Team Comet - Dec. Limiter Challenge (Page 7)

One of my big goals for next year is to improve the swim.  I have been reading the recent posts about position and balance and such and I see that there are drills here on BT.  Considering that none of you have seen me swim, and that I think my technique is exactly what I have been told to do AND that I am the second slowest person in the pool, how much of a difference do you think "balance" makes? 

 
Also, I am thinking about asking Santa for a session at one of the Total Immersion weekend clinics.  Has anyone ever done one and what do you think?

As far as the Limiter Team Comet Challenge, I am one swim behind because I was out of town on Tuesday.  I am doing the Rose Bowl Half Marathon on Saturday and since I swim at the Rose Bowl, if I am up for it, I will get in a swim after the race.  No promises vis-a-vis Saturday, but I will make up the swim. 

Leah...I think balance can be huge as to speed. If you swim slower than 1:40 or 1:30/100 yds most of the improvement you can make is improving technique compared to putting in the yards to build endurance. The farther you are away from that pace means you have more or bigger technique issues. I swam my IM swim at 2:30/100 yds can can do 1000 yd TT at about 2:04-2:07/100 yds.

I haven't improved last 3 years and swim 3x a week when not frustrated by lack of improvement. I tend to finish in bottom 10-25% in tris which means it is a technique issue. I know what I do wrong in a general sense and even how to correct it from an intellectual view but being able to execute it and feel the difference is what I always struggle with.

I am on my 5th swim coach. First one was a masters one I used briefly then I hired a private TI instructor figuring that spending the same amount of money over time would help me learn and get it better.  TI I think can help some, but did it help me? I could swim afterwards but avoiding all those bad habits so I would be better in long run didn't happen.

TI weekends are expensive. I'd suggest finding the best swim coach who works with folks like us you can and take some private lessons and work on things bit by bit. My swim coach is inexpensive to others I have used/known and charges $35/lesson by myself and $25/lesson each when I go with someone. I'd much rather have 8-12 lessons over 3-4 months than one weekend...but maybe that is me.

I study swimming but that doesn't translate into being able to do it. I needed a coach who could explain it so I could feel stuff and the difference.

Kathy - My swim yesterday was 2:49 per 100 meters.  I used to be faster (which does not mean fast).  I swim with the Rose Bowl Masters, but really don't get much in the way of swim help.  The coaches will answer a direct question, but mostly they are there to provide the workout, which I cannot do much beyond the warmup because I am so slow.  I pay $60 per month for the Masters workout, but in my mind I am paying for the privilege of swimming in a 50 meter pool, not for the workout or the coaching.  But that's still a bunch of money without getting any better.

So, I will try to take your advice.   I did a Google search for a private swim coach in the Pasadena area.  Mostly what came up was the Rose Bowl, but I did email someone else about private or semi-private lessons.  They have quoted prices of $30-45 for private lessons and $20 for semi-private.  Certainly not cheap, but if I gave up the Rose Bowl for a month and did this for a month, that might be a better use of my swimming dollars. 

Thanks for your response and advice.

Leah 

Susie..hope your rotator cuff is okay.

One goggle in and one goggle out drill is good. What I did today was start kicking on my back well balanced, then rotated slightly until knuckles on one hand were out of the water..keeping my head same position, feel the balance well and same as on my back, then I'd rotate my head to one in/one out place so I wouldn't lose my balance...if that makes any sense.

Other thing that helps me work on balance is I have a freestyle snorkel from Finis so I do some drills without having to breath so I can be totally comfortable and not have breathing disrupt my balance. 

Team Comet, 

Did 2000 yards in pool today!  (100 at a time)

I'm not a bad swimmer, I'm a BEGINNING swimmer. 

In the short time I have been working out I have noticed 2 little things that have helped me.  I find that if I look straight down at the bottom of the pool, bringing my chin closer to my chest, -my feet and legs don't sink as much.   And finishing my stroke strong, from about the floating ribs past my hips helps with position and speed.  I'm certainly not a swim coach, but see if either of these help.

I had a young woman ask if I was a triathlete at the pool the other night.  I told her I was training for the Hy-Vee triathlon next summer, but wondered why she would ask.  She said "because you swim like a runner". 

I told my wife I wanted to be in and out of the water in 26 minutes, she said "Do you already have your buddies in the boat lined up?........"

Already fightin' the current,

CPT K

Sounds like you're "burying" your head too much when you bring the chin to the chest.  Looking down at the black line but keeping the eyes focused about 2 feet ahead of where you are in the pool is a better position.  (My coach fussees at me for that so I hear his comments  in my head even when he's not there)

Finishing the stroke past the hips is part of "keeping it long" that you hear so much about.  Good work on that.

Congrats on the 2000 yard swim.  Doesn't matter how it's set up, you swam the distance

Alrighty teamies,

I am really sick, but don't want to drop the challenge.  I am amending my goal to one swim.  I really hope my lungs clear out before the New Year-I certainly can't swim with my airways in this condition. 

Goodness gracious. Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me!!! I totally forgot about this challenge somewhere during the first part of December.  GRRRR.  It must be either the holidays or the freakin' trainer challenge, or it could be that it's cold outside and my sinuses are horrible making me forget about swimming.

I just snuck in a short swim to try and catch up.  I will catch up.

 My sincerest apologies.

Oh my...I feel like I'm one of the ones you are referring to. he he  I will meet my goal.

How's everyone doing?

I had a good swim today working on balance and it seemed to click better.

Try to swim/train now as holidays are coming and it becomes more difficult to get time to train in.

Hey team!

Usually I swim on Thursdays, but my tri class is already canceled for tomorrow due to some extremely unpleasant weather coming our way, so went and snuck in a quick session today to compensate

You probably can learn a lot just from You Tube videos and save some money. Bob Stocks a wicked good swimmer had a great post on the main tri board today with lots of good tips.

I watched the Total Immersion DVD this week for the first time in a couple of years..its okay. Try to see if your library can get it for you. I know a few BTers who have gotten it that way.

A few swim lessons might really be the ticket to improve. 

Still fighting the nasties.  I am optimistic that I can meet my amended goal-one swim before the year is out.  It takes a while to get all the lingering crud out of my airways and I don't think people would appreciate swimming with somebody with a nasty cough.