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Two Swim Questions
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 2009-07-06 7:32 AM |
Regular  89  lowell |  Subject: Two Swim QuestionsOkay, I need some help with swimming... haven't heard that one before? My first problem is that my calves seem to tighten up and get cramps any time i'm swimming. It's not bad in the pool since I'm flexing them every 25yards pushing off the wall, but during OWS I've experienced it. Is there some trick I'm missing? or should I just HTFU and train more? Next is tied to pool vs OWS. I've gone out for a couple OWS's and find myself stopping every 500yrds or so. I think it's because my sets in the pool are usually 500yrds, and my body/brain just is stopping from habit. Does anyone else have this problem? Thanks. |
| 2009-07-06 8:27 AM in reply to: #2263890 |
Veteran 318 Indianapolis | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions In my opinion for the cramps in your calves, just swim more. Odd that you say they don't flare up as much when you do push off the wall, usually that is when they do attack. My experience has been to just swim more though. As for the stopping every 500 yds in open water, that is pretty far, sounds like you are doing well. Do you stop, tread water, and go again? Or do you mean you just stop all together. If you are stopping, treading water, and picking it back up, to me sounds like a mental thing. Probably from like you said your workouts in the pool are about that distance. I can relate to that, I used to do that on long runs. Just kind of start walking after about 3 miles or so, then I would start running again. Finally I just told myself to HTFU. I wasn't tired, it was mental. So now, I just keep running, I'm not tired so why stop before I am supposed to. If you don't feel that you NEED to stop, keep swimming. My guess is after a couple of times doing that, you will be able to swim as far as you want. |
| 2009-07-06 8:47 AM in reply to: #2263890 |
| 4 | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions Yep, more swimming will solve the calve cramps. work on one beat kicking just for body roll and balance. Save those legs. Don't sweat the stopping if it is brief. You will probably swim a better line than I do. I don't sight enough and it costs minutes not seconds. |
| 2009-07-06 11:40 AM in reply to: #2263890 |
Pro 6011  Camp Hill, Pennsylvania | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions Ditto re: swim more, but the cramping probably has nothing to do with swimming exertion and everything to do with simply tensing up your calves while you swim. The same thing happens to people who get foot cramps when they swim. Besides swimming more, make a conscious effort to relax the muscles you're not using to hold form or propel you forward. This will help conserve energy, make you a more fluid swimmer, and should reduce this sort of cramping. |
| 2009-07-06 12:49 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
Regular 89 lowell | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions thanks to all! I'll try and relax tonight during my swim and see if that makes a difference. |
| 2009-07-06 4:25 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
| 105 | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions I have the same/similar calf thing going on during OWS (maybe not a full on cramp but a very tight feeling). I have been swimming competitively for 26 yrs so I dont think the swim more solution will completely make it go away. During the OWS of a tri I flex my feet while swimming from time to time just to keep things loose. It does not slow me down and it keeps the tightness a bay. |
| 2009-07-06 4:47 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions I find that when I neglect my foot/ankle stretching and start losing the flexibility, I have to use my calves to get my feet into a good kicking position. After a while they cramp up. John |
| 2009-07-06 5:00 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions Does the cramping only happen on longer OWS? When you swim in the pool do you usually hydrate between sets? If you are used to drinking some water every 500 yards and suddenly start to OWS without drinking anything it could be a hydration issue. Also could be something with Wetsuit vs. non wetsuit if you use one... Not an expert by any means but I know my cramping when swimming went away when I made sure I was hyrdrating during my pool swims. |
| 2009-07-06 6:04 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
Pro 4608 Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions Are you stretching your calves daily? If you aren't and are doing a lot of biking/running, you are going to get cramps in your calves and feet. Most people don't stretch enough. It can also be from dehydration on a really long swim. I actually find that pushing off the wall can cause the cramping so you may want to try softening the push a bit too. As far as the second question, I used to do this last year, partly because I wasn't used to swimming for longer distances without stopping and partly from horrendous sighting skills. Now that I can sight more comfortably I rarely stop during a swim. |
