Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[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.

[alpinerabbit]

Good going!

Probably backstroke feels better as you get more air, but it's not nearly as relaxing (for me) as free, now that I've mastered the technique (which took me 2 yrs).

It also took me almost 2 yrs to not get cramps anymore, that's normal.

How about taking a freestyle class just for enjoyment?


I was gonig very, very easy on Sat in one lane and was able to keep up with a guy with paddles on!! (which means either he too, was going very very easy, or he suçked :-) )

[HillSlugger]

Good on you for getting back into the pool.

I've been swimming for just over 2 years and I still sometimes get cramps in my calf or foot arch. It's usually late in a swim and doesn't last long. I've learned to swim through it.

[Miranda]

Good going!

Probably backstroke feels better as you get more air, but it's not nearly as relaxing (for me) as free, now that I've mastered the technique (which took me 2 yrs).

It also took me almost 2 yrs to not get cramps anymore, that's normal.

How about taking a freestyle class just for enjoyment?


I was gonig very, very easy on Sat in one lane and was able to keep up with a guy with paddles on!! (which means either he too, was going very very easy, or he suçked :-) )

Good on you for getting back into the pool.

I've been swimming for just over 2 years and I still sometimes get cramps in my calf or foot arch. It's usually late in a swim and doesn't last long. I've learned to swim through it.

Thx for the encouragement and the feedback about the cramps. When I got the cramp kickboarding, that's when I took them off and backstroked a while instead until it passed. Then, back on again.

Also, that is an excellent point about the backstroke! I never thought about it that way. I have asthma. This is one reason one of my docs has always wanted me to swim. Something about it being good for asthma people...

But, I find it hard to coordinate my breathing pattern and stroke without getting winded in a weird way. I do take my inhailer as a preventative before any type of cardio. With my head being out of the water for backstroke, I don't have to think about any of that.

When I had lessons as child, I was shown the general technique for breathing etc. But, that would be one basic thing I think a paid lesson could benefit me. It's like I can't keep enough wind sucked inside of me between breaths and strokes.

It's always bothered me that I haven't been able to get it. I've never told anyone I stop the stroke because I can't breath (out of the water too, aka getting an asthma attack, pretty silly secret I know).

The lady I was sharing the lane with was so graceful. I couldn't help but watch her in awe. A goal to work towards for me.

[kelownagirl]

1500m today. Trying to swim twice a week but it sure is hard to go when I'm so tired after work...

[badger]

Miranda: I find swimming to be an endlessly refining sport. There's always something you can tweak to make things work better.

As for breathing, that will take time and just keep practising. One thing you might want to try is, outside the water, stand with your hands up. Put them together and have them tuck around your ears. You want to tuck your chin in, and imagine a string coming out the top of your head pulling you. If you don't tuck your chin, your face isn't streamlined with the body and you end up getting more of a drag.

And when breathing, you don't have to move your head/face, just imagine you're a log and roll. Lengthen your arm and just roll over half way to get a breath. Freestyle and backstroke is a lot about roll, but your head shouldn't move. One good drill to do to get used to the roll is doing 3 strokes free, 4 strokes back. So, as you finish your third free stroke, roll onto your back, and after your 4th back stroke, roll onto your front. You can do that 2 and 2 as well. It might be dizzying at first, though!

And for backstroke, be sure to tilt your head back slightly, that will bring your butt and legs up. My favourite stroke is backstroke, too, it's so natural for me and I can keep up with everyone else's freestyle. My coach even said I should do the tri doing backstroke! (a joke, of course, but one I contemplated!)

[tribogota]

[QUOTE=Miranda;396683] I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.
YOu can do acuathlons, bike and swim!

[Miranda]

[QUOTE=tribogota;397880]

I've been told many times I should swim as a great cross training that's non-impactive.
YOu can do acuathlons, bike and swim!

NOW, you have me fired up...

I have always wondered that. I had heard of the bike and run only. But not the swim and bike. I asked a tri acuaint in passing and she just mentioned doing like a relay. Someone else run, me bike/swim, etc. If there is such a beast.

Check back with me another time, I'll be hiding under my bed at those words.

Well... despite my fears, that would indeed be quite an accomplishment. From the little girl who could barely swim well enough to get out of the deep end once off the diving board. Hmmm... I'll have to research.

Thx

EDIT: Off to my research already...

