So....here's the thing:
I'm actually getting decent at flipturns. I screw a few of them up, but I always know what I did wrong. The ratio of good flips to bad flips keeps going up. But, because there are usually some bad flips along the way, I haven't set any PRs yet when using flips. I'm at 1:25 100m with (some bad) flips, vs 1:22 with decent open-turns. My 50m is hi-39sec vice hi-38sec.
However....
When flipping, of course we are not breathing through the approach, turn, and pushoff. This is not a problem for me in a hard 50m/100m. But in a hard 400m, I'm dying, Man!! The accumulation of not breathing for this period every 25m has me GASPING after 200m. I crave that open-turn breath.
Maybe I will learn to handle this, but I dunno.
Even if you flip well, should you sometimes do open turns because of the oxygen situation?
Skuj,
A couple of comments:
- Forget everything you read about UDK off the walls (no offense ORCA). At your skill level, it is better to work on a good streamline push-off that takes you out to the flags without kicking or stroking) before surfacing.
- For your races, forget everything you have read about not breathing from the flags into the turn. No one in the world (Olympians included) hold their breathe from the flags in - except on the finish - of a 400 free.
- It sure does sound like you are not exhaling enough (right on ORCA) before taking a breath. This will get you into exhaustion very quickly. Is your chest burning like it is gonna explode? If so, sure sign of CO2 build-up which is only alleviated by exhaling hard and completely before taking your next breath.
- As Jeff suggested, a video might be helpful. In the meantime, do open turns when necessary. In a 400, it is only 7 turns (LCM). Better to be comfortable than distressed.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Paul
Skuj,
A couple of comments:
- Forget everything you read about UDK off the walls (no offense ORCA). At your skill level, it is better to work on a good streamline push-off that takes you out to the flags without kicking or stroking) before surfacing.
- For your races, forget everything you have read about not breathing from the flags into the turn. No one in the world (Olympians included) hold their breathe from the flags in - except on the finish - of a 400 free.
- It sure does sound like you are not exhaling enough (right on ORCA) before taking a breath. This will get you into exhaustion very quickly. Is your chest burning like it is gonna explode? If so, sure sign of CO2 build-up which is only alleviated by exhaling hard and completely before taking your next breath.
- As Jeff suggested, a video might be helpful. In the meantime, do open turns when necessary. In a 400, it is only 7 turns (LCM). Better to be comfortable than distressed.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Paul
