So I'm 50, swimming a few years, had a little coaching. Turn 50 yd laps at around 55 seconds, and can sustain that pace for 15 laps or so at a time.
Goal = 30 minute mile (35 laps at 51.5, I think).
So I understand the strong core and relaxed arms, but I wonder if I'm too relaxed. So, to my question: When I played basketball, we were told that, if we wanted to leap as high as possible, jump at an 8 or 8.5 on an effort scale with 10 as maximum effort, so that we didn't tense up. Is it about the same with freestyle--especially with arm motion?
I can sprint a 40 second lap, but even swimming an hour a day, I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to pull off the 30 minute mile?
Thanks for any advice on technique or workouts, in addition to my primary question about how "hard" to swim.
I think that what you are asking about is true of most if not all athletic movements. My background is baseball. When batting, trying to swing really hard tightens everything up, making it harder to hit the ball. The key is finding that balance point where you are maximizing your power yet keeping your movement fluid and balanced. Through practice, I believe that point moves so that you can exert more and more effort while keeping technique.
This applies directly to swimming. Learn what swimming smoothly feels like; figure out how fast you can go before you lose that feeling; keep pushing that limit, which will train you to swim with greater effort.
I think that what you are asking about is true of most if not all athletic movements. My background is baseball. When batting, trying to swing really hard tightens everything up, making it harder to hit the ball. The key is finding that balance point where you are maximizing your power yet keeping your movement fluid and balanced. Through practice, I believe that point moves so that you can exert more and more effort while keeping technique.
This applies directly to swimming. Learn what swimming smoothly feels like; figure out how fast you can go before you lose that feeling; keep pushing that limit, which will train you to swim with greater effort.