When I googled that term it came back swim and run. When I found this page, it list it as "aquabike" (states for injured athletes that can no longer run). Hmm, interesting! Linky below...
http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/60

[Miranda]

I've been making the pool twice a week thus far. I figured out the distance with the pool length and laps. Each time I've done a little over a half mile.

The pool has a record keeping box for the swimmers to log their laps. I officially started myself a card.

At the end of the year, they post the swimmers accomplishments. I think it will help with my motivation to stick with the pool. It will be interesting how far I've swam by the end of the year!

[eclectic]

I thought I had posted this but in my frozen January brain I don't think I did. Fogive me if it is redundant.

As I mentioned before I swim in the morning w/ Dagny Knudson. ANYWAY since she was at the PanPacifics in Guam in Jan and broke records and won many golds she is now being touted as the fastest under 17 female swimmer in the WORLD ! ! !

Last week a trainer from USA swimming in Colorado springs came up to see how she was training and what she was doing differently to drop that many seconds.

. . . . . and to think I choke on the water she swims in

[kelownagirl]

Anyone ever had an allergic reaction after swimming?

The last two times I went this week, I began sneezing and had itchy watery eyes and nose for about 16 hours after. The first time I thought I was getting a cold but it disappeared the next day. The second time I made the connection to the pool. I called the YMCA to see if they'd changed chemicals or anything and they admitted they were having some trouble with the chlorine dispenser. This last bout was enough to make me think twice about going back but I have to. I may call first before I go. Hope it's not a lasting thing. Has it happened to anyone else??

[colby]

Going to try swimming at lunchtime starting this week... a friend of mine is building to a sprint distance starting from no swimming (more or less), so we're going to hit the gym on Wednesdays and Fridays around lunch. I may or may not swim the 3rd day depending on how complete my midweek workouts are - since she's starting from zero, her swim workouts are very short but also have walking the same day, so we'll see what we work out. My workouts are around 45 minutes right now.

I have managed to cut some time off my swimming, probably just by sticking with at least once or twice weekly workouts as consistently as I can. My last 2500 yard swim was super-consistent at 1:50/100 - I mentally marked the time at 1000 and 2000 and then the end. I'm hoping I can carry it forward to longer distances - it's about 45 seconds per 100 off my IM swim time, or 20 minutes total so far. I don't feel very good at sprinting/shorter distances, so it's nice to feel good about something. Last year, my long swims, even at only 45 minutes, were good predictors for my IM swim - my IM swim was actually faster than my pool swims were and I wasted a bunch of effort getting sidetracked and frustrated.

I was REALLY punished by chlorine yesterday, ugh. I slept really poorly because I didn't give my sinuses enough time to drain after rinsing. The comments about outdoor pools being better reminded me that I didn't have these problems nearly as bad when I swam as a kid 5 days a week, but I was swimming outdoors. My worst problem was the chlorine in my hair, which I am really diligent about now.

Cheers to everyone swimming, despite the icky chlorine

[HillSlugger]

I've heard it said that you can't win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one there. Of the three events it's the shortest both on distance and time. While it may be hard to pick up speed in swimming it may be more important to become more efficient in swimming so that you use less energy and come out of the water feeling fresher for the bike.

[eclectic]

I've heard it said that you can't win a triathlon in the swim but you can lose one there. Of the three events it's the shortest both on distance and time. While it may be hard to pick up speed in swimming it may be more important to become more efficient in swimming so that you use less energy and come out of the water feeling fresher for the bike.

Exactly!

And Syndirelah Whoo hoo on the muscle! No batwings for you when you are an old lady!

My stroke is pretty efficient and I can go a long ways holding steady. I am not fast by any means (I did 1:50/100 on our 20 min steady pace swim, could have easily kept going so really didn't push like I should have) I would have to work REALLY REALLY hard to even try to drop 5 secs off 100 anymore so I figure 5x5 = 25 secs on a sprint. W/ work I can drop 3-5 minutes off on the run because right now I am a REALLY bad runner so way more room for improvement

Also cycling is a great place to drop time but that is so dependent on course terrain and around here WIND ! ! !

The first tri I did someone advised me to stay to the side and count to 5 before starting out so I miss the chaos at the beginning of the swim. I took the advice - counted and started - I will never do that again! I ended up passing everyone (love wetsuits) Starting last I was still 14th out of the water w/o even trying to push it.
Now the run . . . . . that was another story

Another thought - If I was doing longer distance races like IM and HIM shaving a couple of secs off a hundred would add up if it didn't tire you out.