kenj group - Closed (Page 11)

y2kdad99 - 2009-01-25 7:21 PM Wayne, I tend to agree with Sara -- sometimes having some gear helps break up the monotony. I just got some Zoomer Z2 fins and that was one reason I finally made it back to the pool (to try them out). I understand the controversy about pull buoys, but I do think they are fun to use for at least a few laps, if just to be able to concentrate on my pull and not worry about kicking. If you do get addicted, we'll just pull together as a group and do an intervention ("Wayne, we’re all here because we love you and we’re worried about you and your pull buoy...". Hang in there and keep trying and you'll get it going!

That's funny, a pull buoy intervention!  Maybe a reality show?

Wayne,

I set a goal to solve a problem while swimming.  I own a company that designs custom machines so there is always some mechanical design problem hanging around.  I pick one and think about it while swimming.  I'm always amazed that by the end of the swim

a) it has gone by FAST and

b) I usually have the problem solved (or a good idea to start on)

So I begin to look forward to swimming more and more.  It's my alone/problem solving time

The same could apply to any other problems that require a "clear head".

Wayne - this is one place that I find a buoy does help.  When you are focusing on the stroke count and learning to glide.  Lowering the stroke count is really a matter of stretching yourself out more and maintaining good body position in the water.  Your ideal body position is always having yourself stretched as long as you can comfortably be in the water.  Don't start the next pull until your recovering hand is almost re-entering the water.  I think this is also refered to as front quadrant swimming.  A drill that I find is helpful for this is the catch up drill.  That is when you don't start the next pull until your hands touch in front of you.

I like to use the buoy when I am focusing on improving my stroke.  After the stroke work you need to kick for a couple hundred yards for redemption!

Any of the more gifted swimmers amongst us can clarify what I was trying to say!

 I've done this on runs, works great!

 I agree with catch up drill.  Also, (and this is debated) you can work on "finishing" your stroke by focusing on pulling until your hand gets past your hips.  Debated because I've read that sometimes shorter strokes are handy when the water is choppy.  But since most of us are in the pool than you can get extra inches out of every pool by extending your arms past your hips.  Those few inches add up over a lap and decrease your stroke count (which means you're spending less energy and decrease your risk of over-use injury).

It depends on if I am swimming alone or with the Masters.  When I swim alone I have a timex watch with a lap counter.  I just hit the lap button every 100 yards.  With the masters the workouts are given to us and they have the distance already printed, so I only need to remember if I swim extra before or after.

I have also heard of people putting pennies on the deck and moving one every hundred yards or what ever distance they feel like.  But then you are at the mercy of the person you are sharing a lane with not to mess with them.

Yes.  I'm ready to move in with Wayne.  We seldom get snow here in Arkansas, but we do get our share of ice.  We had to pull my wife's car out of the neighbor's fence last night (I was driving).  No way to get out of the driveway this morning so we're in for the day I'm pretty sure.  Fortunately, we have plenty to eat and a couple of movies I rented yesterday.  Man, I really want to move south!

Took these from the back of the house this morning:

Pretty accurate assessment!!  Especially the support of the family!

I always considered Arkansas to be in the south! Looking at these pictures, I guess I am going to have to reassess that opinion!

Nice view though!

I don't think the south has the exclusive on people that can't drive in bad weather.  We haven't seen the grass in a month and it has only been above 32 once in like 6 weeks, yet I saw 2 wrecks on my 8 mile commute this morning!

Same here, I drive about 35k miles a year for business and I probably average seeing about 100 cars a year spun out in the ditch.  I have come to realize one thing, the majority of vehicles in spin outs are 4 wheel drive.  I equate that to people with 4 wheel drive thinking they are invinsible.  I try to apply the laws of physics when driving in the ice or snow: items in motion stay in motion.  Just nice and steady with no sudden moves like braking or turning of the steering wheel.  That has kept me pretty safe except for 2 years ago when I slid through a stop sign and ended up in a corn field (my car was in motion and stayed in motion right into the cornfield). 

Just got power restored last night - sooner than I expected actually.  We have a mess here for sure.  My parents' house and my sister's house are worse.  I haven't had a chance to check on our other properties yet, can't get to them.  Training is on hold for sure (although I got a pretty good workout cutting and moving trees at my folks' house yesterday).

More here:  http://picasaweb.google.com/chipandbecca/2009JanuaryFreeze#

Ouch, being in the transportation industry that one hits a little close to home!

Glad to hear that things are heading back to normal!

The ice storm looks pretty bad.  When it happens in Carolina we get exploding pine trees that sound like shotgun blasts. 

 If I may digress, does anyone have an opinion about Motobecane bikes - good, bad or otherwise.  I found a new 2009 Motobecane Nemesis Pro for $1200 on ebay.  They have it in my size.  Suggestions welcome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ALUMINUM-CARBON-ROAD-TRI-BIKE-SHIMANO-TRIATHLON-PRO_W0QQitemZ130284617903QQihZ003QQcategoryZ98084QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Kweezen,

I don't have first hand experience on the Motebecane bikes but I was considering purchasing one and did a lot of research on them.  I never heard a single negative about them.  I think they are nice bikes for the money. 

Just as an FYI, if you are looking at a $1,200 bike, you might want to go a little bit more and consider this:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/talon_tri_sale.htm

Kestrel carbon frame, ultegra components for $1495.....sweet.