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A stone in the water

RumpoleRumpole
in General Training Discussions

So a lot of this is coming together--the bike is getting faster and the runs are getting faster.  The swims I am just starting, so I know there's a curve.    Fifty yards, flat out--1 minute.  Normal hundred time 2:20 or so on repeats. (I just go by RPE, figuring T pace is about an 8).  The good news is that I'm not particularly weak or in bad shape; there are technique gains to be had.  Goal time for the 1500 is 30 minutes in the open water.  This is not flying.  

Nonetheless, smooth I am not.  

Help.

Comments

  • cgres123cgres123
    Chris what kind of help are you looking for?

    Your an age group swimmer, like me, you can swim, your not a college swimmer, nor am I. It takes a lot of practice and I mean a lot if you want to become a decent swimmer. Swim lessons from masters coach or masters classes is a good idea. The time left in this season for a big swim revelation is gone. If you want to nail a better swim start now and work towards next season. You may become more comfortable and knock off 30 sec per hundred.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Yes, get professional help. I try to go to a swim camp at least once a year to get videotaped. No matter how perfect I think I am executing my stroke, it is equally humbling and enlightening to actually see it.
  • gambgamb
    find a good coach to stand by the pool and watch. Seriously, some of the best money you'll spend in this sport. Makes all the difference in the world. You'll get out of the water faster and be less tired
  • RumpoleRumpole
    OK-let me ask this question. What is the proper path of the arm on the pull? Does it go straight down, or conform to the side of the body? (Some of this anxiety might just be rust, as today was a little easier and there were times that I got in a rhythm and felt like I was "in the tube" and long in the water.
  • gambgamb
    Elbow high, fingers down. I like to think about it like I was going to get out of the pool. I put my hands on the deck, elbows high and then push. It's similar to that. You should feel the pull in your lats. Elbows high, fingers down, hand relaxed. I keep my arm close to my body

    Look at the first few seconds of Grant Hackett in this youtube video. His right elbow is near the surface of the water on the pull and his forearm and hand is pointing down

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6qIhkuzTx0

    My coach has me do a lot of drills, I apparently forget things easy but one thing that helps me a lot is to swim slowly and "feel" what's going on. I can feel spots in my stroke where I'm slowing down or where I'm not pulling right.

    Also one arm drill is a good one for me to feel the pull really well. When I get the pull and body rotation right I speed up quite a bit and the effort isn't harder
  • kimmydctkimmydct
    Chris- I know EN has a "policy" of no swimming in the OS, but I think the "rule" is if you are slower than 2:00/100yd, you might want to consider some of the stuff reco'd above now and through the OS.

    Congrats on the gains you have made! Gains on the bike and run are a much better ROI (to a point) than swimming but sounds like some "professional help" as Paul put it would be in order. Good luck!
  • Peter GreaggPeter Greagg
    FWIW, I am getting one-on-one swim technique work this current OS.
    I have a very poor catch (this is week 4) and the drill I am doing heaps of is with pool buoy, doing one arm catches with the other arm on a kick board. That way, I can just concentrate on:
    1, stretch forward,
    2, raise the elbow, while pointing the hand down,
    3, rotate forearm until it is pointing down,
    4, push forearm all the way back.

    Repeat for 25 metres.

    Change arms
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