Swim Advice

Which triathlon? My wife and son are planning on doing the Tri-Family Racing race in Seville.

What you are describing is completely normal. The first key is just to
keep working on it. Getting comfortable in the water is a big accomplishment.
Then you need to just swim and start building the muscles and getting
the rhythms down.

Then you need to get a coach. You can get better at swimming by
swimming more, and that works for a while, and then you get to
the point where you need to fix the technique stuff to get faster.

Several of us do lap swims and various open water swims at various times.

Come on out. It helps to have fellow hydro-sloths to watch as opposed to
all those good swimmers.

-Jot

1. Breathe out underwater, don't hold your breath.
2. At first, you will suck wind. Swimming is hard, don't get discouraged.
3. Swim 50, rest 15 seconds. Lather rinse repeat. Do that 20-30 times for a few weeks.
4. Swim 100, rest 15 seconds. Lather rinse repeat. Do that 20-30 times for a few weeks.
5. Keep doing 100's on short rest, but throw in some swims like 400 or 500 straight.

How long is your swim in October?

John

Most of us have relearned how to swim by starting over with drills and re-learning the stroke.

I bought the Total Immersion book and DVD and started completely over.

You can also find drills on you tube, etc.

I am looking at the Pabst Blue Ribbon off road triathlon.  I like that one, because right now I only have a mountain bike to train on.  I like the advice.  As for getting out there with other people right now, I think I would be too embarressed.  I need to get to the point where I can at least look I belong near the water...lol!  Had no idea about breathing out under water.

Thanks,  any more suggestions?
Ken

Sure, come on out for the OWS. You'll need to get used to it anyway. And, we won't laugh at you, we save that for Jer.

John

I'm hoping to get a bike to let me do PBR too.

Good news is I think it's normally a wetsuit swim.

Where do you live at? Trust me when I say we're all equally
laugable.

-Jot

For the basic body position in swimming, you want your body (head, shoulders, hips, and heels) in a nice straight horizontal line as much as possible - most people tend to lift their head while swimming, breathing, or both.  This drives your hips and lower body down, making it difficult to move forward while also giving you the feeling that you're sinking, which, in turn, makes you feel the need to fight the water, which will just wear you out! 

For the basic arm motion, a lot of times I take my clients to the wall by the deepest part of the pool.  Warning..this is easier demonstrated than explained, but I'll do my best
I have them put both hands up on the pool deck and then go underwater so that their arms are straight overhead.  From there, I ask them to slowly push themselves up out of the pool without jumping off of the bottom.  You will find that in doing so, you will automatically push your elbows up to get power and your hands will end by your hips (you wouldn't be able to do this with straight arms or by crossing your arms in front of your body--try it!).  Do that a few times and look at your elbows during at least one of the times.  The range from your hands being in front of your shoulders, to where your elbows pop up, all the way to where your hands end by your hips/thighs is where you will get the most power.  Now, take that motion lay it flat on your stomach, do it one arm at a time, and you will have a decent catch/pull (underwater portion of the stroke).  If you find that you're not going anywhere, check yourself to make sure you're not using straight arms, crossing them below your body, or dropping your elbow--remember you want high elbows for maximum efficiency.

Hope that helps!

SwimcoachAT makes an awesome point... Probably the reason he is a swim coach. I actually just tried this drill and was happy to see it work. Some more advise: When starting out don’t be afraid to swim breaststroke or another stroke to break it up. Some pools offer kick-boards and buoys , if not buy them, will cost you 10-15 each. Do 100m of kicks then pulls then regular. Swim drills. When swimming drills you are forced to focus on the specifics of swimming rather then how much swimming sucks. Try a few over/ under’s. Swim underwater and take the fewest breaths as possible for 25m then swim 25m back freestyle without taking a break. Honestly consider getting a coach. When you are just learning, stay away from fins and paddles. Find someone to swim with, circle swim. I could go on and on but, the best advise I can give you is swim. Swim untill you hate swimming then swim untill you love it. You have already got through your hardest day and thats the first one.

SwimcoachAT makes an awesome point... Probably the reason he is a swim coach. I actually just tried this drill and was happy to see it work. Some more advise: When starting out don’t be afraid to swim breaststroke or another stroke to break it up. Some pools offer kick-boards and buoys , if not buy them, will cost you 10-15 each. Do 100m of kicks then pulls then regular. Swim drills. When swimming drills you are forced to focus on the specifics of swimming rather then how much swimming sucks. Try a few over/ under’s. Swim underwater and take the fewest breaths as possible for 25m then swim 25m back freestyle without taking a break. Honestly consider getting a coach. When you are just learning, stay away from fins and paddles. Find someone to swim with, circle swim. I could go on and on but, the best advise I can give you is swim. Swim untill you hate swimming then swim untill you love it. You have already got through your hardest day and thats the first one.

SwimcoachAT makes an awesome point... Probably the reason he is a swim coach. I actually just tried this drill and was happy to see it work. Some more advise: When starting out don’t be afraid to swim breaststroke or another stroke to break it up. Some pools offer kick-boards and buoys , if not buy them, will cost you 10-15 each. Do 100m of kicks then pulls then regular. Swim drills. When swimming drills you are forced to focus on the specifics of swimming rather then how much swimming sucks. Try a few over/ under’s. Swim underwater and take the fewest breaths as possible for 25m then swim 25m back freestyle without taking a break. Honestly consider getting a coach. When you are just learning, stay away from fins and paddles. Find someone to swim with, circle swim. I could go on and on but, the best advise I can give you is swim. Swim untill you hate swimming then swim untill you love it. You have already got through your hardest day and thats the first one.

Alright, so not only am I a bad swimmer but a complete NEWB to the terminonlogy.  What is the OWS?  I love the suggestions and the support from you guys is absolutely amazing!  Thank you all!
Ken

OWS == Open Water Swim

Once you get comfortable in the pool, it's nice to find out
exactly how uncomfortable you can be out of the pool.

It is a truisim of triathlon: Just because you can swim in
the pool means nothing in the open water. It shouldn't
be that way, but it is. Trust us.

-Jot

When do you guys do your OWS's?  I need to at least get to the point that I won't drown first in the pool...lol, but I am interested in coming out and trying it.

Thanks,
Ken

Ken,

I second the suggestion to get the Total Immersion book.  It's at the library too if you don't want to buy a copy.  Your swimming troubles sound very common.  They certainly sound like mine.  I was in good shape and even knew about the breathing, but still I just got so TIRED after a single lap.  Turns out I was simply fighting too hard, trying to keep from sinking as I went.  The TI book is terrific.  It'll help you make small adjustments in your form and the way you approach swimming.  After some drills, you will be able to glide effortlessly in the water, so that you can go and go forever.  After a couple months, I am getting to that go-and-go part.  I can now swim slowly for long periods.  Eventually, I hope to be able to swim fast for long periods, but simply getting past that 100m roadblock is a triumph for me.


Good luck in your training.
Scott

Thursdays at 5:30  Butcher jones cove at Sauguro(SP?) lake