From splasher to swimstar...I hope!
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Thanks for your answer!
Yes, I probably could have phrased that more appropriately rather than saying that kicking wasn't important - I'm aware about the need to have this part of the body elevated and made use of but I seem to really struggle with the speed of the kick - I either kick too quickly in which case I can only swim 2 lengths instead of my usual 20-30 or I feel like I'm not really making use of it and don't quite know what I'm doing with my legs. Thanks for the suggestion about the 2 beat kick, that looks like something I might quite like, any suggestions from others on good youtube videos to watch for this stele of kicking much appreciated.0 -
Electriq's post is a good one. I just got back from swimming tonight.
Kicking is super important, the coach noticed we all are poor kickers so she has us doing a lot of kicking drills.
Basically we kick any where from 25-150 meters on timed intervals.
By doing those drill there has been noticeable improvement in my kicking when I am swimming laps. I think about it more and make sure I am kicking. By kicking more it is giving me more propulsion.
My coach has me kicking with some splash and as fast as I can. She actually keeps telling me to kick faster. When I started doing drills I couldn't make it across the pool, now I can almost make it across the pool. :laugh:
@Holly
Great job on the increase in pace0 -
Way to go Ashen. I know exactly where you are coming from. I never thought I'd be able to sprint 25M. Hang in there and you'll be the swimstar.0
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It's just a matte of doing the drills because, in addition to building up the strength in your legs & improving the technique, the more you do it the more your body will find the proper pace of kicking that suits you.......0
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I didn't do any drills yet, I don't have a kick board or any other "props", so I just tried the 2 beat kick while swimming and that seemed pretty good. I probably need to watch some more videos and ideally get someone to watch me swim to take a look at what I am doing, its a little hard to tell myself. I am a bit put off thought because I signed up for some classes last year and I found the instructor really abrasive and essentially just about speed and yelling at us to go faster. I know this works for some people but for me it just put me off swimming. I'm not concerned about going super fast, I'm concerned about having a good technique and endurance.0
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I agree with you. The more someone yells at me the more I shut down. You can practice just kicking without a board if you stretch yourself out like bodysurfing and kick, kick, kick. Of course just lift you head when you need to breath, no drowning allowed
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Any practice will help just keep at it.0 -
I agree with you. The more someone yells at me the more I shut down. You can practice just kicking without a board if you stretch yourself out like bodysurfing and kick, kick, kick. Of course just lift you head when you need to breath, no drowning allowed .
Any practice will help just keep at it.
haha, ok will try that ...breathing included0 -
I agree with the no yelling. That would make me upset. I am not in it to go ultra fast. I try to make sure that my form is good, my arms are strong, I am hitting the most resistance that I can during my kick and catch. I want it to work for me and work every itty bitty muscle that I have.
Speed is not important, but I do keep getting faster.0 -
I agree with you. The more someone yells at me the more I shut down. You can practice just kicking without a board if you stretch yourself out like bodysurfing and kick, kick, kick. Of course just lift you head when you need to breath, no drowning allowed .
Any practice will help just keep at it.
I agree with Holly completely except for 1 thing: Don't pick your head up when it's time to breathe, instead use that time to practice turning your head to the side to breathe. Even if you already have the breathing down pat don't pick your head up, it's VERY easy to get in the habit & you'll start to pick it up while you're swimming the full stroke.....
As for the instructor who is a yeller - that might work well when coaching a team, but not when instructing. I'm sure you can find another instructor, when you find a good one you'll look forward to both lessons & practicing what they teach you because you will see marked improvement....0 -
Not sure if you have this option, but all the pools I have been to, have had kickboards that you can use. You may have to ask a lifeguard if they don't have them in a bin, or by the pool.0
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Well, I swam my mile again and was really disappointed. Instead of lowering my time I was almost back where I started. I felt like crying but didn't. Having depression issues again but I don't think it's that. I have been eating too many sweets which is probably the culprit. So slow Holly has to do better.:sad:0
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Holly,
Could also be sleep, hydration, hormones, fighting off a sickness, etc, sometimes your body just wont do something as well as you want it to. Some days I totally kick butt at swimming other days, I struggle to get through the set. On Thursday I had to stop 400 m short because I was getting a cramp. Its upsetting because you can't do what you want to do.
Try again and keep at it,
good luck :happy:0 -
It may just be a matter of needing a session to shake some rust off. I haven't been in the water basically for 2 weeks, I know my first time or 2 back in is going to be rough but then I'll be OK. I'm sure you'll be fine.......0
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Thanks for the encouragement. Oh, I won't quit. I'm one of those never say die even when I should. 'm on vacation at the beach this week but hope to get to a Y at least 2 times. Swam at a pool where we camp on Friday. Well, the temperature alone was a workout in much cooler water than I'm used to. Figured that was good for conditioning for my OW swim but it was chilly.brrrr0
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From what I've seen, I would say you most definitely won't quit :-)0
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Hey Mr. Macstraw,
How's it going now that you are back at the pool after your hiatus? I hope you weren't sick. I swam my mile again today but didn't time it. Visiting another Y today and the water was sooooo cool. The temp was so much better than my Y at home. I hope you are getting back in the groove. 0 -
Hey Ms. Holly, all is well here. Not sick, just the time of year where I lose days. I was away a few weekends, had some work pop up, etc. I won't be able to get back to the pool until Friday, next week is gonna be tough to try & get days in & then I move into the summer phase - less time in a shorter outdoor pool (19 yards instead of 25) but I'll be able to get a lot more walking in. Once the summer is over I'll be back to the gym pool full time. The good part is I'll be helping coach a summer swim league team again.....
