Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[alpinerabbit]

Well, you can use toys all you want except don't do it more than say 10% of your total distance.


There are loads of drills out there that do the same for you, and it would be good to incorporate some tech drills into your swim sessions from now on until the end of time.



Speaking of which.



Last night I had an introduction to TI - our partner club trains that way and I'm joining their training, so I got to go through the whole sequence.

My bottom line is they teach you the same form in the end, splitting it up which is good. Emphasis on body rotation which is fine but not *really* done by the pros (they mostly rotate from their hips if I trust mine eyes on TV), and no emphasis at all on underwater catch and push-thru which gives you power once you have mastered technique.

So a good way to learn but then you have to go on?

What are the opinions out there?

[teigyr]

Thanks Alpinerabbit.

I guess the best way would be to go to clubs/classes and swim with other people. I keep looking for something to help me practice on my own because when I get to the pool, all rational thought goes out of my head and I just want to swim instead of doing drills. I'm impatient. I also tend to not know what the terminology is and it seems like everyone (ok, not everyone but it feels that way!) has a different theory of how it should be done.

I've often thought that if I just knew what the correct form *felt* like, I'd know if I was doing it right or not. I also know that I am lopsided and have a lazy side.

Anyway, it's time to start working on the swimming again I thank you all for your patience.

[kelownagirl]

Finally got to the pool for the first time in 2 weeks. Thought it might be tough but I felt good - must be all the rest i've had lately.


400m WU

6 X 200m neg splits

5:30
5:24
5:09
4:48
4:27
4:11

200m CD

[jesvetmed]

Back to the pool today. Funny, after a couple swims in the lake in the wetsuit, it seemed so weird to try and swim normally. My butt kept sinking! And I couldn't seem to get my "roll" from side to side comfortably either! I'm a mess! I want the wetsuit back!

300 WU
Drills (few): 2x25 finger drag; 2x25 concentrating on bent arms
Sprints: 1/2 length (so - 12.5m) sprint, 1/2 length recover. 5 sec in between. Did 4x25, then rested 1.5 minutes and repeated.
Base: 2x 200 at moderate pace.
Kick: 4x25
CD: 250
TOTAL: 1350m

What drills do people generally work on? I need to work on my roll from side to side, and my pull. I've heard that getting small fins can help you concentrate on upper body work? Anyone have any comment on this?

Thanks!
Jes

[alpinerabbit]

look at the english part of www.svl.ch for hints, also about fins.

zipper drill, catch up, all kinds of sculling, stopping at thigh and armpit, some kicking, that's the kind of tech drills we do in practice.

the floating drills and the type of drills TI uses will teach you the correct posture in the water, and rolling; the fins have limited benefit I think.

[jesvetmed]

Thanks, Alpine! I'll check that out. I'll have to look at all of those -- I have not heard of most of them!
Jes

[alpinerabbit]

Woot :-)

today was the public "cross-the-lake" swim, it's really laid back with young and old folks, breaststroking, even aquajoggers join in.


for your entry fee you get a bright cap so the guards see you, your bag is hauled across and you get risotto on th'other side. (was too hot for risotto today).

Took me 33 minutes for 1450 meters including swimming around some of the slower folks.

I wasn't going all-out - so I think I won't be last at an Oly (I even passed a couple GUYS in tri suits...)

[teigyr]

The lake swim looks like fun!

I think I had a breakthrough today. I did drills and then I did structured swimming sets. My total distance was 1235 meters.

I love swimming but have struggled with form. I actually started feeling where the water felt like it was flowing over me and I noticed when I was interupting that flow by how I was swimming. My hand placement on one side is a bit off and isn't as smooth as the other side.

It's no substitution for having someone critique me in person but I think I actually made HUGE progress. It was a good day

[jesvetmed]

Alpine.. that looks like fun, and the water looks like it's such a beautiful color!? Is that an illusion?!

Teigyr... good job on "feeling the water". I think when that happens you are really doing something right! A while ago, I felt that things were really clicking at the pool, but then I lost that for a bit! Need to get that back! Keep it up!

I have my swim clinic a week form Saturday - -looking VERY forward to that! I'll share any hints I learn!
Jes

[HillSlugger]

I actually started feeling where the water felt like it was flowing over me and I noticed when I was interupting that flow by how I was swimming. My hand placement on one side is a bit off and isn't as smooth as the other side.

It's no substitution for having someone critique me in person but I think I actually made HUGE progress. It was a good day

Human coaching is great, but it's even better if you can feel what's right. Afterall, your coach won't be out there adjusting your stroke during races, etc.

[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.

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

[jesvetmed]

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