April Swimmies

[roadie gal]

I went for another lesson with my coach yesterday. I wasn't inspired when I got in the water, but he was able to motivate me. We did about 400yds of drills, including the zipper drill. I'd never done that before and it seemed awkward. Once he explained what I was supposed to be learning from it: learning to keep your arm at an angle so it catches water better, it made sense. Then we did about 10 50yd laps at various speeds - slow, tempo and sprint, with a moderate rest in between. I was able to do a couple of them at 42 seconds! It's not fast for you fish, but it's a HUGE improvement for me. Yay! Now if I can just extend that 50yds to 1.2 miles...

[daisylubob]

You are obviously training for a tri? Which on?
I love swimming!! WIish there was an outdoor pool in my town to swim in during summertime.

[tribogota]

LOVE ZIPPER DRILL!
sometimes I do it just to relax

[GLC1968]

Great job, roadie gal!

I had my swim class last night - first time in two weeks since we were off last week for spring break.

Our main focus was turns, which I was excited about because I needed instruction. I have noticed that people swiming a similiar pace as me would turn and be off the wall way faster and I figured I was doing something wrong. Turns out, I was.

Anyway, we did open turns for a bit and then he offered to teach flip turns to those of us who were interested. The whole class wanted to learn! I did ok with the open turns, but for whatever reason, I did much, much better with the flip turns. I'm amazed, actually. I'm really looking forward to my next swim session so that I can try tying them into actual laps. If it works, I might just be adding that skill to my swims. I'm going to feel kind of silly doing flip turns in the 'slow lane' at the tri - but whatever. If it works for me, I'm gonna use it!

[Selkie]

The last few days have been heaven at the pool---decidedly uncrowded! Alas, the madness of circle swimming will start again Monday, probably, and continue until the outdoor pools open in mid-May.

I've been pushing myself more lately, endurance-wise. Passed another milestone this week---logged my 100th mile in the water since January. I'm not training for an event and actually, swimming is my zen time. There are days when I'm in the zone and it's hard to get out of the water, even though I have to go to work.

Everyone else sounds like they are doing great and making progress toward their goals. GLC, you've really made great progress since you got back in the water!!

[roadie gal]

Daisylubob - I'm going to try to do 3 tris this year: Try for Real Oly in June, the Donner Lake Oly in July, and the Black Diamond HIM in September. I've felt for a while that the swim is my worst sport. It's taken me a few years, but I finally found a coach that I really like.

Mickchick - 100 miles is a LONG way! Good going.

[Veronica]

I did my monthly swim today. Warm up was 200 S - K - P. Then I swam 1,000 yards. It was suppose to be a time trial but I wanted to see what the time would be the way I plan to swim in my race. I was pretty happy with it - 18 minutes at about 5 - 6 effort level on a ten point scale. I wish running was so easy.

Did a 100 to cool down for a total of 1700.

Veronica

[roadie gal]

My workout called for a total of 1300 yds, with the main set being 5 X 100 fast. Somehow, I managed to do the first one in 1:35. That's 5 seconds faster than I've ever done it before, even at a lower altitude! I thought it might have been a fluke, but the second one was 1:36. I slowed a bit after that, but my 5th, and slowest, was still only 1:40. I'm thrilled!

[Veronica]

That's terrific! Are you still working with the swim coach?

Veronica

[roadie gal]

That's terrific! Are you still working with the swim coach?

Veronica

Yes, although I haven't been able to get together with him for a few weeks. I'm also having him coach me for my tri season.

[badger]

I've been swimming regularly with a Masters group for 10 years, and tonight a lightbulb went off. Honestly, TEN YEARS, and I finally figured out how to do freestyle stroke properly.

I've never been a good puller, and whenever we used pull buoys my shoulders would kill me. And I mean it felt like someone was sticking a knife into the joint on both sides.

It wasn't busy tonight so I had attention from both coaches on how to correct my stroke. The zipper drill came in very handy to get my elbows high and to engage my chest muscles as opposed to just using my shoulders. And to let the tension out of the arms and reach under the water as opposed to over as I was erroneously instructed a few years back.

And what a difference that made! it was actually relaxing, and got my stroke count down to 15 in the 25 yards section of the pool.

I learned more tonight in 30 minutes than I have in the last 10 years...