vertical swimming

Rumpole

One big takeaway from a big day:

Have only had a few outings in the pool, but even allowing for the SCY/LCY conversion (50m lanes), I am glacially slow.  And I think I know why, I just can't fix it.  To wit... when "climbing the ladder" my head goes down, the strokes are shorter, smoother and I seem to go faster with less effort. The problem is that I can't seem to breathe properly.  In order to do that, I have to go back to the "low elbow" catch in which the arm gets vertical and the torso is driven up (and the hips down) and it's much slower.  Not sure why this is.  In any event, followed the instructions.  I know I have a few months left, but aerobically I'm reasonably fit and I got out of the pool feeling more beat up than I would want to.  1000 TT Time: 24 min. Even subtracting a hundred seconds that's still over 2'.   The good news is that there is a LOT of free speed to be picked up here, fitness issues aside.  Thoughts on drills welcome; maybe I should just post some film.  (this is a lot slower than I remember my times being from last season, which were about 1:50 per 100yds).  Not blazing, but acceptable and with far less effort.

Any thoughts on drills to fix this?  Had I a snorkel, I think I'd be OK but I need to learn to breathe properly.  It's like I'm starting over again.

cgres123

I'm sure you will get a lot of good advice/suggestions from the team cause we have some good swimmers here.

I would search out a coach. You can read or watch a video all you want then do as you are told thinking that you got it however, for me, it was not the case. I would be thinking I got this, like a high elbow, in reality being on video it was not true.
It is best to have someone to teach you and over look your swimming for the best results.

novaavant

If you have film I would post that, no better way to really see what is going on. I know it's helped me to identify some glaring issues that I am now working on.

Trish Marshall

I just finished a 5 session group lesson and one of the things she worked on with us (all tri peeps and she is a former pro tri racer) was when we breath to keep our extended hand out and not drop. So, the hand enters, you extend and start to roll your hips and this leads to your taking a breath....thats when you focus on keeping the extended hand near the surface and NOT starting your stroke. Helps to keep the glide going and your body from assuming the sinking position you described above.

I am a decent swimmer for my ag...been doing a LOT not quite right for 40 years, and it is hard to fix...this one has been pretty easy to focus on.

That said, I'd spend some cash on a local tri swim coach. I've had several different coaches and we finally found one that seems to be able to communicate to us how to improve! Good luck!

Rumpole

Posted By Trish Marshall on 17 Jun 2014 09:45 AM


I just finished a 5 session group lesson and one of the things she worked on with us (all tri peeps and she is a former pro tri racer) was when we breath to keep our extended hand out and not drop. So, the hand enters, you extend and start to roll your hips and this leads to your taking a breath....thats when you focus on keeping the extended hand near the surface and NOT starting your stroke. Helps to keep the glide going and your body from assuming the sinking position you described above.



I am a decent swimmer for my ag...been doing a LOT not quite right for 40 years, and it is hard to fix...this one has been pretty easy to focus on.



That said, I'd spend some cash on a local tri swim coach. I've had several different coaches and we finally found one that seems to be able to communicate to us how to improve! Good luck!

This was a big part of it.  Tried it tonight and it worked.  Times dropped (short course), and general swim fitness still an issue, but there were long portions of a developing feel for the water and much-improved posture.  Thanks a bunch!