SWBKRUN Mentor Group-"Off Season?" What is that?!! (Page 229)

SSMinnow - 2009-08-24 9:32 AM

okay, john, now I for sure am not coming to Texas, I cannot breathe left for the life of me...no matter how hard i try, it escapes me...

Thanks all, for the kudos, off to the pool for me!  it's been a week and a half since I last did any swimming at all.  I think there are some one arm drills in my workout...  



 

ashort33 - 2009-08-24 9:47 AM

The key to dealing with sharks and alligators is to not be the little "minnow" trailing behind the "school".  There is safety in that group!

fattyfatfat - 2009-08-24 10:01 AM I learned to bilateral breathe because I'm nosy and want to see whats going on around me.   I understand improved form is a result, but to me the most noticeable benefit is it makes siting much easier.   Either way, I'm faster because of it. 

Below is from Mr. Swim Smooth that Tony brought up earlier.

"If you only breathe to one side it's nearly impossible to maintain a symmetrical stroke...."


Stating the obvious here but dark goggles might block the sun but they won't block swell and chop.

 

ashort33 - 2009-08-24 10:07 AM

Theoretically I understand the importance of bilateral breathing, I just need more work on it than time allows before my olympic - yes it could come back to bite me in the butt, but right now I am willing to take that risk to insure that I can swim the mile without a wetsuit and still have enough juice to get out of the water and bike/run.  Part of the winter training will be working on bilateral breathing and flip turns for sure! 

fattyfatfat - 2009-08-24 10:06 AM

Good thing neither of these are in Offats Bayou.  Right Andy?

JHagerman - 2009-08-24 10:34 AM Hey all, was gone for the weekend at my sister (in law) wedding. 

I see we're talking swim stuff.  Good, so bilateral breathing.  I can't do it, easily.  I can do it for a short while, but no longer than say 50 yards.  Then I get out of breath and confused.  What I've looked at just says that bilat breathing is a necessity - for pool swimmers... and good open water swimmers.  As has been already pointed out, you won't have an even stroke unless you breath both sides.  And you risk wind/water in your face if you can only breath one side in the open water, not to mention being able to know your location based on other swimmers.  All invaluable, if you can do it.

What I was told was to start to practice bilat breathing.  Then I would be able to do it during a race when I need to (water conditions, tracking, etc.) and rely on my same side breathing to get me through the water.

So I think I basically just did a paragraph of summerizing what has already been said, so I'm post padding.

I have the free MR.SwimSmooth program thing.  I think it's ok, but I will have to have that eye in the water to correct what I do wrong.  There are so many little variables to swimming, that it's hard to watch one thing and then go to the water and pratice it - only to have someone else tell me that I should do it another way.

dalessit - 2009-08-24 11:25 AM When I run into choppy water I just roll a tad bit more to get to air, seems to work well for me but my OWS times seem to get slower and my pool times faster so lots of good stuff here. 

My plan for November after MCM is to do no running (other than OBX 8k and a turkey trot or two), no biking and hit the pool 4 days a week to get ready to start my HIM plan. 

SSMinnow - 2009-08-24 12:40 PM

No running? No biking? like NONE? Hardcore.  I think we will need to talk to Sam to see if that really happens .

Regarding the rotate more to breathe, that is what I did and at least 50% of the time I was sucking H20.  By creating that trough with your head you can actually remain pretty streamlined and still get air because your mouth is higher.  By all means do whatever works best for you, but I was kind of amazed how well it works.

Tracy--you are a rock solid swimmer.  You basically went from freaking out to strategizing on how to get that swim done in the same breathe.  Pretty funny.  If it were me, I would be looking for someone else to do it....if the waves didnt send me over the edge, the no wetsuit clause would for sure!  Go get 'em!

tahrens - 2009-08-24 9:22 AM Speaking of swimming, I had a Talk Me Down for the Edge moment this weekend about just registering for a swim!   A group of us were are going to swim our IM location in 3 weeks to do a pier to pier swim race in practice for the IM.  So I was thinking it was in the intercoastal waterways, i.e. ON THE RACE COURSE!    In summation this is what I was expecting....

