first triathlonites 2006-07

[eclectic]

Thanks for the warm welcome

Up early again this morning (4.45am) to try and beat the heat on my walk/run. Enjoying the early morning starts and the crispness in the air.

Have a fab day ladies.

Fun reading your posts Mel Good luck w/ your training and busy schedule WOW ! ! !

How things change, just 3 short months ago we were up early to beat the heat NOW it is bundle up - forecast is for minus 10 F tomorrow night with 30 MPH winds.

[KSH]

Question is this:
How do you pace yourself on the swim knowing you have a bike and run coming up. I could have gone faster, but would it be worth tiring myself out to only gain a minute? I will not be competing at a competitive level more just against myself.
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Well, I know for me... I focus on long strokes that allow me to glide. I do not kick a lot (unless it's in open water with a current/waves)... and I monitor my breathing.

If I can do 4 strokes without having to breathe and I am gliding through the water, I know I am saving myself for the bike and run.

BUT if I am kicking like a mad woman... breathing every 2 strokes (and still gasping for air) and my strokes are short and choppy... I know I am going all out and I need to back off.

Just like with running... you find out how to pace yourself as you get more advanced. You start to get a feel for what your sprint effort is and what your cruising effort is.

[Bikingmomof3]

Just like with running... you find out how to pace yourself as you get more advanced. You start to get a feel for what your sprint effort is and what your cruising effort is.

I am still trying to figure this out, hopefully it will click soon.

[light_sabe_r]

Well, I know for me... I focus on long strokes that allow me to glide. I do not kick a lot (unless it's in open water with a current/waves)... and I monitor my breathing.

If I can do 4 strokes without having to breathe and I am gliding through the water, I know I am saving myself for the bike and run.

BUT if I am kicking like a mad woman... breathing every 2 strokes (and still gasping for air) and my strokes are short and choppy... I know I am going all out and I need to back off.

Just like with running... you find out how to pace yourself as you get more advanced. You start to get a feel for what your sprint effort is and what your cruising effort is.

AHHH! So KSH is arm strokes more important that leg kicks when it comes to tris?? I mean on the bike you're using a different muscle group to the pool if youonly use your arms right??

[KSH]

AHHH! So KSH is arm strokes more important that leg kicks when it comes to tris?? I mean on the bike you're using a different muscle group to the pool if youonly use your arms right??

More important?

Uuuummm... well... let me just say this... a front crawl stroke with very good form, can be very effective without a lot of kicking involved.

The key is learning how to insert your arms in correctly... so you can glide. A goal might be to try to get to the other end of the pool with less strokes than the lap before.

There are many times in the pool that I am passing people in the lanes next to me... and they are making a huge splash and working very hard to get to the other end... where I am gliding, focused on my stroke, with a small kick to keep my legs involved... with very little splashing happening.

Thus... swimming is ALL ABOUT FORM. You can have horrible running form and still go fast... you can't have horrible swim form and still go fast.

Finally... if you think about it, if you can swim fast with very little kicking... that only saves your legs for the run. Of course, a good strong kick does come into play when you need to power through waves or currents.

[Kimmyt]

w00t!

just wanted to share my happies... today in swim class we did a T30 and i got in 1400 meters so I feel soooo much more confident now about being able to do the 900 meters in this tri (which is in June, so I have a ton of time!).... maybe I should set a goal of doing the swim in under 20 min?

Yay!

K.

[HillSlugger]

I had my first swim coaching session last night. When I went on my own last week it was pretty obvious to me that my kick needed work. I found out yesterday that my kick is all wrong I have what she called a "trudging" kick. She's got me working on properly kicking from the hips and has recommended that I get swim fins.

Do others practice with fins? Can you make a recommendation on types/brands/models?

Thanks, Nicole

[eclectic]

Do others practice with fins? Can you make a recommendation on types/brands/models?

Thanks, Nicole

I started out w/ long fins, but no recommendation on model, we had them supplied for us. I then went to short fins which I LOVED - you can still do flip turns and when you take them off you don't notice as much how much you slow down. You can also do an ok breast stroke whip kick w/ them - check w/ your coach and see if these would work for you instead of the long ones. Any type of fin helps your legs float better.

Just be careful - I had to suffer through some nasty blisters until I got used to them. (One guy that swam w/ us bought scuba socks to line them and that really helped. I used water repellent athletic tape and wrapped my toes.

[eclectic]

Can you make a recommendation on types/brands/models?

Thanks, Nicole

these are the short ones we used:

http://www.lane4swim.com/zommerblue.html

I don't know about the specific store just using photo and type for referance

[eclectic]

Well, I know for me... I focus on long strokes that allow me to glide. I do not kick a lot (unless it's in open water with a current/waves)... and I monitor my breathing.
.

Not kicking alot won't be a problem - I have a lousy kick, basically it just keeps my legs floating not a lot a forward momentum

re pacing like running - need to work on that end too - I have no pace beyond slow !