot cramps in the fins. I think it's my technique maybe? Or just muscles I haven't used before?

And dang it:(... I scratched the crystal watch face of my Polar HRM as I crashed into the lane floats trying to stay on my side of the lane sharing with this other lady. Hope it stays waterproof with the scratch.

Regardless... I'm going back:cool:.

[alpinerabbit]

Good going!

Probably backstroke feels better as you get more air, but it's not nearly as relaxing (for me) as free, now that I've mastered the technique (which took me 2 yrs).

It also took me almost 2 yrs to not get cramps anymore, that's normal.

How about taking a freestyle class just for enjoyment?


I was gonig very, very easy on Sat in one lane and was able to keep up with a guy with paddles on!! (which means either he too, was going very very easy, or he suçked :-) )

[HillSlugger]

Good on you for getting back into the pool.

I've been swimming for just over 2 years and I still sometimes get cramps in my calf or foot arch. It's usually late in a swim and doesn't last long. I've learned to swim through it.

[Miranda]

Good going!

Probably backstroke feels better as you get more air, but it's not nearly as relaxing (for me) as free, now that I've mastered the technique (which took me 2 yrs).

It also took me almost 2 yrs to not get cramps anymore, that's normal.

How about taking a freestyle class just for enjoyment?


I was gonig very, very easy on Sat in one lane and was able to keep up with a guy with paddles on!! (which means either he too, was going very very easy, or he suçked :-) )


Good on you for getting back into the pool.

I've been swimming for just over 2 years and I still sometimes get cramps in my calf or foot arch. It's usually late in a swim and doesn't last long. I've learned to swim through it.


:)Thx for the encouragement and the feedback about the cramps. When I got the cramp kickboarding, that's when I took them off and backstroked a while instead until it passed. Then, back on again.

Also, that is an excellent point about the backstroke! I never thought about it that way. I have asthma. This is one reason one of my docs has always wanted me to swim. Something about it being good for asthma people...

But, I find it hard to coordinate my breathing pattern and stroke without getting winded in a weird way. I do take my inhailer as a preventative before any type of cardio. With my head being out of the water for backstroke, I don't have to think about any of that.

When I had lessons as child, I was shown the general technique for breathing etc. But, that would be one basic thing I think a paid lesson could benefit me. It's like I can't keep enough wind sucked inside of me between breaths and strokes.

It's always bothered me that I haven't been able to get it. I've never told anyone:o I stop the stroke because I can't breath (out of the water too, aka getting an asthma attack, pretty silly secret I know:rolleyes:).

The lady I was sharing the lane with was so graceful. I couldn't help but watch her in awe. A goal to work towards for me:cool:.

[kelownagirl]

1500m today. Trying to swim twice a week but it sure is hard to go when I'm so tired after work...

[badger]

Miranda: I find swimming to be an endlessly refining sport. There's always something you can tweak to make things work better.

As for breathing, that will take time and just keep practising. One thing you might want to try is, outside the water, stand with your hands up. Put them together and have them tuck around your ears. You want to tuck your chin in, and imagine a string coming out the top of your head pulling you. If you don't tuck your chin, your face isn't streamlined with the body and you end up getting more of a drag.

And when breathing, you don't have to move your head/face, just imagine you're a log and roll. Lengthen your arm and just roll over half way to get a breath. Freestyle and backstroke is a lot about roll, but your head shouldn't move. One good drill to do to get used to the roll is doing 3 strokes free, 4 strokes back. So, as you finish your third free stroke, roll onto your back, and after your 4th back stroke, roll onto your front. You can do that 2 and 2 as well. It might be dizzying at first, though!

And for backstroke, be sure to tilt your head back slightly, that will bring your butt and legs up. My favourite stroke is backstroke, too, it's so natural for me and I can keep up with everyone else's freestyle. My coach even said I should do the tri doing backstroke! (a joke, of course, but one I contemplated!)

[tribogota]

[QUOTE=Miranda;396683] I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.
YOu can do acuathlons, bike and swim!

[Miranda]

Miranda: I find swimming to be an endlessly refining sport. There's always something you can tweak to make things work better.

As for breathing, that will take time and just keep practising. One thing you might want to try is, outside the water, stand with your hands up. Put them together and have them tuck around your ears. You want to tuck your chin in, and imagine a string coming out the top of your head pulling you. If you don't tuck your chin, your face isn't streamlined with the body and you end up getting more of a drag.

And when breathing, you don't have to move your head/face, just imagine you're a log and roll. Lengthen your arm and just roll over half way to get a breath. Freestyle and backstroke is a lot about roll, but your head shouldn't move. One good drill to do to get used to the roll is doing 3 strokes free, 4 strokes back. So, as you finish your third free stroke, roll onto your back, and after your 4th back stroke, roll onto your front. You can do that 2 and 2 as well. It might be dizzying at first, though!

And for backstroke, be sure to tilt your head back slightly, that will bring your butt and legs up. My favourite stroke is backstroke, too, it's so natural for me and I can keep up with everyone else's freestyle. My coach even said I should do the tri doing backstroke! (a joke, of course, but one I contemplated!)

Thanks, badger... that was great advice! The specifics really help. I need that.

When I backstroked today, I made a point to tilt my head back. It did indeed help straighten me out.

