Learn How to Swim Training Group (Page 11)

I'm back (from page 10).

I made it to week 6 before the holidays began to take over too much of my time to stick with the plan.  Then I started prepping for my 1st 1/2 marathon in January, so running was my priority and swimming took a backseat to the occasional "swim for fun".  Now, with my 1/2 marathon only 2.5 weeks away (and training tapering off) and my first tri of the season scheduled for May 15th, it's time to get back in the pool with some fury.  Gonna back up 2 weeks and start over from week 5 today and start working my way through the next 16 weeks from there.

Will report back with progress/issues as needed.

Excellent! Welcome back, and good luck in your half-marathon!

Congrats! Looks like you are tackling your fear! Pretty soon the pool will no longer have that control over your emotions and you can pick a new battle to fight....YOU ROCK!

Hi all,

I'm Jayson, a 34 yr old newbie at triathalon's. My swimming use to be decent I thought...turns out not so much. I just started the Learn to swim workouts and am getting better. The drills are helping alot and I just picked up the book "Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin" which is already seeming to help. I do swim with a nose clip just ddue to the water...maybe just the chlorine in my nose.

I know I have heavy legs as a former runner and weightlifter. Any tips on getting them up. I try arching my back and focusing on "swimming downhill" but they just don't seem to want to come up.

Jayson

TI (book) and a NEW nose clip really helped...Splash and Dash...here I come!

Drill, Drill, Drill

100m Warm Up, 100m catchup, 100m pull, 100m kick (w fins, arms to the side), 100m cooldown. Focusing on hip rotation and body roll.

FINALLY,  a nose clip that actually works...able to focus on form rather than not drowning/choking/gagging.

New goal...continue to use for form but work towards proper form and not use clip....eventually. For now, pat self on back, no timing. I will time during full swims.

Jayson...the non-swimming scuba diver =)

As I need to get some OW exp. in... Anybody got some info. on if, say I bought a bodyglove (or similar) wetsuit [keep in mind I'm just starting] would work OK until later in my training...funds are limited, and the TRI specific stuff is just WAAAY out of my range.

Thanks,

Jayson

If by BodyGlove wetsuit, you're referring to a "surfing" style wetsuit, DON'T DO IT.  They are not the same, and serve different purposes all together when compared to a tri-specific wetsuit.  They will both keep you warm in cooler waters, but the tri suit is equipped to help with buoyancy, the surfing wetsuit is not.  It will just get waterlogged and add additional weight that you’ll have to drag through the water.

If at all possible, buy a triathlon wetsuit. Xterra usually has great deals, and ProMotion is also very affordable. Give those a look first before settling for a Body Glove.

Ok, Thanks guys...I had just found something about PROmotion as an ad and was going to ask that, but you beat me to it. Thanks for your help.

Jayson

Hey cool,

I checked out XTERRA and found one that I think will work...probably order this weekend. Any advice on the "volt" I know it sleeveless but it fits my budget much better.

I'm doing the splash and dash in april and need to get some OW time in soon. Thinking coves in Lake Pleasant, with maiden voyage of my ski/bass boat...=).

Jayson

Xterra and Promotion suits will be great for you. Get whatever you can afford. Even the least expensive ones will do what a wetsuit needs to do: keep you warm and preserve your swim stroke!

Thanks Jessica,

 I checked out ProMotion, too. Found a comparable suit for the same price. I guess I'll check into the specifics and make a decision from there. Thanks again.

Jayson

Welcome! If you read through this thread, you will find some links to other reading material here on BT that is helpful to new swimmers learning how to breath in a more relaxed way in the pool.

A pull buoy looks almost like a giant jelly bean. They should have some on the pool deck near the kickboards. You put it between your legs to help learn what it feels like to swim with high hips. You won't need to keep when you use a pull buoy, so you can focus on the pull more.

You have no idea how much I love reading stuff like this! I am so excited that other people here on BT will read this and feel encouraged to try this program. Thank you so much for sharing! And CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Howdy,

I decided to do a Triathlon over Thanksgiving becuz just trail running with the dogs was getting too boring.   I ran my first (and last) marathon at age 47, and figured having a "goal" would be something to help me focus.     I'm 52 now, and signed up for Chicago in August.  Completely by coincidence, by best friend also decided to do Chicago, so now we train together, sort of....  he's a natural swimmer, while I swim like a rock.   But I can run his arse off, and out-pedal him (we rode our bikes across Wisconsin 500 miles a few years back).  We're both tri-rookies.

Anyway, I printed off the Learning to Swim Month #1 Primer, have joined a pool, and will be starting on Sunday....

Welcome! We are glad to have you here. Lots of people have used this swim plan with great success. If you have any questions, let me know!

Well, I did Workout #1 of Week 1 last night, and it was amazing.

I had been in the pool 3-4 times already, just trying to get some laps in, but it was awful.  I would freestyle for as far as possible, then cling to side gasping like a fish on the bank.  My form suffered, my breathing was atrocious, I could barely climb out when done.

I had never used a kickboard or pull buoy before.  Other than getting a major calf cramp when kicking, I can see that these are valuable tools in training.  I also like having a set routine going in, with goals and times and whatnot.   I'm an engineer, so that figures....

Still working on my breathing. I started with one inhale per 4 strokes, but was soon inhaling every other stroke.

Any advice on avoiding legs cramps?  Is that from dehydration or lack of previous training?  Also, my partner suggested an "S" stroke.  Is there a video that shows that?