Nov 15-Dec 15 "Swim Speed Secrets" Book Club (Page 4)

First thought, from the intro:

"Let’s look at his times: In February 1924, Weissmuller swam a 57.4 in the 100-m freestyle (long course meters). Sure, the world record now is 46.91, set by Cesar Cielo of Brazil (2009 World Championships), and the women’s world record is 52.07 (Britta Steffen, Germany, 2009 World Championships), but how many of you who are reading this book would think you were the cat’s meow for going a time like Weissmuller’s? And it wasn’t just the short races in which Weissmuller set world records. He also owned the 400-m and 800-m freestyle records: 4: 57.0 in the 400, set in 1923, and 10: 22.2 in the 800..."

Um, DAH-UMN.  Those times are unbelievable.  I mean, his head was above the water and his legs were pointed at maybe 30-45 degrees downward.  I'm thinking maybe I should try his technique, since he's so much faster than me.

Also, these only-slightly-subtle digs:

"First, I wanted to write a book for triathletes more than any other group. I feel that this group has latched on to one swim-technique theory for too long." (Chapter 1)

"A weekend swimming clinic is coming to town. It is marketed as holding the key to unleashing your swimming potential. At the clinic, swimmers are told that taking fewer strokes is better. The focus is entirely on reducing the number of strokes to get across the pool. From our equation, we know this is a good thing. However, at this clinic, the swimmers are not told about the other half of the equation. All weekend, the participants are in the water— reaching, extending, and gliding out front. They look beautiful and smooth. The athletes get excited about having reduced their number of strokes from 10 down to 8. They probably raised their hands to tell the coach the good news, and the coach probably high-fived them."  (Chapter 2)

Hmmmm...a shot across the bow at TI?

Brace yourself, there are LOTS of references to TI.  Not by name, per se, but you definitely know when she's talking about TI and what NOT to do, especially with any reference to "glide" and stroke rate.  In fairness, she does a good job of explaining why that just doesn't work or make sense with her technique. 

Thanks, Elesa, for getting this going.  As I'm reading through all you good folk's bios I'm praying "please be slower than me...please be slower than me".  Nope.   It's with much intimidation that I'm joining in this group and discussion as I'm an old lady and your times blow me out of the water.  My name is Brenda and the only thing I have in common with Sheila T is that I'm also short (5'1").  Took my first swim lesson about 7 years ago when I wanted to get into triathlons (there's a large sprint one locally that piqued my interest).  I have no athletic background so at that same time I took up biking and running.  I live in rural mid-America and we only have a Y pool in our town with no masters class.  I was taught the "S" stroke.  I've made the normal progression in distance and am registered to do IMWI 2014 (a bucket list item).  My average is 2:30/100 with a stroke count of 25.  I see you scrunching your face and cringing at those numbers so don't deny it.   Yep.   The funny thing is, I really LIKE swimming and being in the water.  I learned from the get-go to bilateral breath but haven't even given thought to learning flip turns.  I can't swim in the ocean or Great Lakes as I get motion sickness from the waves, otherwise, I have no panic in lake open water (that's why I chose IMWI).  I KNOW I have it in me to get faster and I just need help and direction.   Thanks for letting me in to glean what I can from SSS with you all.

Thanks, Elesa, for getting this going.  As I'm reading through all you good folk's bios I'm praying "please be slower than me...please be slower than me".  Nope.   It's with much intimidation that I'm joining in this group and discussion as I'm an old lady and your times blow me out of the water.  My name is Brenda and the only thing I have in common with Sheila T is that I'm also short (5'1").  Took my first swim lesson about 7 years ago when I wanted to get into triathlons (there's a large sprint one locally that piqued my interest).  I have no athletic background so at that same time I took up biking and running.  I live in rural mid-America and we only have a Y pool in our town with no masters class.  I was taught the "S" stroke.  I've made the normal progression in distance and am registered to do IMWI 2014 (a bucket list item).  My average is 2:30/100 with a stroke count of 25.  I see you scrunching your face and cringing at those numbers so don't deny it.   Yep.   The funny thing is, I really LIKE swimming and being in the water.  I learned from the get-go to bilateral breath but haven't even given thought to learning flip turns.  I can't swim in the ocean or Great Lakes as I get motion sickness from the waves, otherwise, I have no panic in lake open water (that's why I chose IMWI).  I KNOW I have it in me to get faster and I just need help and direction.   Thanks for letting me in to glean what I can from SSS with you all.

I've had two breakthroughs in swimming.  Once in the spring of last year, where due to a back injury I was pretty much limited to swimming as my only exercise for a couple of months.  I mastered bi-lateral breathing and was starting to make some speed gains, then tweaked my neck and shoulder.  The second was this past spring after I joined our Masters group.  I was doing 4K meter workouts with the group and again was getting some gains, but that neck issue re-appeared.  I managed to get through my tri season and then shut it down.  Best 100y time is about 1:30, cruise pace is around 1:55 (well, was).

So, I need to almost start over, and would like to do it in a semi-coached manner.  Once I get some basics down (and be able to rotate by body instead of my neck to breathe so we don't have this issue again), I'll re-join Masters and get my beat down.

This book interests me because of its front-focused approach, which I think is going to be in my wheelhouse given my kick weakness.  I know I need to work on it so my legs at least get the hell out of the way, though. 

I haven't been in the pool since the beginning of September and probably won't start until next week at the earliest, starting with some drills and some strength work.

