MAD MANATEE Mentor Group (TriAya & lmscozz)--CLOSED! (Page 21)

I can't split my workouts - or the second one never happens.  Right now I (almost) always do it all in the morning and worry about getting further into my training and not having the time to finish it all in one go.  Actually, I have a lot of trouble doing any training other than in the morning - if I don't get up and go, it is a struggle to make it happen later.   

Hey all - thanks for the inspires and questions on my status.  All is well, just that I had a killer week at work and expect another this week.  My boss came in for orientation, and I was meeting with my employees on a culture survey results, and my girls mother was traveling all week, so I had the little ones 100% of the time - difficult when considering we also had late starts at school a few days because of the cold.  UJp at 3:30 and home after 6, so just beat - few business dinners.  No energy to work out.  Went so well, my boss is coming back this week - yea!  . 

Going to be able to hit sheets earlier and maybe be able to get up for those am workouts.

On the up-side, I told our VP that I was training (my dotted line boss) and asked that I be able to swim a few days during our lunch - which will make me late coming back.  He was good with it - plus Wellness was a focus point at the Sr. Managers conference earlier this month, so I'm working a major objective for our corporation.

Thanks again!!

Okay. So, apparently my stroke isn't as good as I thought it was. Last Friday I was swimming and asked a gentleman who is often there swimming (and is fast and appears to know what he's doing) to watch me swim. I've never had any lessons or feedback from a trained eye, so I was a bit anxious. Wow! I suck! He immediately said I am doing three things wrong.

1. I am extending my arms all the way out in front of me on the recovery stroke, and it's best to keep my elbows bent a little all the time.
2. I am starting my pull too soon with straight arms which is resulting in me pushing down on the water during the first part of my stroke, and thus lifting-up my position in the water.
3. I am not stopping my stroke at my hips, but instead following through. He told me to exaggerate pulling my elbows up from my hip out of the water then on to entry.

I'm confused because Bigfuzzydog's link states that our entry arm should be as long and extended as far as possible, and this guy is telling me the opposite. Now, this guy just set the state record for the 500 in his age group, so I'm inclined to think he knows what he's talking about. He's also a triathlete. I'm just confused. 

If it makes you feel any better, points 1 and 3 are not critical points of form debate, and if those were the first three things that were obvious, you're doing okay.

1. Unless you've spent a bunch of years doing 5-10k a day, don't worry about this. IN GENERAL, for people who may be good swimmers but are relatively new to competition swimming, your form and rotation are going to be much better off if you do stretch your arm out as far as possible on the recovery. Two exceptions: if you're over-rotating (highly unlikely, but possible) and if your reaching out is the primary cause of your arms crossing over the midline (if they do. they may or may not, i don't know).

2. This is a critical point. You want as much of your stroke as possible to be pulling back. The swimming term for this is Early Vertical Forearm. In other words, you want to get your forearm vertical as quickly as possible. I'm actually glad you mentioned this because there's a lot of good info out there and I want to review it and post (and continue to use) the best of it.

The drill I use to teach this is 'swimming over barrels.' when your arm is extended in front of you, pretend you are swimming over barrels. To do that effectively, you have to get your forearm straight down BETWEEN the barrels and push yourself forward. It also doesn't work to stick your whole arm down in the barrel -- just your forearm-- otherwise you can't move forward at all.

3. again, he's right, but i wouldn't call this a major point. This also depends on your anatomy. I have orangutan arms and they nearly go down to my knees. The point is not to FINISH your stroke with your arm straight down ... the small and debatable amount of propulsion you get from following through to a straight arm isn't as important as getting your arm through a quick recovery for the next stroke.

Thanks, Yanti. I can certainly see where #2 would be critical. The logic behind it seems obvious, and when I adjusted my stroke I did notice that my I was swimming faster.....although I must say that altering one's stroke seems to take a lot more energy - I was exhausted afterwards. Or maybe I was just tired that day.

Anyway, this is going to take some getting used to. How long until I am feeling not as awkward with the change in my stroke? 

It takes me about 6-10 sessions of concentrating on technique to incorporate a new move into my stroke.  Initially, it took a lot more.  Be patient, and use your warm up laps to really focus on technique.

7 hours training in the last 3 days.  I need to stretch.

I'd say that's about right. For one thing, there are some developments/changes in musculature that need to build up, so you will feel like it takes more energy at first (because it does).

Ditto on the warm-up laps, and use parts of long sets as reminders (say if you're doing 4x200, really focus on form that last 50 of each).

Ever take piano or music lessons? It's like that. Takes a few lessons to learn to play in a new key or adopt a new rhythm.

platydude. what's the pop tart equivalent of 7 hours of training? sheeeeeee ... good work!!!

14.863

If I try to split mine up the AM workout rarely happens. I have no problem in the evening. Coem spriong/summer morning workouts will get better, but this time of year i can't get myself out of bed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70E1Y720110115

Article regarding a runner being hit.......by a train.

Edited by Tucker_lr 2011-01-18 1:05 PM

Man - I don't think I'm going to have time to go back and catch up on all the great posting that's been going on over the past week - would probably take me quite awhile.

This last week was a total bust - work was kicking my butt and totally draining me of any energy I had left so I was collapsing into bed immediately after tuck in of my 5 kiddos.  Then Friday I came down with a cold and it blew my whole weekend.  Today I'm finally feeling good enough to attempt 'something' - just not sure what it should be.

I feel like I go strong for a week, and then am down for a week for one reason or another - so that when I pick back up again the following week, it's like starting over.  I just need to get over the hump and make it two full weeks in a row.  I have 2 months to my first Tri, and I really need to get my butt in gear.

Yes, I saw that earlier on another forum ... horrible and sad.

Please, please, please, pleeeaaaaaase always be aware of your surroundings. Always. For every possible reason there is, safety, yourself, others, and even just to not miss the gifts of what you might otherwise notice.

Be extremely careful if you run with music. I suggest one earbud only and keeping it low.

If I run with music, this is my go to - it works great, I also recommend it to anyone that is running with music! 

I run to the music of nature and my body.  It is enough for me.

I've said this so many times to my friends etc, they  never listen
Its so annoying when you are cycling or something, and some prat is cycling slowly/fully earphoned up, but doesn't notice. Same with joggers on the bike paths, I have a bell, if you can't hear me ringing the bell behind you... whats the point....  

In fact, I remember there was another one, a jogger on a beach...

http://www.examiner.com/airlines-airport-in-national/freak-plane-crash-kills-jogger 

Hi fellow Mad Manatees.  Hope everyone is well.  I've hopped off of the lazy train I've been riding for a week!!

Saw this today and had to share:

Life is like a roll of toilet paper...the less you have left the faster it rolls.

Ha ha, nice quote.

In regards to running with music.   I might be in the minority here, but I love listening to my music while I exercise.   There's something about hearing that "one" song that gets you moving a little faster, or gets you motivated to go on when you think you can't.  I completely agree that you have to be responsible when you do choose to workout with music.  For me I run with the volume low so that I'm aware of my surroundings.  When I'm on the treadmill though....crank it up!