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

[alpinerabbit]

You'll get smooth again.

Me, I've overdone it again. Now I have definite shoulder pain (started before the 5K) in addition to not being able to run to my heart's content.
Had to swim 4K in practice last night and paddles (800) positively hurt.

I am frustrated and don't know how I'll keep the weight off until spring...

[jesvetmed]

Alpine: 4K is such a long way! Wow. Sounds like you need a couple days of rest on that shoulder, and to lay off the paddles!

I too am frustrated with injury (calf) and cannot run, and it is so frustrating waiting to heal! There is weight to be lost, and "shape" to get into! And I am having trouble doing it!

I guess we can only do what our bodies allow, and have to find some other way in the mean time. I'm heading to boot camp tonight, and hitting the trainer on the bike and the pool, and throwing yoga back into the mix (probably the smartest thing I can do is more yoga).

I hope the shoulder is feeling better soon!

[crazycanuck]

I've not swum in two weeks due to our trip.. I want to go to our group swim session tomorrow but am worried about how unfit i am. Then again, tis a good way to get fit again..

[kelownagirl]

I went for my first swim in over 3 months today! I thought it would take me several weeks to get back into shape but after a couple of lengths, I felt like I hadn't been out of the water! I didn't push it too hard and only swam for half an hour. Felt good to be back (once I got past that first plunge into cold water - I think I'll always hate that. )

[Jolt]

One of the other lifeguards at the Y where I sometimes work is doing swim workouts twice a week for whoever wants to participate, so I decided to go tonight. Sounded like a good idea, especially since I slightly irritated my left knee running on the treadmill last night. I walked into the pool area and saw these buff-looking guys (the guy running it is a former bodybuilder) and thought "uh-oh, I am going to get my butt kicked!". Well, it turned out that I was able to keep up just fine for the whole 1500-yard workout we did (all freestyle, including a 200 pull and 200 kick) which was a relief. It felt good to do some swimming and it was nice to not just be trying to bang out a mile by myself (boring).

[badger]

goody, I found the swim thread

I haven't read all 11 pages of this, but I'll jump in from the last page.

We recently did the 100x100m challenge as well, It was some Masters swim club anniversary thing. But we only ever have 1.5 hours pool time, so 100x100 didn't work for us, but most of us did the 100x50 or 100x25. We never swim continuously for an hour and a half, so it was a good challenge for me. It's

And I always lick my goggles before a practise. Gross, but works rather well in keeping them from fogging!

[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!