My best long swim ever!

Congrats on the PR!!! Way to go. What races are you training for?

Congrats on the new PR! 

Great job!! That's an impressive improvement.

My goal is to improve on my first-ever swim time at the Grizz Triathlon in Missoula, MT. I finished the 1000 yds in 20:15, but I'd like to be closer to 18 in '08. In Jan. I plan to start some speed work, and to concentrate on the 'pull' part of my stroke.

Last year I did two other sprints as solo in August. I want to do those again. I know I can improve them, because I really stink at the run. My longest runs last year were 54 minutes, and it wasn't enough. I'm working up to six miles by February/March. I'm at 4.8 right now.

Thanks for asking!

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good job! any tips for us beginners?

I think you have more experience than I do! I don't feel qualified to give advice, but I can tell you what I've done.

The first thing I learned was to breathe bilaterally. I find that I get a good breath by blowing out all that I have left, through my nose, just before my head breaks the water. Lotsa room in the lungs for fresh air! Taking the breath right under my armpit, I envision my stroke pushing my head back into the water.

To learn how my hands should reenter the water, I touch my hip with my thumb and trace the seam up to my armpit. This brings my elbow high out of the water. The swim instructor here gave me a 'finger drag' drill. I dragged my finger tips in the water. When my hand reaches my eybrow, then I reenter, and lengthen out my stroke. That is just a drill, I don't do that now, but it did teach me how to reenter at my eyebrow.

I've also stopped kicking for now, as I was bending at the knee, creating drag. Now I only kick a little from the hip to keep my balance. I'll add the kick again when I get everything else put together.

There are soooooo many things to think about when you swim that it is difficult to master them all at once. Just work on one thing until you have it down.

If anybody thinks I've given bad advice, feel free to post your own. I'm a novice at this!

congrats!!