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8 Replies Last post: Nov 7, 2007 11:34 AM by welshtroll

4boysmom

1,307 posts since
Dec 10, 2007

Nov 7, 2007 9:18 AM

Question for the fish

My swim sucks. I know that and am working on it.

This morning my coach had me down for 2200 with pool toys. 300 with paddles and buoy/buoy only/swim/fins plus WU and CD.

My 'normal' stroke count is 25. Yah, way too high, but it's improving. This morning with the buoy only I was able to get it down to 23. I figured I had something going, so counted during the swim. Back up to 25+. What's up with that? What am I doing with the buoy that I'm not doing during the swim--or the other way around?

Also, a couple weeks ago my coach had me do a 1000 time trial. I did 23:59. I asked him what that meant. He said don't worry about it, it's just the number we'll use for now. So, as a 41yo female, where does that put me?

I've done one sprint and plan to do a couple more next season, eventually moving up to HIM.

TriBob

377 posts since
May 25, 2007

1. Nov 7, 2007 9:22 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

The buoy raises your hips and legs making you more streamlined. This help reduce your stroke count.

The biggest thing that will help is keeping your head down. Even when breathing. This of course takes practice; but, you have to start at the head.

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kristine25

632 posts since
Aug 17, 2007

2. Nov 7, 2007 9:26 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

Doesn't using a pull bouy slow most people down? I would think not being to kick would make for a higher stroke count.

If you want to compare: Me, I think I am pretty slow. Did my HIM swim in 48 minutes. Never had any coaching in swimming (which I really need cause my stroke is totall ineffective). My stroke count is 25-26. And we did a timed 500 last week and I did it in 10:05. I too am a 41 year old female and in most of my races I usually finish somewhere in the top of the bottom 25% in the swim catagory.

Hey, it's better than you swimming side stroke right!!! Making progress there. Give it some time!!

ForceD

523 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

3. Nov 7, 2007 9:41 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

I concur with TriBob. A couple suggestions/comments. Regarding the breathing?some people tend to lift their head forward a little bit when they breathe. Obviously lifting your head would also affect time/stroke count.

Also, have you checked your stroke count and tried the same 1000 swim in your wetsuit (and without the pull buoy)? How to the results compare?

Dan

snigglefritz

105 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

4. Nov 7, 2007 10:31 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

quote:<HR>Originally posted by kristine25:
Doesn't using a pull bouy slow most people down? I would think not being to kick would make for a higher stroke count.

<HR>

Not at all. The bouy increases bouyancy much like a wetsuit and the decreased drag usually outweighs the benefit of kicking. There are some people who have a great kick and terrible pull and this may not be true (I swim with a person like this). Using the bouy helps give you the proper body position making your stroke more efficient. The idea is that you try to achieve a similar position without the bouy.

4boysmom

1,307 posts since
Dec 10, 2007

5. Nov 7, 2007 10:33 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

Keeping my head down--not quite sure what you mean. Are you talking forehead? I think my mouth is low enough because I can feel the water go by as I breathe.

Obviously I can't see myself swimming, but it does feel like my butt is sticking out of the water. Although, I don't get a whole lot of splash when I kick. Perhaps I should ask the guys who are checking me out from the track above the pool?

I don't have a wetsuit. I didn't count strokes during my TT. I'm such a dork about keeping track of laps. I ended up breaking the 1000 into 5x200 steady. And I used rubberbands. 1-2-3-4, strip a band. 1-2-3-4, strip a band, etc...

Yes, I have come a long way with swimming already. To think I used to do side stroke. And I used to hate the pool. DOn't get me wrong--I'd rather do OW. Until my 'thon in December, my coach has cut me back to swimming only 2 days/week rather than 3. I feel like I'm not doing a full workout that day!

regiolanthe

416 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

6. Nov 7, 2007 11:00 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

Head position = Looking directly at the bottom of the pool as much as possible. The more in-line your head/neck with your spine, the more balanced in the water (less your legs will drag you down).

I do like GoSwim for their drills/footage ... Here's one on balanced breathing that'll give you a good idea of nice free-style position (play video).

http://www.goswim.tv/drilloftheweek_comments.php?id=2910_0_20_0_C#[/URL" target="_blank">

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

7. Nov 7, 2007 11:25 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

One thing to remember about all these drills and toys - Their purpose is to show you how it should feel when you swim. So the pull buoy teaches you where your legs should be while swimming, as well as how you should glide. The kickboard teaches you good balance (if you do it right, don't use it as a means to keep your head out of the water), the drills break your stroke down so you can feel each little piece of the overall stroke.

When you swim, hopefully you start to notice things like "my legs feel lower than they do when I do kicking drills" or "my glide and roll are not as pronounced as they are with the pull buoy." As you're swimming, try to emulate the feel of all those drills.

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welshtroll

102 posts since
Jun 6, 2007

8. Nov 7, 2007 11:34 AM

in response to: 4boysmom

Re: Question for the fish

get someone to take a video of you swimming, from as many angles as possible. you will be AMAZED... i bet you don't look anything like you think you do. it's a fantastic way of working on your stroke.

my coach had me putting my head so low i felt contorted... then i saw a video of myself swimming, and my head is still higher than most peoples'. i naturally 'look forward', but now that i've got used to 'looking at the bottom of the pool' (without feeling contorted), i swim much more smoothly - and quickly!

i also pull-only with a lower count than when i do full stroke. i think that this is because i have an unconscious rhythm where my arms and legs are in synch. so my arms go 'in time' with my kick; when i don't kick i can slow my arms down. not sure what to do about that - just giving you my observation.

oh... and not splashing too much when you kick is a good thing - you should only just be breaking the surface, and that because your feet are 'flipping' rather than your knees bending.

oh #2... the national standard swimmer that i swim with does drills to get a body position where her butt sticks out of the water...she says it makes her stroke more effective!

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Nov 7, 2007 9:18 AM

Question for the fish

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