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need another swim stroke...
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 2009-08-03 8:14 AM |
Veteran  351  |  Subject: need another swim stroke...as a complete swimming newbie, I've just been focussed on learning the freestyle stroke. I've gotten OK at it. I did a "dress rehearsal" for my tri (in 3 weeks) last weekend. I couldn't quite freestyle the whole thing (actually had more problems of needing to take "breaks" in the beginning, once I got about 1/3 of the way into it, then I was fine for the last 2/3), unfortunately my only options were to float on my back (not hard, but doesn't get my anywhere) or doggie paddle. I ended up doggie paddling a lot more than I would like - and realized how incredibly exhausting it is!!! So....are there any swim strokes I can learn in 3 weeks? Or am I doomed to doggie paddling on my "time off" freestyle? |
| 2009-08-03 8:20 AM in reply to: #2323489 |
Champion 7595    Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... First, it sounds like you might benefit from warming up. Second, I personally find breaststroke (or at least something approximating it) to be fairly natural and relaxing. I think that many less than fully confident swimmers find it calming because your head comes entirely out of the water quite frequently. Third, my experience has been that swimming a long distance (i.e., longer than you are normally swimming) has a lot to do with just deciding to do it and continuing. |
| 2009-08-03 8:21 AM in reply to: #2323489 |
New user 265 | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... Hey, can you do the breaststroke? It's a good resting stroke that keeps you moving forward. It also helps with sighting. Another one that I've seen people do is the sidestroke. This is another good one for a resting stroke as your head is out of the water. Both are pretty easy to learn too. |
| 2009-08-03 8:24 AM in reply to: #2323489 |
Veteran 351 | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... I definitely agree with #3 - once I got past the second kayak (yes, I held on to the first two...) I realized I was just never gonna finish if I kept doing that. I told myself I could float just as easily in the lake as I could in a pool, and got to freestyling. Like I said, once I did that the last 2/3 of the distance were better for me. The overall distance was somewhere between 1250 and 1350 m (I've heard different measurements) the tri is only 1100. Warming up is probably a good idea too. Stupid question - breast stroke, is that the "froggy" one? |
| 2009-08-03 8:55 AM in reply to: #2323489 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... I am a newbie too, I swap between side stroke and freestyle. Once it clicks side stroke will be not needed. |
| 2009-08-03 9:33 AM in reply to: #2323520 |
Master 2372 | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... |
| 2009-08-03 9:45 AM in reply to: #2323504 |
Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: need another swim stroke... Experior - 2009-08-03 9:20 AM First, it sounds like you might benefit from warming up. Couldn't agree more. I definitely need at least 100yds of swimming for my heart rate to settle in and allow me to breath more smoothly. After the breathing, I seem to need another couple hundred yards to smooth out my stroke and breathing. In a pool, it seems like just when I have it clicking, it's time to turn. |
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