I chickened out on freestyle today. I did not realize about the rolling. That would be so much better for me overall.

I have degenerative disk disease in my back and neck. That's one reason the docs like the swimming (non impactive stress on the disks). But, I could never figure out how to not crank my head to breath and irritate my disk that's a problem in the cervical spine.

Now, I know better:cool:.

Btw, that is a really good drill about switching up strokes... hopefully even being humble I can sort it out;):).

[Miranda]

[QUOTE=Miranda;396683] I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.
YOu can do acuathlons, bike and swim!

NOW, you have me fired up:D...

I have always wondered that. I had heard of the bike and run only. But not the swim and bike. I asked a tri acuaint in passing and she just mentioned doing like a relay. Someone else run, me bike/swim, etc. If there is such a beast.

Check back with me another time:rolleyes:, I'll be hiding under my bed at those words:eek::o.

Well... despite my fears, that would indeed be quite an accomplishment. From the little girl who could barely swim well enough to get out of the deep end once off the diving board. Hmmm... I'll have to research.

Thx :)

EDIT: Off to my research already:p...

When I googled that term it came back swim and run. When I found this page, it list it as "aquabike" (states for injured athletes that can no longer run). Hmm, interesting! Linky below...
http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/60

[Miranda]

I've been making the pool twice a week thus far. I figured out the distance with the pool length and laps. Each time I've done a little over a half mile.

The pool has a record keeping box for the swimmers to log their laps. I officially started myself a card:).

At the end of the year, they post the swimmers accomplishments. I think it will help with my motivation to stick with the pool. It will be interesting how far I've swam by the end of the year!

[eclectic]

I thought I had posted this but in my frozen January brain I don't think I did. Fogive me if it is redundant.

As I mentioned before I swim in the morning w/ Dagny Knudson. ANYWAY since she was at the PanPacifics in Guam in Jan and broke records and won many golds she is now being touted as the fastest under 17 female swimmer in the WORLD ! ! !

Last week a trainer from USA swimming in Colorado springs came up to see how she was training and what she was doing differently to drop that many seconds.

. . . . . and to think I choke on the water she swims in :o

[kelownagirl]

Anyone ever had an allergic reaction after swimming?

The last two times I went this week, I began sneezing and had itchy watery eyes and nose for about 16 hours after. The first time I thought I was getting a cold but it disappeared the next day. The second time I made the connection to the pool. I called the YMCA to see if they'd changed chemicals or anything and they admitted they were having some trouble with the chlorine dispenser. This last bout was enough to make me think twice about going back but I have to. I may call first before I go. Hope it's not a lasting thing. Has it happened to anyone else??

[colby]

Anyone ever had an allergic reaction after swimming?

The last two times I went this week, I began sneezing and had itchy watery eyes and nose for about 16 hours after. The first time I thought I was getting a cold but it disappeared the next day. The second time I made the connection to the pool. I called the YMCA to see if they'd changed chemicals or anything and they admitted they were having some trouble with the chlorine dispenser. This last bout was enough to make me think twice about going back but I have to. I may call first before I go. Hope it's not a lasting thing. Has it happened to anyone else??

I always get the sneezies after swimming and can taste the chlorine as it drains. I use a sinus rinse/wash afterward and it really helps. My skin itches, my eyes itch, my whole sinus/nasal passages itch. The sinus rinse makes a big difference to the sneezing and dried out feeling - it feels like everything sticks in my sinuses and bothers them, until I rinse at what point I swear the saline stuff goes in but doesn't all come out (I MUST be really dried out). At this point, I swim twice a week at most, which is enough for me, even if it's not "to plan" (3x/week).

Didn't think to ask if they could adjust the chemical level. Family swim and swim team and all the fitness classes are done in the same pool, so I guess they are worried about germies.

[kelownagirl]

I always get the sneezies after swimming and can taste the chlorine as it drains. I use a sinus rinse/wash afterward and it really helps. My skin itches, my eyes itch, my whole sinus/nasal passages itch. The sinus rinse makes a big difference to the sneezing and dried out feeling - it feels like everything sticks in my sinuses and bothers them, until I rinse at what point I swear the saline stuff goes in but doesn't all come out (I MUST be really dried out). At this point, I swim twice a week at most, which is enough for me, even if it's not "to plan" (3x/week).

Didn't think to ask if they could adjust the chemical level. Family swim and swim team and all the fitness classes are done in the same pool, so I guess they are worried about germies.


Thanks for the feedback - I'm going to try the rinse next time. I had a good shower and washed and conditioned my hair and hubby said I still smelled like chlorine that night.

I've been swimming at this pool for a year and have never had the problem. That's why I asked them if they had changed anything.

[Pax]

KG - I had the same problem last week after my swim, I hopped into the nearby hot tub and after the initial "ahhhhhhh moment" I realized the chemicals were way off...it was like stewing in a chlorine pot. I felt like crap when I got home, I took a hot shower, washed my hair, and used a ton of saline nasal spray to rinse my sinuses. Nothing like having the thing we do to stay fit & healthy make us feel cruddy.

[Wahine]

I always have a problem with chlorine. I used to take a pre-emptive antihistamine before swimming but then I started using a nose plug and that takes care of it most of the time.

