Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[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.

[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]

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!)

Thanks, badger... that was great advice! The specifics really help. I need that.

When I backstroked today, I made a point to tilt my head back. It did indeed help straighten me out.

I chickened out on freestyle today. I did not realize about the rolling. That would be so much better for me overall.

I have degenerative disk disease in my back and neck. That's one reason the docs like the swimming (non impactive stress on the disks). But, I could never figure out how to not crank my head to breath and irritate my disk that's a problem in the cervical spine.

Now, I know better.

Btw, that is a really good drill about switching up strokes... hopefully even being humble I can sort it out.

[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