Kicking is essential to swimming.
If you want to swim fast, you need to kick fast.
With a board, without a board,
With fins, without fins.
While swimming or just kicking.
Consider improving your kick.
We need speed.
What did you do in practice today?
the breastroke lane
The Middle Distance Lane
The Backstroke Lane
The Butterfly Lane
The SDK Lane
The Taper Lane
The Distance Lane
The IM Lane
The Sprint Free Lane
The Pool Deck
Today in practice we did a
500 FR swim for time on 15:00
went 5:18
then a
400 Kick for Time on 14:00
following the rules of USMS postal swim
went 5:32
1:23 ave
(the no stroking rule hurts my time, the way I like to turn when kicking is: as I approach the wall for a turn, take an arm stroke with my right arm then redirect the board with my left. Grab the wall with my right and turn)
think I'll spend next week improving my kicking fitness
then rest a little during Christmas
then give the 400 K a shot on Fri Dec 28th, Sat, Sun or Mon Dec 31st.
Did the 400 kick for time this morning and had a very embarrassing performance!
Took it out in a 1:24, then got simultaneous massive hamstring cramps in both legs and split 1:35, 1:39, 1:44. Very painful and pitiful performance!
I involuntarily did it yesterday. I've always disliked kicking due to ankles of stone. However, my "stable" ankles enable me to run much better than most swimmers can. I did a vigorous 12 mile run Tuesday, then coach ambushed us Wednesday AM with the 400 kick. I did a 7:13, which is quite good for me.
I tried it last week. 6:47. Do I get an altitude adjustment for 5200 ft elevation? Tough not stroking into the walls. I'm probably not going to formally register. It was a good challenge, however.
From Dec 1st - Dec 31st USMS now offers the
400 Kick for Time Postal challenge.
Description:
A fun postal event to encourage all swimmers to improve their kick. Prizes will be awarded to the top three swimmers in each age group in the 400 Kick for Time. Swimmers may kick any stroke or combination of strokes as long as they are holding a kickboard.
Rules:
1. Must use a kickboard.
2. No "stroking" into wall.
3. No flip turns.
4. You may do the 400 Kick for Time in any 25 yard length pool.
5. Must be completed between December 1 and 31, 2012.
6. Entry must be submitted online or received by mail by January 17, 2013.
7. Swimmers who change age groups during the event may enter and pay twice, but must kick the event twice, once in each age group.
8. One watch per swimmer.
9. Short Course Yards times only.
10. No fins allowed.
Online Entry Form
I involuntarily did it yesterday. I've always disliked kicking due to ankles of stone. However, my "stable" ankles enable me to run much better than most swimmers can. I did a vigorous 12 mile run Tuesday, then coach ambushed us Wednesday AM with the 400 kick. I did a 7:13, which is quite good for me.
Has anyone done this challenge or planning to do it?
how'd it go? We have till Monday Dec 31st
I've trained a little for it. Had a few trial runs.
1st attempt: 5:32 (1:23 ave) (did it shortly after a a pretty hard 500 FR 5:15)
2nd attempt: 5:24 (1:21 ave)
pretty sure I can go faster
From Dec 1st - Dec 31st USMS now offers the
400 Kick for Time Postal challenge.
Description:
A fun postal event to encourage all swimmers to improve their kick. Prizes will be awarded to the top three swimmers in each age group in the 400 Kick for Time. Swimmers may kick any stroke or combination of strokes as long as they are holding a kickboard.
Rules:
1. Must use a kickboard.
2. No "stroking" into wall.
3. No flip turns.
4. You may do the 400 Kick for Time in any 25 yard length pool.
5. Must be completed between December 1 and 31, 2012.
6. Entry must be submitted online or received by mail by January 17, 2013.
7. Swimmers who change age groups during the event may enter and pay twice, but must kick the event twice, once in each age group.
8. One watch per swimmer.
9. Short Course Yards times only.
10. No fins allowed.
Online Entry Form
Recovering from labrum surgery. Back in the pool for a week now kicking in the 'executive' lane, aka the gutter lane. No board and can only do half streamline with my good arm, but can manage flip turns. One thing I look forward to is being able to 'stroke' into the wall again.....which is something I haven't been able to do in a long time due to the bum shoulder. All my teammates would kill me on those stroking turns......no fair!!!!
Last nights workout (using short fins):
500 mixed kick warmup
3 x 5 x 100
1 x Flutter kick on stomach, arms at side (breathe by turning onto back)
1 x Dolphin kick on back, arms at side
1 x Side flutter kick, good arm leading
1 x Back flutter kick, good arm leading
1 x Dolphin dives (5-6 kicks per stroke with good arm).
500 cool down, no fins, mostly breaststroke kick on back
2500 LONG COURSE METERS total.
Every single little muscle in my FOOT hurts.
I have a training snorkel on its way to me now....anyone know of some good kick/snorkel drills? Or other kick drills not involving a streamline?
I've got at least 2-3 months more of this....wish me luck and/or kill me now!!! :drown:
I have a training snorkel on its way to me now....anyone know of some good kick/snorkel drills? Or other kick drills not involving a streamline?
I've been doing a lot of kicking with my arms at my side working all strokes with and without fins. It really helps with body position IMHO. I've also done a lot of kicking on my sides (not with a snorkel) and working on hip rotation. You can make any set into a kick set.
Last year (2102) I decided to do 100 miles of kick (with no fins). I made it, but at times it was sort of boring. 2 miles of open water kick for an hour and 45 minutes can pile on the monotony. I overcame some hurdles which included two sprained ankles, one injured shoulder, one bike wreck and a weeks vacation (with no pool). I plan on doing 110 miles this year! :bliss:
