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2009-06-23 3:36 PM
in reply to: #2237861

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Subject: RE: Less Kicking During Swim
E=H2O - 2009-06-23 3:17 PM

hankbobchuck - 2009-06-23 10:38 AM This is great! For the longest time I have had swimmers telling me that I am swimming wrong. All the time I always felt better swimming like this and all the coaches told me to try and change. For some weird reason I could never kick continuously, I would always roll over or swim zig zag. Thanks for the post, now I don't  feel inferior. Thanks

You are not alone. I naturally developed a 2 beat cross over kick as a distance freestyler. My coach used to always tell me I was being lazy. Through a lot of practice I was able to go as far as a 500yd/400m with a 4-6 beat. Anything longer, particularly in open water, it was always a 2 beat cross over. One thing I do notice is that for surges and strong finished I use a much stronger kick, but it is still a 2 beat CO.



That's kinda funny as one of the greatest distance swimmers of all time, Janet Evans, used a 2 beat kick.


2009-06-23 3:42 PM
in reply to: #2230524

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Subject: RE: Less Kicking During Swim

This was in high school in the early 70s and Janet Evens was just born :-), although I had another coach tell me the same thing in the early 80's when I swam masters for a couple of years.

2009-06-23 3:59 PM
in reply to: #2232518

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Subject: RE: Less Kicking During Swim
E=H2O - 2009-06-21 6:32 PM

I naturally developed a 2 beat crossover years before I knew what it was. Have you tried not doing any kicking sets in practice? I don't but I've had years of swimming. I save my legs for bike and run workouts.



I'd say pretty much the same thing.  Only time I'd ever used anything more than a 2-beat kick was in the 50 or 100 free in HS...then it'd be 6-beat.  I haven't touched a kickboard since back then and don't really see the value of spending much time on kick drills for triathletes.
2009-06-23 4:07 PM
in reply to: #2237913

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Subject: RE: Less Kicking During Swim
tjfry - 2009-06-23 4:35 PM
Bioteknik - 2009-06-23 1:26 PM
tjfry - 2009-06-23 11:58 AM Absolutely. Better swimming is better swimming. Your upper body will adjust...but more importantly your balance will adjust. For most people, the legs keep moving in a wetsuit, even if they aren't working as hard. The upper body you use on a mountain bike (chest, biceps, forearms) is not the upper body you use in swimming (delts, triceps, lats). Give it a little time.

TJ

Edit: Sorry I thought you said you were always wearing a wetsuit. If you never wear a wetsuit then you lose that leg buoyancy and a better kick is even more important. Grab a kickboard from time to time to measure the progress of your kick ability (no fins). As you get more effective in your kick you will find that kicking less will come easier.


I think with my  6 beat kick, staying streamlined is easier.  Seems like I'm a good candidate for ankle locks too.  First thing I noticed was the feeling that my legs wanted to sink.  Not sure if I'll implement this for my next race or not, since I think my mistake was more mental than being a weaker swimmer.  (just keep the pace within my limits was my goal before.. )


This tells me that you're not generating enough propulsion from your pull and making up for it in your kick. How much slower do you swim a 100 with a pull buoy than regular swimming?(**Disclaimer: I haven't seen your stroke so I could be off base here)

I agree and wouldn't use in a race until you are comfortable.



Not sure, I don't have a pull buoy.  I was doing these consistenly about 1:45/100, while I can get somewhat consistent 8-8.5'/500 if I push myself. 
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