Swim question

Keith Wick

I have been doing almost all of my swims of the IM plan as a pull in order to make sure I don't mess up my legs for the bike and run.  I was starting to feel some fatigue with my kick and was reading some threads within the forums about how others attack the swim workouts.  The other day I did the IM race rehearsal (no pull) and noticed that I was significantly more fatigued since I had to add some kick.  I'm not over kicking and trying to do so gently just to maintain body position.  IMLP is in a two weeks, so I know there is not a lot of time to adjust.  So, my question is:

1. Should I continue to wean my way off of the pull buoy and adjust to the increased effort of adding the kick?

2. Continue to use the pull buoy as the wetsuit bouancy will simulate it and I'll be fine?

I just bought a new wetsuit that now fits me, so I plan on getting in some more open water swims in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks all- Keith

 

GMAN 19030

I'm no Michael Phelps but I'd go with #2. IMLP is a wetsuit swim and it's not all that important to utilize a kick in a wetsuit swim unless your very well trained in doing so. Hopefully Rich or one of the EN super fish will chime in.

Michael Byerts

I kind of disagree (though I don't profess to be a super fish). While the buoyancy of the wetsuit makes a kick less important, you will almost certainly kick a little bit just to maintain balance and/or for speed bursts to avoid chaos or to get a draft. If you have done no kicking at all, this may be a problem, as you discovered. I wouldn't just continue to pull only. I think there is a 3rd option you haven't considered:
3. Ditch the pull buoy but wear a wetsuit for every swim between now and race day. You shouldn't need to kick much, but more than using the pull buoy crutch.
My understanding is that, if you wash a wetsuit off immediately after swimming in it, a couple of pool swims won't destroy it. More than a few, yes, but if we are talking about 2-3 times, it shouldn't matter. And if you are really worried about it, you could use the old wetsuit for pool swims and the new one for OWS.

Paul Hough

I'm no swim expert, but I think full-time use of the pull-buoy is not wise unless you are a super fish like Rich. I tend to do long pull buoy sets only once a week after other hard work so I can give my legs a rest.

Swanie

I am a firm believer that pull bouys, fins, kick boards and all the other toys avaailable at the pool are more harm than good. You should train the way you race. A pull bouy will change your hydro-dynamics in that your legs will be more elevated than with a wetsuit. So when you start the IM swim your going to be dragging legs below your swim shadow, causing a heavy drag. If you are always swimming sans "toys" you are building the core strength to support your lower body at the water line and thus creating a streamlined swim technique.

I say stop using the pull bouy now and get every swim in possible to help hammer in a solid technique for those last couple weeks before IMLP.

Al Truscott

Wet suits, even sleeveless in a cool 81F pool, can get very hot. I use this instead to get a similar effect.

kurshing

My thoughts...

You will get really sick of the pool and anything you can do to get yourself into the water is great...pull buoy included. I WOULD make sure you get in a few open water swims (if possible), or longer in-pool swims where you don't utilize the buoy just to make sure you are comfortable.

If you are likely to be a sub 1:10/15, I really think the buoy isn't going to hurt you.

Beth_S

Q - How gentle is your gentle kick? Any video? It could very well need to be less gentle than you think it does.

And, yes, to weaning from pull buoy and getting into the open water as much as possible.

Coach Patrick

I am no fish, nor do I play one on race day, but I barely kick in my wetsuit. My new open water swim buddies complain b/c they can't tell where I am in the water in front. I think with a wetsuit you'll be fine, but doing as many OWS as possible between now and race day will help!