Best $10 that I have ever spent.
102
Member
109 days
zagfan posted 11 weeks ago.
We all have that moment when we break down for advice. I had never swam before about mid January this year and into February I was still only swimming one or two laps before wanting to die. One morning I ended up moving lanes due to some guy attempting a back stroke who was taking up the whole lane. I ended up next to a man who's probably in his late 60's or 70's (come to find out he's a top 70.3 age grouper, there all over the place here in Colorado). After attempting my single digit laps without stopping he politely asked if I would like some advice, of course I said yes. 2 weeks later I completed 20 laps and then in March I crawled (still didn't consider it a stroke yet) my way through 1.2 miles in the pool. I just did my first tri, Ironman 70.3 Boise, a few weeks ago and had no problem on the swim. And no, being slow is not a problem, just a challenge. We've all been there and I'm glad to hear you've had your swimming moment went it started to make sense. You're going to be amazed at how well you do in Sept/Oct. And trust me, you won't miss the days of leaving the Y realizing that a sweet 65 year old lady just kicked your tail in the lane next to you. Keep up the hard work, the pay off at the finish line is more than worth it.
26
Member
94 days
beniger posted 11 weeks ago.
Great post! I have a similiar story regarding swimming. I broke down last month and hired a swim coach, after 2 lessons I've improve greatly, but still have a ways to go. Best of luck to you in the fall races.
5
Member
249 days
axlsdaddy posted 11 weeks ago.
I had a very similar problem. Then I finally got up the nerve and went and talked to one of the Masters swim coaches. She and I talked for a few minutes. I explained my problems and she very easily gave me solutions and now I regularly swim 8,000 meters per week and I am on schedule for IM Florida.
Just the past Sunday I took 5:30 off my swim from last years Boulder Sprint.
4464
Member
1640 days
beads1985 posted 10 weeks ago.
Also spend some time watching good swimmers swim.
I have gained a lot of knowledge from just observing.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
217
Member
145 days
iamtb13 posted 10 weeks ago.
beads1985 wrote:
Also spend some time watching good swimmers swim.
I have gained a lot of knowledge from just observing.
+1 That is so true! I use YouTube a lot for this as well. It seems to help a lot to see the right way to do it.
100
Member
116 days
cutiger95 posted 10 weeks ago.
Well my training is continuing and I just had my second swim lesson. You do have to really pay for your teasing ways sometime. My co-op has caught heck for the better part of 3 semesters, basic engineering hazing. Now he is repaying me.
Todays workout for anyone interested (in 25 m pool):
1 - 50 warm-up freestyle (note for me to breath to my shoulder and stay relaxed)
1 - 50 arms over head like diving. Only kicking except when I need a breath stroke.
1 - 50 on back arms again over head. Hips up head back. 100 % kick.
4 - 25's, Easy strokes to end of pool. Counting strokes. Each length to be 1 less overall stroke.
1 - 100 Stroke to be the same as the final stroke from above (Like the last 50 was oh well)
(section repeated once)
3 - 50's with short fins keeping constant kick and concentrating on breathing.
3 - 50's with hand paddles and buoy between legs. (pivoting entire body during excercise)
3 - 50's Free-style with each one getting faster last 50 to be at max. swim rate.
This may be a simple workout for most, but I thought I was going to drown several times. But I completed each leg maybe not pretty but at least completed. I'll try to post this weekends workout once he hands it to me as well. Like I said for a starting swimmer who a week ago couldn't swim 50 m I think this is improvement. Also I am going to buy a pair of speedo's as the board shorts I am currently practicing in are a real drag.
So I have been a little down with my training. I am targeting a fall Oly around October and have been trying to get up to speed with the swimming. My Brick bike and run I could do that portion tonight if needed. But back to the swim.
I just started in my tri training and found the swim impossible. I could do maybe 2 lengths of the pool (25 m pool) and then I was totally spent, this caused much angst and regret for ever agreeing to do a Tri. My mother-in-law tried to help me (Certified Red Cross Instructor), my wife gave it a try. But they couldn't figure out why I was wasting so much energy in the water to basically tread water.
So I humbled myself and asked the co-op at work to give me a hand. Cost me $10 to get him into the "Y" to coach me and for a free lunch each week he will coach my swimming up until the Tri. Kid is the captain of the water polo team and had times to make the swim team but chose to go engineering school over all that training, thinking about telling him there is more money in swim coaching Tri athletes than in engineering but nah I'll let that go.
So to the "Y" we went and within about 1/4 length of the pool he had figured out all the bad things that I do swimming over the last 32 or so years. Needless to say I swam 3 lengths after he tried to kill me with various water torture devices (in the name of straightening out my stroke) and am now pumped about the sprint I have in Sept and the Oly in Oct. I think that I may just not drown on the swim or have to revert to the doggie paddle.
So if anyone else is having issues with the swim it may be as simple as finding someone who can tell you what you are doing wrong with your stroke. Who new you should breath with your head still basically submerged. What about rotating your shoulders completely over and stretching with your arm as far as possible? How about actually performing a stroke when you breath with your opposite hand and it is suppose to be a power stroke. I still have a long way to go but at least I am back physched about this whole tri thing again.