 1.  Distance:  0.71 miles
 2. Location:  intercoastal waterway
 3. Conditions:  no waves and wetsuits

Here is what it really is.....
 1. Distance:  1.71 ~ 2 mile swim
 2.  Location:  ocean side swim
 3. Conditions:  running beach start through the surf and no wetsuits

HOLY CRAP!   I've never swum (is that a word?) in the ocean before, never done a running beach start, did I say never done an ocean swim before?!?!!  I can handle the distance (I hope) if I get my butt in gear NOW, but this is not what I was mentally planning for.   Therefore this race will be a GET OVER YOUR FEAR kind of race.  The one good thing is that we will be swimming with the current.  The average times from last year are under an hour, like 40 minutes!  They even have an under 18 wave.  I am so going to get my butt kicked.  Is it possible to cry in goggles and still sight?

Linda, you've done ocean swims right?  HELP ME!!

kt65 - 2009-08-24 11:13 AM

First of all, Tracy, you can definitely do this!  You have been swimming tons and you are very strong.  Once you get used to the rhythm of the water, you will be fine...I was surprised at how well I swam in the ocean (without a wetsuit) with the waves, and the salt water really keeps you buoyant.
I highlighted that last statement of yours because in my first olympic where it took fifty something minutes to finish, I was crying in my goggles and NO, it definitely did not improve my sighting, but then again I was on my back for the bulk of that swim!
You are WAY past that, girlfriend.  Swimming with the current is so much fun!  It almost feels like body surfing...it'll be fun! 

fattyfatfat - 2009-08-24 11:38 AM well speak of the devil...  just got an evite from my tri club.. riding the lone star course this weekend.  plenty of room for ya'll at my house ;-) 

Seriously, Andy c'mon down.

TrevorC - 2009-08-24 12:28 PM Happy Monday all.....
I must be the only one in our group that breathes to the left. All you one directional breathers breathe to the right??? Are you all righthanded or something by chance??


I had a breakthrough moment this weekend...My 1/2 mary plan said to do a 5k race this weekend.Then an easy 6 or 7 miles the next day.....We were out at the cabin. I was feeling really lazy on Sat morning. Did not feel like running whatsoever. I started to think about wanting to keep on my plan and I actually laughed about the Barry/Chris HTFU moments from last week. So I ran the 5k and ended up PB'ing it!! Best was 27 flat prior, and I ran it in 26:32. I had a real mental breakthrough as I did not know if I could hold that pace, and I kept wanting to tell my body/legs to stop!!! But I pushed through it. I'm really starting to learn that my body can do more than my mind allows sometimes. I think my mind is what is limiting me sometimes, and I'm not sure how to bust out of it.... Not sure if its that former-fatty thing or what?? You guys experience that?? I'm thinking the Johns/Andys or the world may know what I'm saying.

TrevorC - 2009-08-24 2:23 PM so what does one think of this treadmill
...........http://www.advancedfitnessgroup.com/products/treadmills/20AT.aspx

ashort33 - 2009-08-24 1:44 PM

It looks like a fancy moving sidewalk with an ipod holder

Seriously though, Iwould have someone explain the warranty.  It says lifetime frame and motor and then 1 year labor and 3 years parts...  That confused me...  Have you googled it looking for reviews?

TrevorC - 2009-08-24 12:28 PM

I had a breakthrough moment this weekend...My 1/2 mary plan said to do a 5k race this weekend.Then an easy 6 or 7 miles the next day.....We were out at the cabin. I was feeling really lazy on Sat morning. Did not feel like running whatsoever. I started to think about wanting to keep on my plan and I actually laughed about the Barry/Chris HTFU moments from last week. So I ran the 5k and ended up PB'ing it!! Best was 27 flat prior, and I ran it in 26:32. I had a real mental breakthrough as I did not know if I could hold that pace, and I kept wanting to tell my body/legs to stop!!! But I pushed through it. I'm really starting to learn that my body can do more than my mind allows sometimes. I think my mind is what is limiting me sometimes, and I'm not sure how to bust out of it.... Not sure if its that former-fatty thing or what?? You guys experience that?? I'm thinking the Johns/Andys or the world may know what I'm saying.