I'm pretty sure I smell like chlorine almost always.

[Pax]

I always have a problem with chlorine. I used to take a pre-emptive antihistamine before swimming but then I started using a nose plug and that takes care of it most of the time.

I'm pretty sure I smell like chlorine almost always.
*lightbulb moment* Well that makes sense to me now, I use a mask and snorkel right now to swim laps (my PT doesn't want me twisting to breathe yet), I don't have any problems with chlorine now...just when I try to go without the mask or sit in the hot tub.

[eclectic]

OK I am wierd - I love the smell of swimming pools and chlorine on my skin :p
But i do hate what it does to my eyes, nose, skin, breathing etc etc etc

I hated swimming at our Y pool and wouldn't go into the hot tub - I felt I had to wear goggles just for the hot tub.
This last month, however, they put out an announcement that it wasn't the chlorine that was the problem but the gases created when the chlorine was killing the bacteria :confused:
Anyway they added something to neutralize it and what ever they did made a huge difference.

I wear a nose plug because if I don't my sinuses always bother me

And one more thing
I swam in a pool this summer that was a saline pool. They used salt water instead of chlorinated water. It wasn't as salty as the ocean but was great to swim in. Apparently no need for goggles and your suit isn't destroyed in 3 months. I wish other places would try that!

[HillSlugger]

KG - I had the same problem last week after my swim, I hopped into the nearby hot tub and after the initial "ahhhhhhh moment" I realized the chemicals were way off...it was like stewing in a chlorine pot. I felt like crap when I got home, I took a hot shower, washed my hair, and used a ton of saline nasal spray to rinse my sinuses. Nothing like having the thing we do to stay fit & healthy make us feel cruddy.

That's part of why I don't do the hot tub. The temperature makes them terrible breeding grounds for germs so they need to chlorine the life out of them :eek: It hurts my eyes. I perpetually smell like chlorine just from 2x swimming. I don't need the extra dose from the tub :rolleyes:

[Pax]

...And one more thing
I swam in a pool this summer that was a saline pool. They used salt water instead of chlorinated water. It wasn't as salty as the ocean but was great to swim in. Apparently no need for goggles and your suit isn't destroyed in 3 months. I wish other places would try that!
Now that sounds fantastic!

[Pax]

That's part of why I don't do the hot tub. The temperature makes them terrible breeding grounds for germs so they need to chlorine the life out of them :eek: It hurts my eyes. I perpetually smell like chlorine just from 2x swimming. I don't need the extra dose from the tub :rolleyes:

I use the university facilities and one place has a hot tub and the other a dry sauna, I'm opting for the dry sauna these days...much nicer and cleaner, and waaay less smelly.

[crazycanuck]

Hmm..Does an outdoor pool make any difference? The pool our group swims are held is outside & I can't sense any chlorine smell...

[badger]

I started having problems with my sinuses a couple of years ago so I started wearing a nose plug. It was horrible, it threw my rhythm off, but now I honestly can't swim without it.

I find I can stay underwater way longer, especially when kicking off doing backstroke, and very handy when you're getting winded and doing flip turns (when you don't have much umph left and you do flip turns water always went up my nose).

Our club swims outdoor from May-October, and yes, it's much better for chlorine. I think it dissipates in the air a lot quicker than in an enclosed space. But I also get grossed out knowing that seagulls poop in there...

[eclectic]

Syndirelah That is quite the swim! let us know how it goes - especially the 100's on :40
you must swim a fast 100 to make it 3 x's on :40

Also that is a lot of yardage!

Pretty impressive !

[eclectic]

Hmm..Does an outdoor pool make any difference? The pool our group swims are held is outside & I can't sense any chlorine smell...

It makes a big difference, the chlorine evaporates quickly and diffuses into the air and doesn't hang in the building. When I worked at outdoor pools we had to check the chlorine levels at least 4 times daily and adjust accordingly depending on the heat and sun.

[eclectic]

Hey Eclectic!

...I should type 1:40 just so there's no confusion... My hundreds come in around 1:30ish now. Ive really gotten into swimming in the off season, and Im LOVING it! I think, if I remember reading your past posts, that you do all the strokes, which I would like to learn... Im swimming now 3x's/week (total between 7-9k yards) but there's only so many yards your shoulders can take of long, hard freestyle.

Anyway, I made it! That was a new set for me, so the goal was to finish. I was dead set on making the last 100's on that interval, and I did it!! I was even shocked to come in around 1:25ish (once!). That being said, I probably could have pushed the 150's and 200's a little more. OH well, next time.

Happy swimming :)

I figured they were on 1:40 otherwise we would have seen you at the Olympics :D

I am not a good backstroker and can only do about 40 yds of fly on a good day but I like doing all the drills and mixing it up because it is a really good stretch for the arms and the core also it makes the session go faster and is more interesting. I have decided I am using swimming for recovery because in a tri it is the shortest distance and for the amount of effort needed to speed up vs benefit it isn't worth it. I need to work on my cycling and running a lot more! I just feel way better if I swim

I will never see 1:30 again :( good for you on the 1:25 !

