Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[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.

[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 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..

[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 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

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

There is hope

[firenze11]

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

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.