If you need help Swimming ...

Ace17 · March 29th, 2005, 12:42 AM

If your in a triathlon and your great at running, superb at biking, but you just dont have an edge at swimming, I can help, ask me anything, just send me a PM and I'll answer any questions on getting in shape for swimming etc. I am a national level swimmer and I'd love to offer any help to those in need of instruction of swimming.

titoboy · March 30th, 2005, 06:29 AM

just post it here so that everyone can benefit from your knowledge in swimming

stu123pid2000 · April 19th, 2005, 05:40 PM

I am what you say "great at running, superb at biking" but my swimming is rough. I would like to do an Ironman in the summer of 07' I just started swimming 3 months ago. I have never done any sort of competitive swimming. The only experience I have is swimming lessons in elementary school. I have so many questions...but I will start with the most important.

1. I am somewhat of a bodybuilder...I weigh 200 lb., at 6'1" with approximately a 5-7% body fat. When I swim I always feel like I am sinking unless I travel at a particular velocity. In order to maintain that velocity I get very out of breath after only a few lengths of the pool. This forces me to do interval training of no more than 100 yd. intervals...even though I can do them for about an hour straight as long as I rest in between. My question is this: How can I slow down so as to swim for an extented length, but maintain posture and float properly at the surface of the water? The biggest problem I have is that when I slow down my feet sink too much. Even when I kick harder my ass is still below the surface of the water. Do you know any drills that may help?

**Sasaku** · April 19th, 2005, 10:11 PM

Sounds like your head is to high up, resulting in your feet going down. Try and remain as flat and parrallel to the pool floor as possible.

Ace17 · April 19th, 2005, 11:49 PM

Exactly, you want your head to be inline with your spine, all of which needs to be straight. Think of your head as being on the top of a skewer, whereas your spine is that skewer. Just rotate your head while maintaining it's position when you breathe. Pull with your arms in large a "S" as well to gain more surface area, further kick only hard enough to keep your legs from producing too much drag.

stu123pid2000 · April 21st, 2005, 11:57 PM

Thanks for the advice....what about those things people swim with between their legs that are like floatation devices? Would using one of those help posture in the water?

**contra** · April 22nd, 2005, 09:27 PM

swim running with a floatation around waste is a great workout.I've done that 2 times a month at least for about a year now and after each time I feel so loose and relaxed after.Try it

**Sasaku** · April 24th, 2005, 08:42 AM

I ussually tie my feet up in a small deflated intertube. There is no way in hell you can keep you feet up on top of the water so you work all your pulling muscles so much more.

Ace17 · April 25th, 2005, 02:43 PM

Heh, yea Sasaku, using the tube for pulling is a great way to help with your upper body strength and technique, although I will admit that at times it can get as hard as hell.

Ace17 · April 25th, 2005, 02:47 PM

And to reply to contra's post, I agree water running is a great thing as it helps strengthen your legs without all the physical pounding you get when running out on the roads or on the track. Usually a water running set that I do is 4 x 60 seconds sprint running, then 4 x 30 seconds, then 4 x 15 seconds, to simulate times of lengths around the track, a pace 400M run at 60 seconds, a pace 200M run at 30 seconds, and a pace 100M run at 15 seconds.

**Sasaku** · April 28th, 2005, 09:53 PM

Good leg strength and lactic acid tolerance set for in the pool is to do something like 6-10 50 yard/meter (whatever kind of pool you have) kicking sprints with a decent interval. The catch is once you start each set do 10 explosive bobs before you start kicking. Explosive bobs-getting most of your body out of the water.

**whatabetty** · July 14th, 2005, 06:58 AM

I did my first sprint tri in May and now looking forward to working towards a half ironman. running and biking come easy for me. The swimming is why I haven't done a half yet. Swiming a mile just seems so long to me. I do kick board, flippers, floatation between my legs and swim without toys. How do I work myself from a labored 10 laps to 1 mile.

**Sasaku** · July 15th, 2005, 08:38 PM

First off I would start small, do lots of short swim pacieng (50's or 100's) on a decent aerobic interval and practice keeping a steady pace. Every once in a while throw in a long non stop set to practice doing some distance, it may help to have someone record your laps , and compare it with your paceing. When you think you ready add more distance to the pacing and long set. There are lots of ways to help endurence but this is what I remember doing alot when I was new.

**whatabetty** · July 17th, 2005, 07:42 AM

Thank you Sasaku. I will work on intervals. I am planning on doing a clinic in Oct too. I 'm hoping that will help.

**Sasaku** · July 18th, 2005, 08:53 AM

You probally have a swim club near you too, these are superior to clinics I believe and you can compete in meets with them also. Many of these clubs have masters programs and coaches to help you on technique. If you stick with a club your weakness may become your stregth.

socal15 · August 11th, 2005, 02:14 AM

What is the rule of thumb for what percent of your swim time should be used with paddles? Assuming I have a sufficient base.

**Sasaku** · August 28th, 2005, 03:18 PM

Depends more on your strength level and intensity used with padels. Just be careful with them as they are really easy to overtrain/cause injury with. I prefer to wrap my feet in lots of thick rubber tubing really tight and just pull like that, I consider it safer. The rubber hurts like hell when you kick so it will prevent you from kicking and your feet will sink down making it very difficult to pull. The first time I did this I nearly drowned it was so tough

DidiXterra · February 11th, 2006, 06:09 PM

Yeah ...help swimming!

My swim is alright...but my turns! ...wieeeeeeeeee

Is it any other Triathlete out there swimming circles in the pool, not doing the cool flipturn in the coolish/stylish swimstyle?

...And whats really the best for Triathletes? ...Since the flipturn is a part of a swimming race, but not in a Triathlon race, we just keep goin' and goooooin' and goin'. (Duracell Bunny comes to mind!)