The young pups I swim w/ go on 1:30 - I go on 2
Dagny (the young lady who trains in the morning while we are swimming) can do 16 100's and hold every one on 1:05 :eek:

[Urlea]

Well it's been about 6 months since I've been swimming. Lap swimming that is. Between needing an off season & a healing tattoo I just didn't get to it.

Anywho, since it was raining today on top of ice I decided to swim rather then run so I headed to the local YMCA pool to finally get to that area of the tri training process. Swimming is my weakest area.

Good news is I haven't totally forgot what I'm doing, but I'm definitely very very rusty. Oh & the ladies locker-room has been remodeled (much much nicer).

I'm still recovering from a nasty cold so I took it easy and only went for about 750meters. I'd say it went fairly well. :D However, I am doing my best not to be intimidated to death by the 1.2 mile swim I will have to complete for the HIM.

Might try the same thing over tomorrow since I'll be in the area. We'll see how the muscles feel.

[eclectic]

Well it's been about 6 months since I've been swimming. Lap swimming that is. Between needing an off season & a healing tattoo I just didn't get to it.

Anywho, since it was raining today on top of ice I decided to swim rather then run so I headed to the local YMCA pool to finally get to that area of the tri training process. Swimming is my weakest area.

Good news is I haven't totally forgot what I'm doing, but I'm definitely very very rusty. Oh & the ladies locker-room has been remodeled (much much nicer).

I'm still recovering from a nasty cold so I took it easy and only went for about 750meters. I'd say it went fairly well. :D However, I am doing my best not to be intimidated to death by the 1.2 mile swim I will have to complete for the HIM.

Might try the same thing over tomorrow since I'll be in the area. We'll see how the muscles feel.

good job for getting in the pool! Aren't you glad we sent all the freezing rain your way? I hear you are supposed to get all the ice. We missed it (we have ice but not the .25 - .5 inch all over everything to break the trees, power lines etc. ) They have downgraded our snow to "only" about 6 inches - I guess it is better than 10, but over top of ice? ? ?? :mad:

Hasn't this been the most fun winter ever? ? ? I wonder if we will have school tomorrow - a lot of rural canceled today again - they will be in school in July!
unless our dear Govenor pardons some. :rolleyes:

[Urlea]

And school getting out in July is a bad thing? (Unless you are a teacher.)

Just means less kiddos to try to navigate around when doing laps in the outdoor pool. :D

[colby]

Going to try swimming at lunchtime starting this week... a friend of mine is building to a sprint distance starting from no swimming (more or less), so we're going to hit the gym on Wednesdays and Fridays around lunch. I may or may not swim the 3rd day depending on how complete my midweek workouts are - since she's starting from zero, her swim workouts are very short but also have walking the same day, so we'll see what we work out. My workouts are around 45 minutes right now.

I have managed to cut some time off my swimming, probably just by sticking with at least once or twice weekly workouts as consistently as I can. ;) My last 2500 yard swim was super-consistent at 1:50/100 - I mentally marked the time at 1000 and 2000 and then the end. I'm hoping I can carry it forward to longer distances - it's about 45 seconds per 100 off my IM swim time, or 20 minutes total so far. :eek: I don't feel very good at sprinting/shorter distances, so it's nice to feel good about something. Last year, my long swims, even at only 45 minutes, were good predictors for my IM swim - my IM swim was actually faster than my pool swims were and I wasted a bunch of effort getting sidetracked and frustrated.

I was REALLY punished by chlorine yesterday, ugh. I slept really poorly because I didn't give my sinuses enough time to drain after rinsing. The comments about outdoor pools being better reminded me that I didn't have these problems nearly as bad when I swam as a kid 5 days a week, but I was swimming outdoors. My worst problem was the chlorine in my hair, which I am really diligent about now. ;)

Cheers to everyone swimming, despite the icky chlorine ;)

[HillSlugger]

I've heard it said that you can't win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one there. Of the three events it's the shortest both on distance and time. While it may be hard to pick up speed in swimming it may be more important to become more efficient in swimming so that you use less energy and come out of the water feeling fresher for the bike.

[eclectic]

And school getting out in July is a bad thing? (Unless you are a teacher.)

Just means less kiddos to try to navigate around when doing laps in the outdoor pool. :D

I am a teacher :D

[eclectic]

I've heard it said that you can't win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one there. Of the three events it's the shortest both on distance and time. While it may be hard to pick up speed in swimming it may be more important to become more efficient in swimming so that you use less energy and come out of the water feeling fresher for the bike.

Exactly!

And Syndirelah Whoo hoo on the muscle! No batwings for you when you are an old lady!

My stroke is pretty efficient and I can go a long ways holding steady. I am not fast by any means (I did 1:50/100 on our 20 min steady pace swim, could have easily kept going so really didn't push like I should have) I would have to work REALLY REALLY hard to even try to drop 5 secs off 100 anymore so I figure 5x5 = 25 secs on a sprint. W/ work I can drop 3-5 minutes off on the run because right now I am a REALLY bad runner so way more room for improvement :p

Also cycling is a great place to drop time but that is so dependent on course terrain and around here WIND ! ! !

The first tri I did someone advised me to stay to the side and count to 5 before starting out so I miss the chaos at the beginning of the swim. I took the advice - counted and started - I will never do that again! I ended up passing everyone (love wetsuits) Starting last I was still 14th out of the water w/o even trying to push it.
Now the run . . . . . that was another story :rolleyes:

Another thought - If I was doing longer distance races like IM and HIM shaving a couple of secs off a hundred would add up if it didn't tire you out.

