Mike's group closed (Page 3)

Ha!  I do have the spandex thing going though.

I'll give this a try in another week or so once I'm more confident in my hip.  I'll also have to go get some flippers at the local swim store.  Thanks.

Hey Rob,

youtube has a million videos on swimming drills and stuff.  Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OsfFjdnzGc&NR=1

It's so much easier when you can see someone doing it as opposed to just reading it.  And then you can 'watch' yourself as you swim and make sure you look like the guy in the video for proper form.  Hope your hip gets better.

Sandra

My favorite video on form.  Learn from the pro's.  LOL  Sorry, couldn't resist...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqepy5gvW8U&feature=related

Hey Matt,

Good catch up from the holidays.  Man, you're fast on your swim!  Any tips would be greatly appreciated! 

Sandra

That's a funny video.  I think those dogs are faster then me.

I know what you mean about Schedules Matt.  I am back at work Monday and back into a routine.

Cute video! (The dogs, not Dave Scott.)

Went to the pool last night and thought about pushing my chest down.  Was able to swim 300 yards continuously.  Will try the kicking drills today...

Had a great swim this afternoon.  Started out by working on the superman kick drills for several laps.  I think that did a few things.  Helped me feel relaxed about breathing while kicking and helped me focus on gliding during a stroke without sinking.  I also noticed that I was lifting my head a bit to breath instead of just rotating.

After the drills I was able to swim several long sets (longest was a 500) by focusing on keeping my head and chest down, gliding, and rotating onto my sides during each stroke.  Best of all, I actually felt relaxed during most of the sets.

Fun stuff.

Hi Mike,

"Just a little note: When you reply to your "inspires", click the small button that allows you to reply in blog. Then it will come back to the sender, otherwise, they won't see your messages unless they scroll down through you "inspries" 

What small button?  The "reply" buttom inside of the "inspire me" box?

thanks Mike

Hey Sandra,

Regarding the "inspire" issue: When you read an inspire someone posts in your b/log, you can respond by clicking either on the "reply" or the "blog" button.  After reading your b/log, it appears you used the "reply" button to reply (why wouldn't you, right!?).  If you instead click "blog" to reply, your response will get posted in the other person's log where they are more likely to see it. I got confused by this same thing when I started using BT, and it took me awhile to figure it out.

Okay.  I'll try that.  Damn site is so confusing...  Running out to the gym for another day of fun!!!  Just to make you guys jealous, we had 80 degree weather yesterday so I went out cycling.  Yep, that's my kind of winters.  lol  Do you guys even get to see sun with all that snow?  lol

Hope you have yet another great day and enjoy your Sunday!!!

 Sandra

80!  I remember the sun.  It was this warm thing up in the sky, right?

I am looking forward to my outside run today, on the snow covered road and it is 24 degrees outside.

Things like this make me wonder why I continue to live in KY.  Currently 38F, gray, and brown outside.  Only ~three months to go...

omg!  24?  38?  Houston would shut down in those temps!  The last time we had some snow flurries (must have been in the low 40's) freeways shut down, there were accidents all over town and half of the companies were closed.  LOL!

I don't see how you guys do it!  Have a great Sunday and good luck on next week's training.

Sandra

Swimming has been pretty easy for me.  Back in Junior College I took swimming classes for my PE requirement and fell in love with the pool.  My general suggestion to about anybody is to have somebody that has a good stroke give you some tips.  It's so important that your hands go in the water right, move through it right, and come back around. 

The obvious next important thing is learning to breathe right... A drill we did when I was in school was to extend one arm onto the side of the pool, and practice breathing on the other side.  Put your face in the water and simulate strokes with the hand that's not on wall, breathing till you get comfortable at it....

Tomorrow's workout is another long swim one, kids are back in school and it's time to get into a good routine....

Is there any tricks you guys use to talk yourself into the pool when it's freezing outside?  Although the pool is supposed to be heated, it's never warm enough and I have such a hard time with the cold water.  I've considered swimming with a rash guard over my swim suit.  Maybe purchase a wet suit and swim with that? 

Some information on triathlon wet suits would be great, pros, cons, rules, etc...

Thanks for the tips Matt.

I'm back to the usual routine today too.  Got up early and got the kids off to school.  Was planning to swim (again..) this afternoon, but feeling pretty tired right now.

I swim in two different pools, one at the Y and the other at a local university.  The Y's pool is always pretty warm, but the university's pool is Cold and I dread the first few minutes of being in the pool.  Unfortunately, I don't have any good tips.  One thing I've heard others suggest is to go for a short run to warm up before getting in the pool, but I haven't tried that yet.

Last May there was a race near my house & our local tri group decided to get a few practice swims in the weeks beforehand.  The water temp was 58 degrees.  My face was so numb, it was hard to talk.  I don't know any trick to getting in, I just know that the sooner I get going, the sooner I will get over it.  It is always a shocker though.  You don't want to wear a wetsuit in the pool because the chlorine will ruin it.   There is a lot to be said about wetsuits, but here are somethings to get you thinking.  There is a difference between tri/swim specific wetsuits and say surfing or diving wetsuits.  The main difference (but not the only) is that tri wetsuits give you more room to move.  They come in various configurations like full sleeve, sleeveless, and one piece or two piece.  You can find some priced around $150.00 on up to $1500.00.  Wetsuits are legal in most races when the water temp is 78 or lower (to the race directors discretion).  Wetsuits make you way more buoyant in the water and faster due to less resistance. It is like swimming downhill.  They do keep you warmer in cold water too. So they are worth having for those reasons.  If your not concerned about cold water or speed, then maybe wait until after your first race to see how you feel about continuing to do races before you spend the cash.  When your ready to buy though, choosing can be tough.  I've had three different suits in three years.  Fit is key!  They are tight and take some getting used to!  They are supposed to be tight so you don't scoop gallons of water into it as you swim. They can even freak out some claustrophobic people.  If you have anyone near you who sells them or if you can borrow one from someone, try it on.  If not each brand has size parameters for you to follow.  In my opinion, you get what you pay for.  I like the full, one piece suit.  Easiest to put on and off.  Maximum speed, buoyancy, and warmth and they look stealth.

omg!  58 water temps?  I die in 58 air temps!!!  I'm afraid I'll have to be a fair weather competitor...     Picking my races based on high temps.  That'll give me more training time too...  lol   Guess I'll try a really think rash guard.  Will let you guys know how that works out.  Hitting the pool and spinning later today.  Have a great workout!

Sandra

Thanks for the wetsuit info Mike, I've been thinking about getting one down the road.

Do you have any recommendations regarding sleeved versus sleeveless?  I'm not sure how to choose between these styles.  It seems to me that a sleeveless suit would make it easier to move arms and maintain a normal stroke.