Swimming in Backyard Pool

I use mine too, yes it gets choppy, I'm trying to get a smoother stroke to avoid the chop.  I see folks at the local pool barely making a ripple.  I just do lots of laps.  i hate the stopping and when i turn around is when I get water in my mouth.

hey at lefast U know there is no pee in ur pool.

I wouldn't count on that.

If I were swimming in a pool that short, I'd:

- do a short push-off

- swim diagonally (really adds very little, but still)

- invest in something like this: http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=10280

you can get cheaper ones, but make sure you get the kind that has a belt that attaches around your waist, NOT to your feet.

I use a backyard pool and I find the chop to more in line with what a race is.  It also forces a full turn of my head to make sure I dont get a mouth full of water.  The problem I always had was I was constantly turning.  I would cross the pool diagonally just to get some extra distance.  This is good for working on speed or knowing the distance you traveled, but the constant turning is nothing like a race.

So I made a 'whiskey tango' endless pool - basically its a tether using 3 old bike inner tubes and a nylon belt.  Cut off the valve and ties them together.  Attach the tubes it to a ladder or some other solid surface, the other end to the belt and swim.  You will swim forward a bit, but the tubes will pull you back.  If you dont have any tubes around - your LBS should have a whole trash can full of them.  Since you're stationary, your drills will be based on time, not distance.

My pool is great for midweek training as I'd rather be home, outside and by myself listening to music than at a gym.  But I also go out for open water swims on weekends when I have more time so Im not relying on just my backyard pool workout, and I wear the wetsuit when I do.   

You can always buy one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Sphere-1003219-Stationary-Swimmer/dp/B001Q3LT8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340288255&sr=8-1&keywords=swim+tether

Embrace the choppy water. 

When you're racing the water will likely be choppy due to the masses of other swimmers around you and/or a rough ocean swim.  The choppy pool water will help you prepare for that - learning breathing and how to cope with getting an unexpected mouthful of water.

My wife actually suggested that.....going to try it this weekend!

My tri club swims mondays alongside a water aerobics class.  Its always interesting.  That much lard bobbing up and down in unison can really create some resonance in the water. 

tooo much perfume 

Yes, the perfume is an issue.  I try to breathe away from them.

I used to use one of these:

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/8443.htm

Worked great and its a real mental boost when you finally take it off, you move so much quicker without it!

I did basically this a few years ago (old bike tubes, nylon rope, nylon belt) to use in our backyard pool and it works great.  I swim train 99% of the time ay the YMCA's pool down the street, but on the odd occasion I can't, I still use it.  Basically free and works very well, so I never saw a need to pay for one.  A good option for hotel pools when traveling, etc.

Dan