Home› General Training Discussions

Swim Question post IMLP

henrysaccohenrysacco
in General Training Discussions

One of the things i'm trying to figure out post IMLP is why my swim was 2 minutes slower than last year. From a fitness perspective, i have no doubt that i am much better off this year, but that leaves me wondering. My last 1000yd TT before IMLP had me at a T Pace of 1:44, but I didnt come close to that in Lake Placid. I do realize that I am much slower in open water, but it's not really the speed, but the fact that am slower this year over last which has me wondering.

There a two things that are different this year from last. The first is how often i was swimming. I'd say on average it was 4 time per week in 2010 vs. 2-3 in 2011. The other difference is my stroke...which is where i suspect the difference is.

Last year, when in open water i would breath twice every four strokes. IOW, i would take 4 strokes, breath, 2 strokes, breath. This had me with my head in the water much longer.

This year, i had trouble with that stroke and resorted to breathing every 2 strokes. My head is obviously out of the water much more often.

Is there a relationship to the amount of time your head is in the water to speed? 

Comments

  • Joseph LombardiJoseph Lombardi

    Just my two cents on this.....While you have some good questions regarding breathing/stroke impact I tend to believe your over thinking...2 min. over 2.4 miles comparing only two points is negligible difference...consider position at the start, variations in true course, variations in course length (notoriously inconsistent) and the 2 minutes is hardly/less likely a fitness/technique issue...however you do note that you didn't put in as much swim time as well...

  • henrysaccohenrysacco

    Good point Joseph. I think my expectations are higher given that i had another year of swimming under my belt. Prior to 2009, i couldn't complete 100yds without having to rest. I half expected to shave off a good 10 minutes vs. adding 2.

  • Keith WickKeith Wick
    You mentioned in your report that you had people hitting your feet and that you swam inside the buoys. Last year it sounds like you had more open water to swim in since you waited a little after the gun. Could this have impacted it? Given that you were breathing more often, it sounds like you may have been in the scrum more.
  • henrysaccohenrysacco

    Yes, i think that the crowding may have contributed, but probably not enough to make a difference. If you compare the two years, in 2010 i waited on the beach until 30 seconds after the cannon and then started swimming. This year, i started right at the dock and got caught up in the crowd.

    What i'd really like to understand is if breathing more often (which i did this year) is less efficient than breathing less often. (Assuming everything else being equal)

  • Steve WestSteve West
    As a swimmer with poor technique, I'd say yes it does matter unless you are awesome at 1 goggle breathing. I know I lift my head often and that pushes my legs down - I can atually feel it happen. More time with your head fully submerged, less leg drop, better hydro dynamics...... Any WSMs to chime in?
  • kjanracingkjanracing
    How was your sighting? How straight did you swim? How many corrections did you have to make. Just a couple more things to evaluate.
  • henrysaccohenrysacco

    @Kurt, I was about 5 feet inside the cable most of the time, so i wasnt required to sight very often. I think I was fairly straight.

    I figure i could easily test the difference in speed using different strokes during my next OW swim. Thinking of putting the son in the kayak next to me to help.

Sign In or Register to comment.