[crazycanuck]

I feel slow :( in the pool these days :(. I don't want to be the turtle

*sigh*

[NbyNW]

I've been jealously reading everyone's training updates - and struggles - for a few months. Had not been in the pool since I took a TI workshop back in November, because I came down with the flu and had a chest cold that wouldn't clear up.

DH and I are on a long trip now, and landed in Indonesia last week. We found a hotel with a 40-meter pool! With the warmer climate I finally felt my chest loosening up and started working on my TI drills.

It felt great to be in the pool again. We're back on the road, so I don't know when I'll get to swim again, but it sure felt great to start up again.

[rocknrollgirl]

Swim team practice ends on Tuesday!!! I can get back in the pool during the week.!!!!!!

YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alpinerabbit]

I think I've got the flip turn down! woohoo!:D:D

[eclectic]

I think I've got the flip turn down! woohoo!:D:D

Good for you! Now you will be cruising!

[eclectic]

I've been jealously reading everyone's training updates - and struggles - for a few months. Had not been in the pool since I took a TI workshop back in November, because I came down with the flu and had a chest cold that wouldn't clear up.

DH and I are on a long trip now, and landed in Indonesia last week. We found a hotel with a 40-meter pool! With the warmer climate I finally felt my chest loosening up and started working on my TI drills.

It felt great to be in the pool again. We're back on the road, so I don't know when I'll get to swim again, but it sure felt great to start up again.

Are you on a pleasure trip or a work trip? - sounds very exciting and exotic either way. Keep us posted on where you are. I love to live vicariously through others travels (just let us know what strand you put it on)

[Urlea]

Another trip to the pool today. :) Swam about 1 mile. My first attempt at doing so. Went really well.

CrazyCanuck I can identify with the turtle feeling.

There were a lot more people in the pool today, most of which were faster then me. Two of which were wearing swim-caps from the tris I did last year so I knew why they were swimming.

But keep up the good work! This is why we train to hopefully get faster and more efficient, right? :D

[NbyNW]

Are you on a pleasure trip or a work trip? - sounds very exciting and exotic either way. Keep us posted on where you are. I love to live vicariously through others travels (just let us know what strand you put it on)

It's a pleasure trip, with the exception that DH is interviewing for a job here in Melbourne yesterday and today.

I've mentioned a bit about the trip in the Touring forum - there's a thread called "tanking economy and trip planning" that shootingstar started.

We're doing a round-the-world itinerary with Star Alliance -- it's actually only slightly more expensive than one or two round-trip international tickets, dpending on the mileage you choose, except you get multiple destinations up to a year. We've been saving up to do this for a while, and recently found ourselves both *ahem* "unencumbered by work commitments." So it seems like this is the ideal time to do a trip like this!

We started in Paris then flew to Singapore to use as a hub for other points in Asia. I already mentioned Indonesia, and next week we'll go to Taiwan to hang out with my extended family for a couple weeks. After that, New Zealand. A friend of mine recently suggested we might want to try going to the Phillipines as well, so we might add that on. We expect to be home late March.

People have been asking me to post pictures, so I think the easiest thing for me to do is edit down a selection when I get home and post them on their own separate thread. I'll let you know when I do that.

[Wahine]

This morning's masters' work out was officially a killer. the main set was 44 50s with every 4th 50 being butterfly... yes I meant 44, that wasn't a typo. I had to wear fins for half of the workout to keep up with the interval and even then I was only getting 5 sec rest after the fly and 10 sec on the freestyle 50s. The total workout was 3000 m with warm-up and cool down.

I'm starving to death and feel like falling asleep at my desk. Ugh.

[Veronica]

I haven't been in the water since my last tri in Sept. I have so much work to do on my running that I don't swim all that often. It's kind of the fun workout. When I go, I just do whatever I feel like.

Today was swim 1,000 yards. I kept track of my splits. The first one is always fastest and was 1:39. The next 8 were all between 1:47 and 1:50. I kicked it up a bit on 10 and did 1:43. Not bad for not having been in the water for four months.

Then I kicked 300, alternating between flutter, breast and dolphin kicks every 25.

Then I pulled 500. I was hoping to do it in under ten minutes but came in at 10:05.

100 warm down and I was done.

I probably won't swim again for another month. I wish I had a masters team locally.

Veronica

[eclectic]

Syndirelah

If I did the math correctly that work out is 4000 meters! how long does that take you? WOW :eek:

Wahine 44 50's sounds really intimidating! and every 4th the fly! They would be dragging me off the bottom of the pool.

After my swim today I decided I need to do more fly to help my freestyle. I have gotten lazy on my free and I am not pushing myself enough. I have developed a "good enough for a sprint tri" attitude - not worth the effort it takes to speed up - I can easily, w/o pushing, maintain a 1:50 pace for 1100 continuous yds and still feel great after so I figure "good enough"

Like you Veronica I need to concentrate on my running - I REALLY bite it there.

BUT today I did a couple of 25's of fly and thought "this is good for me"
I timed myself on 25 back and 25 fly. I am waaaay faster on the fly - now if I can just get my endurance up!

