Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[eclectic]

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

Have you tried the drill where you put a kickboard between your thighs so it sticks out like a shark fin? then as you pull back w/ every arm stroke you touch the board.
Helps w/ body roll and back hand pull.

Just don't put lotion on before swimming - it causes the kickboard to constantly pop out

Also a good one for body roll is the "Popov drill"
perfect streamline body position w/ roll for 3 arm strokes no breathing then as you "snap" on the stroke roll to side and kick 6 counts "snap" back 3 arm strokes "snap" to other side, kick 6 counts

What happened when I was rolling too much is I was fishtailing. when I corrected I had to think and so went slower but now am better and back to speed

[alpinerabbit]

eeks. I caught something - maybe a slight infection - in the eye. 's gotta be from the pool. I went into the kiddie pool (that's really the teaching pool) for some technical drills on friday just after the school kids had left (did I tell that I dislike kids, among other drawbacks they have, I think they're bacterial incubators. Elementary school kids smell. Should put that over in the "mom" thread.)

We went for another swim yesterday morning. It itched all afternoon yesterday - last night it started producing the grossest slime, I had a lot of it overnight. in the morning it was better, no more slime but it is still itchy.

[eclectic]

eeks. I caught something - maybe a slight infection - in the eye. 's gotta be from the pool. I went into the kiddie pool (that's really the teaching pool) for some technical drills on friday just after the school kids had left (did I tell that I dislike kids, among other drawbacks they have, I think they're bacterial incubators. Elementary school kids smell. Should put that over in the "mom" thread.)

We went for another swim yesterday morning. It itched all afternoon yesterday - last night it started producing the grossest slime, I had a lot of it overnight. in the morning it was better, no more slime but it is still itchy.

YUCK! That is why I really don't like swimming in our Y pool - too many little bodies all over the place.
I am a teacher but i have to agree w/ you, elementary kids and school do have a different odor. I teach HS and they, for the most part smell, a little too good, the perfumes and scented lotions can get a little sickening after awhile.

Do you swim w/ goggles? If so, don't forget to disinfect them!

BTW I find my eyes get itchy when I use the anti fog spray - I have a lot of allergies and I think I am sensitive to it. Soooooo what do I do? about the most unsanitary thing a person can do - after about 200 yds I lick the inside of my goggles Hey! it works

[alpinerabbit]

We had our tri club's annual new year's swim today. The pool offers bubbly and snacks.

You can go all the way to 100x100 if you can from 9am-1pm.
I can't, but I can do 50x100!

I felt really good, just a little pain in the shoulders by the last K, and paddles did not really feel good on K 4,5-5.

I then went home and slept for an hour.

[eclectic]

We had our tri club's annual new year's swim today. The pool offers bubbly and snacks.

You can go all the way to 100x100 if you can from 9am-1pm.
I can't, but I can do 50x100!

I felt really good, just a little pain in the shoulders by the last K, and paddles did not really feel good on K 4,5-5.

I then went home and slept for an hour.

Wow! What a fun event! and a great way to start the year. 100 x100 I think my arms would fall off

Great job on doing 50 x 100 that is amazing too and some w/ paddles? ? ? I think I would have to wear fins a snorkel and find a motor for the last 1000

Great job and you only slept for an hour

[jesvetmed]

Impressive, Alpine! Great job.
You are inspiring me to get my butt back to the pool. Yet another of my new Year's goals!

[jesvetmed]

OK.. I did it! Back to the pool for the first time since September! I wasn't as out of shape as I thought, but have lost a lot of my technique. Not very smooth! But it's a start. I'll promise to go 2x/week for now and get back into it more closer to tri season. Thanks to you ladies for the inspiration for the jump start.
J

[Miranda]

This is quite an inspirational thread.

I confess I have never been a swimming/pool lover. Although, I have been told many times by my docs etc. I *should* be. Well, it's a new year, and I think my body could certainly use some cross-training cardio.

My humble goal is to: a) make it to the pool at my gym (and not weenie out), b) just kick board some laps (this was suggested to me by a swim loving friend). Once a week pool visit is my goal. Yes, I said it was humble... But a start.

I never thought about wearing fins to kickboard until I read this thread. Wonder if I should?

[badger]

Good for you for trying swimming!

I actually hated swimming as a child, even though I was actually pretty good. I hated being cold So, after a 20+ absence from the pool, I decided to take aquafit to fill in the time while we were on strike. I soon got bored of that and took a swimming lesson. Then I joined a Masters club, and before I knew it, I LOVED swimming.

Fins are good if your ankles aren't flexible. And when kicking, remember to kick from the hip and not at the knees - you lose all your power if you kick from the knees.

I personally don't use fins because they bother my knees, and there's just something really deflating when you take them off and feel like you're going nowhere!

[crazycanuck]

After 3 weeks I finally got back into the swimming swing of things this morning..

Ahhhh..back to regular programming..

[Miranda]

Good for you for trying swimming!

I actually hated swimming as a child, even though I was actually pretty good. I hated being cold So, after a 20+ absence from the pool, I decided to take aquafit to fill in the time while we were on strike. I soon got bored of that and took a swimming lesson. Then I joined a Masters club, and before I knew it, I LOVED swimming.

Fins are good if your ankles aren't flexible. And when kicking, remember to kick from the hip and not at the knees - you lose all your power if you kick from the knees.

I personally don't use fins because they bother my knees, and there's just something really deflating when you take them off and feel like you're going nowhere!

Thx for the encouragement and the tip about the fins. I think they have it all (gear stuff) for anyone to use. Even though I'm not a big pool lover, I'm actually really disappointed I didn't get to swim today. Go figure. I went to the gym with my stuff ready to go and the pool was closed! The schedule is different than the weekdays and the pool closes early. Sooo... it's gotta be this week then.

[kelownagirl]

2nd swim workout this week. Took http://swimplan.com plan in hand but found out lane swimming wasn't available. Did 1/2 laps for 30 minutes and worked on sighting (lots of kids).

[kelownagirl]

Got swim #3 in on Wed. Took my son so he could play while I swam lengths. I did 1500m in about 45:00. It was crowded so I couldn't really follow my plan so I just practiced form.

[Miranda]

After three years at the gym of saying "I'll go to the pool tomorrow", I finally made tomorrow "today". Well, yesterday as I'm posting now...

Btw, I feel too humble to even be in this thread with you amazing ladies that do tris. My docs won't let me do any impactive exercise (like run), so I would never be able to do a tri. The non-impactive exercise order is how I re-discovered my love for riding a bike. I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.

Well, you ladies are quite the inspiration in reading this swimming thread. Thus, I got brave enough to enter the pool.

I just kickboarded and did some backstroke (for some reason, that's one stroke I can do better than freestyle). There was only one lane open for fitness and it contained a very good swimmer. It was almost a good excuse to chicken out. But, she graciously said, "I'll share, come on in!". She was encouraging as she told me kickboarding was how she started at the pool.

But, I did it. Actually, it was enjoyable once I got over my silly fears.

The only mishaps was some foot cramps in the fins. I think it's my technique maybe? Or just muscles I haven't used before?

And dang it... I scratched the crystal watch face of my Polar HRM as I crashed into the lane floats trying to stay on my side of the lane sharing with this other lady. Hope it stays waterproof with the scratch.

Regardless... I'm going back.