Macstraw Member

Don't forget to turn your feet out & make sure you're not just lifting the legs straight up & down. You need to kick out with the feet turned to get propulsion into the glide.....

No swimming today or tomorrow, I had to have 3 spots removed for biopsy & 2 spots frozen (most likely basal cell carcinoma), so I have to sty out of the pool until the spots heal. THen I lose Mon. - Thur. of next week for treatments.....

That's good to hear, mpeters, thank you. I've never had any formal training as a coach - I've just taken what I've been taught by the different coaches I've had, added in the things I have noticed worked for me & I pick my kids' brains all the time about what their coaches are telling them. That's why I will often throw…

Are you sure one of them isn't the Double-Stuf?

Thanks, Ms_J1 - at times I get concerned that what I'm saying is out of date, I learned in the Dark Ages & I know there are newer techniques being taught....

Have somebody with you in some sort of vessel so that if you have a physical issue (cramp, etc.) they are there to help you, plus you can always grab onto the boat. If you're out there by yourself, you have no help if something happens & nothing to grab onto if need be. That's how tragedies happen.....

The other timing is preferable because you're always doing something to keep you moving forward. If you kick at the same time you're pulling, you have nothing to drive you during the recovery & you'll lose any momentum you have. The way we teach the kids to think in their mind is "Kick, Glide, Pull". It makes a BIG…

Because you pick up the next quarter on your set break, & so on........

Panda - but you can DO a length, I'm betting they are looking for form as opposed to distance. Like AQ, I have no doubt you'll be picked up & my prediction is you'll be surprised at the group they place you in.......

The advice you've been given here is 100% on the money. I say definitely go for it, there can always be a reason/excuse for holding off on adding it until you just don't bother. Most definitely ease into it, like AQ when I first started doing it again (& I had been a butterflyer growing up) I was doing it in conjunction…

Once again, some great workouts posted - inspiring!!!!! Didn't swim yesterday, had to fast for blood work, but back at it today with the I.M. workout: 250 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 500 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 1000 free, 250 free..... Reading about all the improvements & how many people are incorporating sprints…

Anybody who is thinking about getting started should read every post on this thread. What should be readily apparent to anybody is that there are any number of reasons to do it, but the end result is the same - we are all healthier, we all feel better, we are all more active than we used to be. These are all great results…

Ha - you guys & your 6-packs....talk to me when you make it to a quarter keg.....

Although it's normally said as a wiseass comment, I am literally swimming for my health. I started out looking to improve my overall health, especially looking to avoid cardiac & weight related illness (i.e. adult onset diabetes, etc.) issues. I was way too heavy & knew I needed to lose weight, but the health aspects were…

Great work, everybody!!!! I.M. workout today: 250 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 500 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 1000 free, 250 free.....

Saw Neil quite a few times, but my very first was the Grateful Dead, May 9, 1981 at the Nassau Coliseum. I was 17, went with my brother & sister-in-law and my sister.......

Robertus - we have to remember to take into account the aging factor, I'm not sure what distances I'll be able to do by then.....

Yes, you most definitely want to create that resistance along the arm, but don't shorten your stroke to achieve it. When your hand enters the water you want some rotation in the shoulders so that you can reach out toward the wall you're approaching, then you create that resistance along the arm during the pull. I watch a…

No swim today, took off to go golfing. My buddy & I walked the course, so I don't feel guilty about not swimming. He ran a pedometer app on his phone, we did about 14,500 steps & 7.3 miles. I knew it was a decent distance walking the course, but I didn't know it was that far....

You can always set a new goal time to shoot for - just sayin'

My 1000 yard set time is 17 minutes, but that's a workout pace - not a race pace. I have no idea what a race time would be for me..... That said - I think Ms _J1 is on the money as to how to train for this. The one reminder I'd give is to listen to your body - if you're feeling sore dial it back a little bit so that you…

Great job Everybody!!!! Panda - It's great to see you back :smile: I.M. workout today: 250 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 500 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 1000 free, 250 free.....

There's no way I could swim in a fasted state. I'm no expert on metabolism, but I would think that the body is going to burn fat when you do enough exercise whether you're in a fasted state or not.....

Bruce - my swims are in yards, I think it's 3 1/8 miles (at least land miles, I don't know how long a nautical mile is in yards) & my freestyle workout is 3.7 miles..... Freestyle workout today (in yards): 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250......

Welcome back, AQ - you just need a day or 2 to shake the rust off & you'll be right back where you were.... Great start to the day, Bruce!!!! Gutzy - great job adjusting to get work in when there's no pool available.... IM workout today: 250 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 500 free, 5 x 200 I.M., 1000 free 250…

Wrong tense of the verb, Curly - "ing" implies that you're still in the process, but you already ARE a swimmer. "Have become" would be much more appropriate.....

In 1973-74 I had just moved from Brooklyn in NYC to the suburbs about an hour north of the City. At that point I was only swimming competitively on a summer rec team & none of us (up to age 18) used them. I swam in high school from 1977-1981, we all had them for practice but some of us didn't use them in races.....

I would beg to differ on this, I don't think I could do 30,500 yards (1,220 lengths) in a day.....

Not only ask for tips, ask about the different types of goggles. We didn't have many choices in the dark ages, but there are tons of different types now. I wear ones that sit a little outside my eye sockets, but I imagine they would be no good for starts. I know the ones my kids use sit inside the eye sockets & they…

Great job, everybody!!! Stephen - that's great progress, keep concentrating on the side breathing & it will feel natural very quickly..... All freestyle today (in yards): 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250