One more thing - I asked my coach about mixing up the sets w/ different strokes and correlating drills - it sounds like I am the only one on here who does that on a regular basis.
Her answer was "anything that helps strengthen your core is going to help you on the swim, bike and run; doing all the strokes helps balance out and strengthen all the muscles not just the ones used for that specific stroke. Also it prevents overuse injuries, AND prevents boredom"

I believe her. She is the coach who is training the 16 year old who is now being lauded as the fastest 17 and under female swimmer in the world - she does all the strokes.

[eclectic]

Syndirelah - that is an amazing swim! A lot of yardage in a short period of time

I didn't swim this morning so went down when I got to work to tell my coach that I went home and went to bed and not out for "adult beverages" like I alluded to during Parent teacher conferences last night.

Dagny was still in the water so of course I had to stand and watch her.
She was doing 10 x 100's on 1:15 and holding each 100 under 1:00 - she brought her final one in at :57 :eek:

If it is any consolation she was breathing hard :)

[Urlea]

Swam a 1/2mile after Biking 20minutes at the Y today. :)

I don't have any real strategy to my training at this point. I'm slow & still have real difficulties finding a rhythm to my breathing that I can stick to so I'm not sure drills would do me much good until I get that stuff down.

On the upside I am feeling more confident about covering the distances I will need to, but I also know it may not be pretty. I'm working hard to gain efficiency so that I'm not fried going into the bike.

I should really take out my TE book and read it again.

Can one of you fill me in on what "pull" means?

By the looks of it, it seems as though we have a few ladies that are graceful machines in the water.

Keep up the good work!

[Veronica]

When I say I did a pull set it means I had a pull buoy between my knees and did a set with no kicking, just arms.

Veronica

[eclectic]

Urlea - try practicing the drills - they are what get you more efficient, help w/ proper balance and rotation so the breathing is easier.

My coach has everyone use a swim snorkel when they start out so they get the proper balance, alignment and roll - once that is mastered you take off the snorkel and the breathing comes naturally.

Doing the Popov drill really helps w/ roll, balance and you don't need a snorkel to do it. I found it on Youtube but can't preview it here at work. just google Popov swim drills

I googles total immersion drills and there are some great ones there. In a former post I think it was alpinerabbit who hooked me up w/ the videos

finger tip drag is another simple one to help w/ proper hand entry in the water.

I would strongly suggest hooking up w/ a snorkel - it makes the drills easier http://www.swim2000.com/product.php?pd_id=SNP100P

When we do Pulls - we use Hand paddles sometimes w/ the pull buoy and sometimes w/o
http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1231.htm

Our coach likes "toys" so we have them all where I swim (also they use them for the high school swim program and classes)

[alpinerabbit]

Drills are key. There simply is no efficient swimming without tech drills until they come out your ears. That will help with the breathing too. Work on balance and roll first. Be loooong.

Please post a video if they'll let you film at the Y.

[eclectic]

Drills are key. There simply is no efficient swimming without tech drills until they come out your ears. That will help with the breathing too. Work on balance and roll first. Be loooong.

Please post a video if they'll let you film at the Y.

Stretch out - pick an apple off a high branch - put it in your basket :D

So Urlea - are you going to start doing drills now :)

[Urlea]

Eclectic- Yes, you ladies have me convinced I should. I will admit though I'm really not fond of the idea. Most of the equipment you linked is provided at the Y so that gives me even less of an excuse not to. :rolleyes: lol.

Is there a good site I should look at for drills? I'm polish, left-handed and dyslexic so I need detailed instructions.

On the job question: DH works in ND. A huge software company that has a branch in Fargo laid-off 5,000 people in the nation & some of those were co-workers of his. Tough to see, but thankfully a few have been able to find work in their field. With less pay though.

Alpine- I'm going to try to arrange with my sister who has an underwater case for her camera that does decent video & see if I can have her tape me. Hopefully sometime next week. :) I'll be sure to upload it if that works out.

Thanks for your advice ladies!

After taking my hubby to the Dr. (found out he has Pneumonia. :( ) I was too late to make it to the Y for the morning lap-swim, but I did make it this evening. Didn't do much, but try to figure out what my form is doing. Overall I wasn't feeling ambitious nor focused. Just one of those days.

Good news is I made it to the pool three times this week, which was my goal!

Tomorrow is my long-run day. Looking forward to running in the fresh snow. Should be beautiful if it's not windy. :D

[salsabike]

Here's one, Urlea. This is a local swim coach whose clinics I've gone to. She has a bunch of technique/drill videos here--


http://www.marymeyerlifefitness.com/resource/

[jesvetmed]

SALSA: Thanks for posting that. I've just spent 40 minutes watching drills! I won't remember most of them, but I can go back. :rolleyes: That's some great stuff.
Jes

[eclectic]

Against my better judgment I swam this morning. I am scheduled to do my first 7 mile run tonight and didn't want to be tired out. But an out of town friend was swimming so I went.
I decided to wear the zoomer fins and save my legs but now my shoulders are tired because of the pulls w/ paddles and the pull buoy - I skipped the parachute drills.

