Unsolicited advice? (Page 2)

Janet Evans was a straight arm recovery swimmer, and held the 800 m world record from 1988Mar - 2008Aug.

It's probably better to feel a person out before blurting out what you think they are doing wrong.

Janet Evans Stroke (not for the faint of heart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71CN4yNMgtY

I wouldn't take advice from anyone that went to Duke .

I wouldn't. I'm a USASwimming Cert'd coach, have coached kids and adults, swam a fair bit myself...and I keep my mouth shut unless someone asks. If someone asks, for sure I'll take a look and make whatever recommendations I think will help. Something that I think a lot of people miss is that there really isn't one "perfect" stroke...there's an ideal and best practices, but everyone has their own quirks and little signatures (for instance, one of my former swimmers had this hand flourish at the end of her stroke...no matter what we did it didn't correct, but she kept getting faster and faster so we figured it was just one of her things). Swimming is a lot like art, you can teach line and form and shape and color, but every painter's picture is going to come out different.

Hmm---I wonder if I'm "that girl" to anyone...

I would love to have some free swimming advice.
Feedback is all in the delivery and your intention.

I think if you are clear with why you want to engage with her, and its from a place of
helpfulness and not ego, they you should spark up a conversation!

Good luck!

I told a guy who mentioned that he was just get back into swimming that he need not worry about breathing every third stroke and probably could breathe every two. He was breathing rather heavily and it appeared to me (not a professional) that he was going to get a little hypoxic should he continue. I think he heeded the advice but I don't know if he mumbled something about me under his breath when he left the pool. But that situation is very very very different than the one you are in.

Say something only if you can beat her, and by a lot.

Holy moly what a great bunch of answers. Many thanks for an entertaining read this morning. My summation doesn't do them justice because you guys are hilarious (except trishie who wouldn't take advice from someone from Duke--she obviously has a smurf blue hypoxic Carolina-biased brain).

It seems split about 33/66 for yes/no on the commenting. I will treat this as a democracy and listen to the no vote. If she sees my form and is so impressed she wants advice (which frankly would never happen), then I'll gently and kindly bring it up. The only people that ever ask me are the beginners.

As for some of the fun comments, when I introspect on my motives, I don't think it is because I am annoyed by the splashing (I am more annoyed by the kids in the next lane that are literally splashing each other the whole time), but because she obviously is working hard with all sorts of aids and a program and this is something that I have read is bad. So, that annoys me, but not the splash noise. As others have pointed out, different strokes for different folks, and just because some book says X doesn't mean X is true for everyone. Even if X seems really rational (e.g., like 'don't slap the water' does), some people do it and are great swimmers.

Frankly she swims at least as fast as me (we are about even, though for long distance she is faster than me and for shorter distances I am faster). As many pointed out that doesn't give me much leverage for advice. Obviously she is a good swimmer, as I said initially, and likely has a coach.

However, she does seem cool, has a triathlon (Hawaii) water bottle, so maybe I should just say hi and try to become gym buds. Hell, I could probably learn something from her that's for sure. When I breath to the left I have a tendency to drop my speed in half. Maybe that would be a better conversation starter (note I am not at all interested in hitting on her as a couple of folks alluded to -- I am both happily married and even if I weren't I have no interest in being that creepy guy at the gym--I just like to talk about triathlon stuff and there aren't many people in person to do so with!).

Seriously though, there were some really hilarious comments, not just helpful. I especially appreciate comments from coaches because you have a perspective that is likely more objective than mine.

Edited by neuronet 2009-09-03 12:32 PM

Some of the funniest responses:




















Edited by neuronet 2009-09-03 12:50 PM

nope, a Maryland-red brain (I understand "we're not your rival" but we don't have a Maryland State so you are ours )

Not necessarily. I've seen swimmers at my pool and I really wanted advice from them but I was too shy to ask. I would have loved it if they had offered some tips.

Indeed, this thread motivates me to be less shy and to ask some of the great swimmers at my pool for advice since they might refrain because they are being polite.

I am not that great a swimmer, but I don't have to be to see if someone is doing something kooky (e.g., if someone stopped for five seconds every time they breathed, I wouldn't need to be able to beat them in a race to know it is silly). Hence, it isn't true that if someone isn't as good they can't give good advice. The best swimmers aren't necessarily the best coaches, and vice versa. In the Olympics, remember when Usain Bolt slowed down and turned around to look at his rivals, and started celebrating before even finishing the race? Do you need to be a world class sprinter to know that is a bad idea? Notice he hasn't done it since.

I'm not saying I'm a great coach, or an expert on swimming, but just pointing out the flaws in some of the macho logic being used here, the kind you'd find from a spoiled professional athlete or something who no longer accepts criticisms.

That said, what convinced me to not say anything is the number of people here who would be offended by unsolicited advice. I don't know if this gal has a chip on her shoulder, or like me would appreciate unsolicited advice. Rather than risk it, I'll just relax. If we ever become gym buds, then maybe we'll discuss swim form someday.

I'm glad I asked as I sort of assumed everyone was like me, and seeks advice whenever I can get it.


Edited by neuronet 2009-09-03 3:33 PM

I would talk more trash but I just looked at your blog and you train more in one day than I do in a week so I will just hide in the corner.

Edited by neuronet 2009-09-03 3:22 PM