Hi,
I've been reading this forum for a while, and it seems like a very nice place. Hopefully there's enough space for another non-US-swimmer as I haven't really found any good Swedish forums. Besides, I'm not really sure whether TI has caught on over here at all. I've previously received great help at coach Hines' H2Ouston Swims forum, but it feels like you're occupying too much of only one man's valuable time there.
For background, I'm male, 33 years old, 6'5", 73 kg, recently quit my job to take up my studies again, which gave me enough spare time to go swimming several times a week. Bored with my elementary school-taught breaststroke, I got the Swimming Made Easy book and started following it on my own. Now I'm doing roughly 15 strokes/lap in the 25 m pool without really bothering to push off as efficiently or long time as possible, but I'm getting rather exhausted from swimming more than 75 m without stopping. I could probably go 200 m if my life depended on it, but more on this below.
I've got some things to ask about, and I thought I'd put them all in one thread. Hopefully not all of them have been previously discussed to exhaustion. Anyway, any input is much appreciated.
Stroke/lap counting
I'm suffering from rather an extreme form of amnesia that renders me unable to count higher than to five (as well as remember anything I've read on technique and planned to try) as soon as I make contact with water. At best, though, I can count all strokes for a lap, but in some kind of Heisenbergian way this takes the focus off, and impairs my swimming, resulting (I'm guessing) in a higher stroke count. The discontinued Speedo gadget sounds like what I need, but in the present, what should I do? Any tricks or zen wisdom available?
Kicking
I've been mostly preoccupied with balance and pulling, using my legs mainly for balance. I've started to pay attention to them as of lately, and I've noticed I'm doing some kind of "modified 4-beat kick", doing (starting on my left side) 1-2-3 (right side) ...4..., which feels a bit awkward now that I've started thinking about it. On the '4', I'm pushing my right leg down at the same time I'm pulling with my right arm. I'm seldom tired in the legs, so I thought I might be using them too little. Should I go for a more intense kick or try to improve the one I have? I'm not sprinting, but rather looking towards being able to swim a few hundred meters without having to stop for breath.
Technique vs yardage
Having swum freestyle for a couple of months, I'm beginning to feel rather comfortable with my stroke. Most of the time, though, I swim a lap, take a pause for breath and evaluation of the lap swum, and then set off for another lap. While my technique may benefit from this, I'm not sure I'm getting a workout from it. At the same time, I'm reluctant to start an exercise program that may give me a better workout at the expense of my stroke. I have Emmett Hines' Fitness Swimming, but haven't got around to starting any of its programs, mostly due to my above inability to count, and my lack of a watch, but also because of my feeling that I must concentrate exclusively on my technique. The TI book is very specific about attempting not to take a single stroke that is not in perfect balance, for instance. Maybe I'm exaggerating. Any opinions on this?
Swimmer's shoulder prevention - internal/external rotation
I've read the extensive postings in rec.sport.swimming on this subject, and I just want to know whether I am correct in interpreting the "bad" hand position/rotation as being when you hold your hands out in front of you, palms facing down-/outwards, forming a 'V', as opposed to forming a roof or placing them on a shoulder-level soccer ball?
Thanks,
/Par