| 2009-07-06 6:18 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
Expert 1148 Santa Fe, New Mexico | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions Regarding the long swim, I like to throw in a long swim every now and then. After a short warm up I just swim for the total allotted time. Before IM I did a few 4000 yard swims. Only problem is keeping from getting bored out of your mind. It's easier in the open water. (less laps) |
| 2009-07-06 6:43 PM in reply to: #2265802 |
Extreme Veteran 495 Denton | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions jashac - 2009-07-06 6:18 PM Regarding the long swim, I like to throw in a long swim every now and then. After a short warm up I just swim for the total allotted time. Before IM I did a few 4000 yard swims. Only problem is keeping from getting bored out of your mind. It's easier in the open water. (less laps) x2 on throwing some long OWS swims (or even pool swims) into your workouts. You don't need a lot, but if nothing else they'll increase your confidence and help you learn to pace for a longer distance. |
| 2009-07-06 8:07 PM in reply to: #2263890 |
| Veteran 189 | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions For what its worth--my swim coach told me that my calves and the muscles in my feet will start to cramp when I get the proper kick technique down. He said I need to point my toes more and I will start to experience cramping when I get it right--at least at the beginning. He said to work on flexibility and it will eventually go away. |
| 2009-07-17 9:26 PM in reply to: #2265829 |
Veteran 555 | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions x2 on throwing some long OWS swims (or even pool swims) into your workouts. You don't need a lot, but if nothing else they'll increase your confidence and help you learn to pace for a longer distance. Is there any such thing as "swim pacing"? How does one pace themselves on the swim? Is it simply based on perceived exertion? "I'm swimming just as hard as I have done in practice" What happens when you get hyped up because of race day, or because of 500 people thrashing all around you, and then you're exhausted half way through the swim? Does anyone try to use any objective measures, like glance at their watch at each buoy? |
| 2009-07-18 12:42 AM in reply to: #2263890 |
| Veteran 294 Boston | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions I can't help much with the first question, but as for the second question, there are a few reasons why this might be happening. OWS is practically a separate sport from pool swimming, first of all. Even if you do 1000m swims in a pool and then go out in OW and try for a 500, you might get much more winded from the mere fact that you are not stopping at the end of each length to turn around. Even if you do flip turns you are still breaking your rhythm of kicking and stroking, so you can find yourself getting noticably more tired. Also, OW offers many more variables than pool swimming does: in the ocean, you get waves; in the river, you get current; in the lake, I'm not sure what they call it - but you have that extra toughness factor compared with if you were (hypothetically) swimming 500m in a 500m length pool. It's all about practice, so try and get in as much OW practice during the race season as you can, and I think you will see your results improving much quicker! Don't get discouraged - it's hard for EVERYONE when they first start.  |
| 2009-07-18 11:29 AM in reply to: #2265668 |
Lethbridge, Alberta Bronze member | Subject: RE: Two Swim Questions tkd.teacher - 2009-07-06 3:47 PM I find that when I neglect my foot/ankle stretching and start losing the flexibility, I have to use my calves to get my feet into a good kicking position. After a while they cramp up. John As John suggests, I think the OP problem is likely a lack of ankle flexibility. He says it's worse in OWS and I would guess that's because he's straining those calves continuously to point his toes. Ideally for swimming your toes will point straight back easily and without effort. To stretch the ankles, get down on a carpet or mat, on your knees with the tops of your feet stretched out flat on the surface and the toes pointing backwards. Push your body weight back towards your heels or rest on your heels if you can. As with most static stretching, you just want a stretch, don't push through pain. If you want to increase this ankle stretch even more, fold a blanket or towel and put it under the toes. Edit: Another way to stretch the ankles is by swimming lots. Fins can help too, but don't use them all the time.Edited by Micawber 2009-07-18 11:38 AM |
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