I'm glad you got the mile in, how did you feel? I love doing my laps in a cooler pool too, a warmer pool makes me weary so much faster....0 -
The pool I swim at is cool. Which is great. The worst part is getting in. Brrr.
On a side note I am hoping to pick up my wetsuit this weekend and I'll be able to start some open water swim practices. I am a month away from my 2.1k race. I was hoping to attend some clinics held by the organizers but they are 3 hours away and start at 630am. So I will have to practice on my own. I grew up doing OW swimming but this is the first time I will be racing and wearing a wetsuit.
Went swimming tonight (about 1500-2000m) and it seems every time I go the coach has something else to work on. Today it was gliding underwater, doing some dolphin kicks after a push off. Last week it was more improvements on my front crawl (reaching out more on top of the water with my arms, I was entering them into the water too early).0 -
We're not allowed to wear wet suits in the one I'm going to be in. I can just see me in one. All anyone would see would be a round inner tube going through the water. A swimmer's body I don't have. It would give the crowd something to smile about. You sound a much more serious competitor than I am. I wish you well. You can do this. Keep on paddling.0
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Holly,
What is the distance that you will be swimming?
No one looks good in a wetsuit. I like that comparison to an inner tube though, the material is really similar.
I am actually not much of a competitor, I just love to swim. I could actually do all the practices and training and not compete. LOL. :bigsmile:0 -
I'm only doing the mile. They have a 2mile also. I could swim the 2000 m but I don't know about 2 mi. I've never tried that far. I think I could swim that far leisurely. My competitive spirit is to not come in too far last. Last is ok not a half hour last though. The coordinator said the 1 and 2 milers start at the same time so hopefully I won't get lapped by all of the 2 milers.:noway:0
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I have 2 questions that maybe someone could help me. Do you have to exhale through your nose? Sometimes it is a combination of nose and mouth. Next: Sometimes I find if I have a strenuous swim workout I get a bad headache in the afternoon. I try to drink more water. Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix? Now to brag a little bit. I've been getting 2000M in 60 -65 minutes. So I at least improved my distance.0
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Good work Holly,
I usually exhale through my mouth. Not sure if that's correct or not. I have no idea about the headache, best guess is to keep drinking that water.
I hate getting lapped, I used to be one of the fastest and I am not anymore. Swimming (pool) on Thursday I am pretty sure I got lapped 5 times in one set.
Update on me: Ive been getting slower. Hopefully that wont last but I did take a week off of swimming.
I have also bought a wetsuit and even tried it out briefly. The water was very cold, my body felt fine because of the wetsuit but my hands, feet and face were freezing. It is amazing how buoyant it makes you. I am planning on trying it out this weekend if the weather cooperates.0 -
The only right way to breathe out is the one that works for you. I'm trying to think about it & I'm guessing I'm a combination of both - on my flip turns I put some air in my nose to keep water coming in & when I put a real exertion on I push the air out through my mouth, but under normal conditions I'm just not sure. I'll try to remember to pay attention to it the next time I'm in the water....
Ashen - being away, even briefly, can definitely slow you down but it's only temporary. You'll shake the rust off & be your old self in no time.....0 -
I was amazed at how much I use my nose when I tried a nose clip. I thought I was going to die!0
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I generally exhale through my nose. But when sprinting, it's a whole other ball game. Increased exertion dictates how one needs to exhale and I find myself exhaling through both, my mouth and my nose, by the last half of a sprint - to the point that I dread that last flip turn.0
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Ideally exhale through both, nose and mouth. Main thing is to empty your lungs thoroughly to make room for fresh air. Sometimes people don't exhale enough.0
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Hi everyone. I'm new to swimming for fitness - I had the 'ol heart to heart with myself about weight loss *sigh* and decided that if I had to choose one activity to loose weight that I could live with it would be swimming. I joined my local Y the start of May and I haven't looked back.
I found out that I Love Swimming. I actually shocked that I look forward to going to the pool and I'm excited to see where it leads me. :-)0 -
ProfessorOwl - Right?! I find I also am not a mouth breather but without a nose clip (or mask) I would inhale and drown.0
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Thanks everyone. I had just read about exhaliing throught the nose and when I'm trying to go faster on my freestyle, it's almost all mouth. I generally don't get a nose full and since I don't do flip turns that's not a problem either. AS for the headache, I guess I need to drink even more.
Ashen... where do you swim that it is so cold? I'm in central PA and our open water is getting warmer. Just curious.0
