HUGE swim breakthrough!

[GLC1968]

As many of you know, I started swimming again as an adult a little over a year ago (last Christmas). I did a lot of swimming/training and lessons the first half of the year last year and then basically just swam once a week since last August because I like the exercise.

I had my husband video my swim stroke when we were in FL over the holidays. I posted my video clip on Beginner Triathlete and got some good feedback. Since then, I've been actively working on improving my catch/pull, my body rotation and most importantly - working my upper body and lower body together instead of independently.

Over the weekend, I was able to do a two-beat kick for the first time for a couple of lengths. Yesterday, I was able to incorporate it for pretty much my entire swim. That, combined with my improved stroke, has gotten me 10sec/100 off my 'easy' pace time. I can feel a strong glide with each stroke. It's amazing! The true benefit is that now when my arms and legs are timed correctly and working together, I am SO much more efficient!! It's truly unreal and I never would have guessed it before actually feeling it.

My plan is to get this stoke cemented into my muscle memory, and then to work on increasing my stroke rate (which is slow right now), to increase my speed further.

Last night, the older guy in the lane next to me asked me how many years I've been swimming. When I said 1, his jaw hit the water. He said he would have guessed 20! In fact, I actually caught multiple people just watching me swim last night which NEVER happens.

I feel like I'm right on the edge of something AMAZING here!!

[OakLeaf]

Wow, that is so cool! You're inspiring me to start working on it ... pity the nearest pool is so far away from me.

[sgf726]

That's awesome!

I also starting swimming again as an adult about 18 months ago. I'm still waiting for that big break-through.

[Becky]

That's awesome!!! I wish that I could get someone to film me, but I'm not so sure how that would go over at a public pool.

Could you share some of the drills/tips that you've been using? It sounds like the areas you're working on (catch, rotation and "body unification") are the same areas that I need help with. Thanks!

[GLC1968]

Basically, I used this video to get an idea of how my arms should be timed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr8PT...eature=related

Then I went to this video to get an idea about how upper and lower works together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpFV...eature=related

From there, I started reading about the 2-beat kick on TI's forums. I kept working on quieting my legs while swimming to feel my balance in the water. Then my husband (who is more of a beginner than I am) said he'd read about a guy who was able to get the 2 beat kick by doing drills on his side (in streamline) where only the top leg was kicking. I did this, alternating a few times, for a few lengths and then I did a regular 50 while trying to keep my feet 'quiet' and it just happened. I started kicking in the right place in my stroke. This immediately helped with my rotation as one of my problems was that my hips weren't really rotating in sync with my shoulders (even though I thought they were). With the kick properly timed, it happens automatically.

I was also working on really trying to spear the water with each stroke and not rushing to start the next stroke.

Another resource that I've heard really good things about is www.findingfreestyle.com. Their technique is to teach you how to FEEL the correct form and that once you can feel it, you internalize it. After my experince of the past couple of days, I can totally see how this would work!

[Veronica]

That rocks! So happy for you!

Isn't it just so cool when it all flows together?

Veronica