Mobius- That is so awesome! I've been a swimmer all my life. I was fast for a summer leaguer (often won 50m breastroke and 100m IM), but freestyle was never my stroke. When I took a class in college, they critiqued us some, but it was a big class, so not too much one on one. I'd love someone to critique my stroke. I guess I should start my counting my strokes per length. I don't have a clue, but I'm sure it is a lot. I don't tire easily, though. I'm very efficient, just not super fast. I can swim forever. I swam this morning and realized I have improved my 100 times significantly (by 5 seconds) over the past 3 months. I did just order the book "Total Immersion" from amazon mainly for DH because he'd like to do a tri, but his swimming is very inefficient. I can only help him so much. I've watched him swim from underwater, and his stroke is just way too deep, and his arms are too straight coming out of the water, so he is working on that. I plan to read the book myself, though. I've heard it is a great book, even though it is twice as long as it should be.

BTW, I see people all the time with the same problem breathing (the crossover and head out of water too much). It is not uncommon, especially men for some reason. Now you know and can correct it. Think of your head just turning, not lifting. You can practice it with a kickboard held way in front of you (hold the back end). Put your face in the water while kicking and just practice turning your head to the side and not lifting it. You will realize how much less effort it takes.

Doesn't it feel great to see such great improvement in such little time?

Kelli

Kelli, I can say from personal experience that having longer legs doesn't make you a faster runner and being tall doesn't make you a faster swimmer.

Dougie- I have to disagree on the longer legs and running. How many short people do you see winning marathons? I agree, it doesn't make that much difference, but if your legs are longer, you take less steps, therefore, you use less effort. I don't think that applies in swimming, though.

Mel- 14-15 strokes for me? WOW!! I counted 22 today, but that was in a meter pool. It is still A LOT. I don't feel inefficient, though. I could swim forever and ever, and I swim 100m in 1:45. My HR is quite low while swimming a medium pace. I tried and tried to get my stroke count down today, but I couldn't no matter what I did. I know I need to roll more, but even that did not affect my stroke count. I know how to pull underwater, and my hands are relaxed, etc... I don't get it!! I did order the book Total Immersion for DH, so I'll just have to read it. It should be here maybe tomorrow. I'm not going to worry too much about it, but if I could get faster than I am now, I'd have a smokin' swim time!! My last 500m OW swim was 10:55, which is not really that slow. I had some racing HR issues at the beginning too. I could have swam faster, but I tend to relax on the swim so I can bike fast.

Kelli

I just think most fast runners in general (whether it be long distance or short) are tall. Most of the ones I see are. Yes, there are exceptions, but in general, taller people win. Maybe it has nothing to do with their tallness and instead their genes in general and they just happen to be tall. I don't know, but most fast runners are tall. I'm only 5'3", so everyone is tall to me!

Kelli

That's great. I'm doing a 4 hr swim clinic Sat night that does the same thing. They will videotape each person and then we'll evaluate and get recommendations for changes.

ussoccer- I never thought about the fact that they just LOOK tall. I guess it is their proportions or something. Though, Kenyans are just crazy amazing, I don't think it would matter if they were 3 feet tall! I know it is because they train in altitude (my BIL had a roommate who was Kenyan and asked him about it), but STILL! Thanks for the info -- you got me.

Yes, they do run like deer!! I think they are so amazing to watch. They literally fly!