Thanks, Elesa, for getting this going.  As I'm reading through all you good folk's bios I'm praying "please be slower than me...please be slower than me".  Nope.   It's with much intimidation that I'm joining in this group and discussion as I'm an old lady and your times blow me out of the water.  My name is Brenda and the only thing I have in common with Sheila T is that I'm also short (5'1").  Took my first swim lesson about 7 years ago when I wanted to get into triathlons (there's a large sprint one locally that piqued my interest).  I have no athletic background so at that same time I took up biking and running.  I live in rural mid-America and we only have a Y pool in our town with no masters class.  I was taught the "S" stroke.  I've made the normal progression in distance and am registered to do IMWI 2014 (a bucket list item).  My average is 2:30/100 with a stroke count of 25.  I see you scrunching your face and cringing at those numbers so don't deny it.   Yep.   The funny thing is, I really LIKE swimming and being in the water.  I learned from the get-go to bilateral breath but haven't even given thought to learning flip turns.  I can't swim in the ocean or Great Lakes as I get motion sickness from the waves, otherwise, I have no panic in lake open water (that's why I chose IMWI).  I KNOW I have it in me to get faster and I just need help and direction.   Thanks for letting me in to glean what I can from SSS with you all.

First thought, from the intro:

"Let’s look at his times: In February 1924, Weissmuller swam a 57.4 in the 100-m freestyle (long course meters). Sure, the world record now is 46.91, set by Cesar Cielo of Brazil (2009 World Championships), and the women’s world record is 52.07 (Britta Steffen, Germany, 2009 World Championships), but how many of you who are reading this book would think you were the cat’s meow for going a time like Weissmuller’s? And it wasn’t just the short races in which Weissmuller set world records. He also owned the 400-m and 800-m freestyle records: 4: 57.0 in the 400, set in 1923, and 10: 22.2 in the 800..."

Um, DAH-UMN.  Those times are unbelievable.  I mean, his head was above the water and his legs were pointed at maybe 30-45 degrees downward.  I'm thinking maybe I should try his technique, since he's so much faster than me.

Also, these only-slightly-subtle digs:

"First, I wanted to write a book for triathletes more than any other group. I feel that this group has latched on to one swim-technique theory for too long." (Chapter 1)

"A weekend swimming clinic is coming to town. It is marketed as holding the key to unleashing your swimming potential. At the clinic, swimmers are told that taking fewer strokes is better. The focus is entirely on reducing the number of strokes to get across the pool. From our equation, we know this is a good thing. However, at this clinic, the swimmers are not told about the other half of the equation. All weekend, the participants are in the water— reaching, extending, and gliding out front. They look beautiful and smooth. The athletes get excited about having reduced their number of strokes from 10 down to 8. They probably raised their hands to tell the coach the good news, and the coach probably high-fived them."  (Chapter 2)

Hmmmm...a shot across the bow at TI?

Did you get through her rationale as to why Weissmuller is so much faster than so many today, even with what would now be considered generally horrendous positioning? Chapter 3 is where she really picks it up with this.

Is that too far ahead? It's past 1/4 by chapter, but about right by pages.

I actually wasn't crazy about the first few chapters. I kept wondering when we were going to get to the "swim speed secrets" part

---------------

I ran into my ex-D1 swimmer friend yesterday at the pool.  She was actually there to teach swimming to a group of college students, and we got the chance to watch them swim for a bit.  It is so interesting to watch people swim now--especially with someone who REALLY knows swimming--and breakdown the stuff that's going right and the stuff that's going wrong.  If any  of you have the ability to get some stroke video and post it, I think we could learn a lot by going through it.  I am going to try.  My tri team bought a GoPro, but lining up to use it is turning into a huge PITA. 

Anyway, she passed on a GREAT video that I encourage you all to watch,  It does an excellent job of breaking down the catch and shows some vectors/body angles to shoot for. I know I really need to think more about moving my body past my anchor point rather than pulling my arms through the water.

I actually wasn't crazy about the first few chapters. I kept wondering when we were going to get to the "swim speed secrets" part

Anyway, she passed on a GREAT video that I encourage you all to watch,  It does an excellent job of breaking down the catch and shows some vectors/body angles to shoot for. I know I really need to think more about moving my body past my anchor point rather than pulling my arms through the water.

On another note. My Nook version does not have any of the photos of the drills. This is crap, that is easily as important as the words in this book. No answer from Nook why this is so.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Though it strikes terror in my heart on all the things you have to think of. at one time. Then I breathe and remember, she builds one step at a time. The 80:20 theory strikes a chord with me. focus on that 20 percent that makes a difference. The visual of using your hand to go over the wall also seems to be a good visual for me. I can't wait to get in the pool and try it.

Haha, the anticipation is probably driving you nuts! I had the same feeling, but think it was a good idea to set things up the way she did. Part of this is to help weigh different aspects as many seem to think in terms of yes/no towards importance. As in yes it's important, so work on it all the time, or no it's not, so don't ever do it. Which is really not the case. The pareto principle is nice for that as it'll break things into "do this a lot" and "do this some times" instead of all or nothing. There isn't really a whole lot to the book. Much of it is presenting the case for some things, mainly what she feels is most important to work on and some on how to go about doing that.

Will have to look at this later as I'm not too long off finishing another strong ride. IF=0.85 for 2:45