300 wu swim

300 drill

300 pull w/ paddles

100 non free swim

8 x 75 x 25's kick, drill, swim

And because it was so long ago and so early in the AM I have no idea what we did the last set but I know it involved the little parachutes :o

[crazycanuck]

On Monday I did something similar to Ecclectic..:o I did our group swim session & then went for a fourty something km ride after. I meandered & didn't push it but need to rejig a few things if i want to try it again. (i dropped my vehicle & swim friend in the city the mozied off..)

Main thing is food.

So, if i do want to try this again, do you have any suggestions? I was knackered by the end of the day as I had to do some running around after..:o

I'm not trying to be a superheroine tri chick, I just wanted to do something different!

[eclectic]

On Monday I did something similar to Ecclectic..:o I did our group swim session & then went for a fourty something km ride after. I meandered & didn't push it but need to rejig a few things if i want to try it again. (i dropped my vehicle & swim friend in the city the mozied off..)

Main thing is food.

So, if i do want to try this again, do you have any suggestions? I was knackered by the end of the day as I had to do some running around after..:o

I'm not trying to be a superheroine tri chick, I just wanted to do something different!

C'mon be a super-heroine tri chick!
Did you do the ride right after the swim?
I didn't - I swam in the AM and ran in the PM so I had all day at work to eat and hydrate.

I have no idea how one would do a long session of swimming then a long session of riding - it would be like doing almost a section of a 1/2 IM
I have no idea how they fuel before they start

Ladies? ? ? ?

[Veronica]

Before my half IM I ate 1.5 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I ate and drank on the bike like I would normally on a bike ride. My run was very hot so I sucked on ice cubes and walked a lot.

Veronica

[Urlea]

Swam twice this week so far. Monday's swim was short to allow for more biking. I felt kind of fatigued coming off the bike Mon., but I found that if I walk a few laps around the track before going into the pool it helps quite a bit.

Today I had a short bike and longer swim. I broke it up into 1/2 mile sets. The first set of laps I did wasn't great. :rolleyes: I needed an attitude adjustment. Wasn't feeling like a swimmer so I wasn't performing like one. Second set was much better once I pulled myself together. It's crazy how much confidence and a little stubborn will can get you moving.

I'm really looking forward to Friday's swim!! Turns out a friend of mine who did competitive swimming in college is going to start swimming with me as many times a week as our schedules can accommodate. I swam with her a few times last year and her advice was very helpful. She says she's willing to teach me drills and such too. :D I'll motivate her to stay active and she'll tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Eclectic Not sure I'm much help on the food issue. At this point I am still trying to figure out what sticks with me the longest and stays settled well before training. So far Odwalla's Berries GoMega bars & a 1/2 cup of Bolthouse smoothie have been working great!

I do know that a fair amount of my fuel will need to come from what I consume on the bike though. My preliminary plan (which will be thoroughly tested in training) is to munch on shot-bloks & Sport beans washed down with Heed &/or Pertpetuem. Gels will probably be saved for the run portion.

Gotta admit I'm very curious what the rest of you do/have done.

Anywho, here's to good swims the rest of this week for all of you, keep kicking! :D

[Urlea]

Before my half IM I ate 1.5 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I ate and drank on the bike like I would normally on a bike ride. My run was very hot so I sucked on ice cubes and walked a lot.

Veronica

Peanut butter would be a decent way to add protein! I'm half temped to slather some on my Odwalla oat bar Friday to see how that goes.

[eclectic]

Urlea - I am glad to hear you have a swim partner who will help you w/ drills.

I was doing the Popov drill (3 stroke roll to side 6 kick) today and realized I have been getting slack on the purpose of the drills - I have just been sluffing through them. I started paying attention to the drill, why I was doing it, what purpose it served and what my body was doing.

The Popov is mainly for balance. I realized when I started to pay attention that I was very well balanced on one side (my breathing roll side) and poorly balanced on the other side. I started really focusing on balancing on that side too. It is my weaker side and I have more problem w/ roll, getting high elbows and my arm nicely out of the water.

So do your drills and have her explain what purpose they serve so you can be aware of it. If there are any she isn't sure of and you can't find just let me know and I will ask my coach she is really good about explaining the whys behind everything, body position, arms, breathing etc and how the drills help.

When I first started out I found the Popov, finger tip drag and catchup to be the most beneficial.

[eclectic]

Oops thought of another thing I JUST had to share.

I am swimming in the Blizzard Biathlon on Sunday. I have the easy leg. the run is 5 miles outside on all the snow and ice. It is supposed to warm up by sunday to the mid 20's so lets hope it does (-10 F this morning w/ -25 to -30 windchill).

the swim is jsut a 500. The only hard part is they don't seed the lanes. Last time I got in a lane with a speedy high school swim team girl and a pokey young semi beginner swimmer. Even though we were circle swimming in the lane we would end up in the same place at the same time so couldn't pass.

Although it is just a fun Bi. I am going to suggest for next year people put a guesstimate on their 500 time and seed the lanes for 8 min, 9 min 10 min etc. At least it would be a few laps before anyone caught up and had to pass someone.

Oh well it is just for fun and honor.

Next year i hope to do the whole thing - my relay partner is learning to swim better and I am learning to run!

[rocknrollgirl]

Salsa,
Those videos are great, thanks for posting them. I ran this morning and then changed and went right to the pool. I normally do that in reverse order so it was a bit odd.

I shared a lane with one of my students that is on the swim team. It was fun. At one point we were on the same sets, on the same interval without knowing it. It was weird. I looked over at her and said...hey...kiddo...are you following me?

Fun.

[eclectic]

Salsa,
Those videos are great, thanks for posting them. I ran this morning and then changed and went right to the pool. I normally do that in reverse order so it was a bit odd.

I shared a lane with one of my students that is on the swim team. It was fun. At one point we were on the same sets, on the same interval without knowing it. It was weird. I looked over at her and said...hey...kiddo...are you following me?

Fun.

That is awesome that you ended up the same place at the same time. You must be a fast swimmer. I don't even do the same sets as the swim team kids. they will do 10 x 100 on 1:20 (or if you are Dagny on 1:05 :rolleyes:) Me I am more like a 2:05 :D

[rocknrollgirl]

That is awesome that you ended up the same place at the same time. You must be a fast swimmer. I don't even do the same sets as the swim team kids. they will do 10 x 100 on 1:20 (or if you are Dagny on 1:05 :rolleyes:) Me I am more like a 2:05 :D


She is one of the younger kids on the team, only a freshmen, so not ridiculously fast yet. They try to get me to work out with them every day. Respectfully I decline. I do love to be there when they train. All girls, most of them my students of advisees..they are fun. Yesterday one of them asked my if she could do a tri with me. How cool is that!



I bring my 100's in around 1:30 , so my interval is usually go on the 1:45.

[eclectic]

She is one of the younger kids on the team, only a freshmen, so not ridiculously fast yet. They try to get me to work out with them every day. Respectfully I decline. I do love to be there when they train. All girls, most of them my students of advisees..they are fun. Yesterday one of them asked my if she could do a tri with me. How cool is that!



I bring my 100's in around 1:30 , so my interval is usually go on the 1:45.

That is what is fun about working w/ kids - they really do like their teachers for the most part and want to hang w/ them. Well anyway they like to tease me about how slow I run and are always pumped to see me at the Y.

1:30 is a very respectable time - I am trying to maybe someday get close to that again. If I could maintain my 50 time I would be pulling them in at 1:34 but alas - I can't maintain that pace for 100 and no way could pull off repeats. Oh well something to shoot for. I should be doing more dryland training.
I was content to bring in the 100's at 1:50 but now I need to really start pushing it because I can maintain that pace non-stop for 1100 yds. But then I guess that is what I need for tris - steady distance pace w/o wearing myself out.

[rocknrollgirl]

That is what is fun about working w/ kids - they really do like their teachers for the most part and want to hang w/ them. Well anyway they like to tease me about how slow I run and are always pumped to see me at the Y.

1:30 is a very respectable time - I am trying to maybe someday get close to that again. If I could maintain my 50 time I would be pulling them in at 1:34 but alas - I can't maintain that pace for 100 and no way could pull off repeats. Oh well something to shoot for. I should be doing more dryland training.
I was content to bring in the 100's at 1:50 but now I need to really start pushing it because I can maintain that pace non-stop for 1100 yds. But then I guess that is what I need for tris - steady distance pace w/o wearing myself out.

I try not to get too wound up about my times in the pool and I focus more on how I do OWS. Because I am pushing off the wall and timing myself, it is probably off...but it does not really matter. I really enjoy the pool workouts, and since I do not swim with a Master group, if I am a little off...who cares!!!!

[jesvetmed]

Did a fun workout this morning. We called it a "Cross Fit" swim.

WU 300yd (swim, pull, kick)
25 sprint, and did dips on the pool edge, then 25 basic recovery swim back.
25 sprint, push-ups on pool edge. 25 recovery.
25 sprint, squats on deck. 25 recovery
25 sprint, situps on deck (with a kick board under the tush), 25 recovery.
REPEAT.
Then 200 cool down.

I had to get to yoga, but would have gone a bit longer, as I'm trying to push up to 1000m or more each time I'm in the pool.

But this was a hard workout! My arms were burning part way through!
And it was fun, not just swimming back and forth. I think I'll throw this in once a week or so (only if I'm already getting two other swims in, though).

[eclectic]

Jesvetmed - that does sound like a fun and varying workout!

What are "dips" ? I can figure everything else out

[jesvetmed]

For dips we faced the pool wall at the deep end, and without pushing off the bottom pressed up to straight arms on the pool deck, and dipped back down into the water (as if you are getting out of the pool. OK.. I admit it, had to use my feet a bit! They are tough.

[HillSlugger]

Question to all the swimmers...

Do you ever have swim sessions that are way off your regular times???

I missed a couple swim sessions a couple weeks ago because school has been busy... and my run mileage increased a little (although still only around 25 mi/week). Ive been taking one rest day a week, and Im still off my regular swim times.. having a very hard time making regular intervals.

Anyone experience something similar?

Of course! The increase in running could be a factor. Sometimes some workouts will just be off.

[tribogota]

my swim times are outrageously different, always, could be the day's nutrition, other activities, sleep, all. Today I did 10 x 100 with pull bouy on the 1:40, yesterday on the 1:50...no explanation, and my pool times have NOTHING to do with my tri times...I stopped keeping a record