Are Triathletes worth the dues they pay toward Masters Swimming?
I say we force all Triathletes to spend one day a week in the sprint lane, one day a week doing stroke (i.e. IM) work, and then make them focus on their starts and turns.
This invasion needs to be controlled.... :-)
John Smith
:)
Dear TriFlorida and Triathlete,
Welcome to the land of tired old jaded ex-swimmers. Please note, I started this thread as I had a few spare moments before I left for work one day. I tossed out an M80 to see if it would land on anyone...... 7,000 hits later... it appears to have suceeded... :-)
Note: my function in life is to remind Masters Swimmers about the more amusing and the dark sarcastic aspects of the sport. Owning the title of the most irritating individual in US Masters Swimming takes constant work and self pride.... :-) After all, anyone who would name themselves "The Good" anything is inherently not.... :-)
Do join our discussions, we certainly welcome you. You will find we argue amongst ourselves as much or more than we argue with people outside the sport. No one is safe... and nothing is sacred. Don't take too much of this mortar fire seriously.
And by all means please note that throughout the years, Paul Smith, and I have helped MANY triathletes (and masters swimmers) with their stroke technique and training ideas. In return, we merely ask that they allow us to continue to make fun of their lifestyle and generally abuse them .... :-)
Stick around ..... you might learn something about competitive swimming you wished you didn't know.... :-)
John Smith
Change of heart - For the tri athletes
Swim Technique
When considering swimming your freestyle technique (the stroke that triathletes race in) Forget all the other strokes concentrate on your freestyle - Arms, Timing and Breathing
Your leg kick will control your body position in the water, while the arms will provide the propulsive force. The timing of the two is vital to provide greater speed through the water with minimum wasted energy. Finally, your breathing technique should be analysed to ensure when you breathe your technique is not disrupted to cause a breakdown in efficiency.
Freestyle
The main propulsive force of the freestyle stroke is the arm cycle. The legs add at most 15% of the total speed through the water, depending on whether you use a 2-,4-,6-, or 8-beat kick.
Body Position:
In order to keep resistance to a minimum, it is necessary to keep the body as streamlined and horizontal as possible, taking full advantage of propulsive forces. Arm and leg movements used to provide propulsion, add to the resistive forces created, and good technique should be used to keep this ‘active drag’ to a minimum.
Legs:
The legs control the body’s balance and also aid forward propulsion. This power development can be done through improved flexibility of the hips, knees & ankles and also performing kicking sets (long & short).
Arms:
The arms are the main power house in frontcrawl and therefore correct technique is essential to maximising this.
The above are some points to remember when swimming freestyle.
I agree with geochuck, such terrible manners. Some people can't do pushups and this could cause a medical crisis on the pool deck. I suggest as an alternative they receive 25 lashings with their ever present heart rate monitors. That would be much more humane.
Originally posted by Nsiceman
Is it so hard to actually do flip turns? It is for about 70% of the tri's that swim with our master's team. We are thinking of creating a rule requiring flip turns or a 25 push up penalty for everyone not done.
Most absurd thing I have ever heard of. I am not a tri athlete and I don't do flip turns all the time and I would not do push ups. You are just thinking of things to push all swimmers away from MASTER SWIM CLUBS not only triathletes. It is not the childrens do as I say club or recieve punishment..
could it be that they are just new to the group and arent aware of the rules and maybe taking the time to teach them my help everybody. Sometimes people just arent aware of the proper edicate. I have been swimming since I was 5 also yet I was never taught the proper pool edicate until I joined Masters and thankfully all they had to do was tell me. You should be grateful that you dont get the typical reponse that happens in a race. A good elbow or kick to the ribs. we particapate in full contact swimming.
I do like the push ups idea I have to work that one in.
Hey - if you have the proper coach and they know how to set up their groups no one ever has to pass anybody. If you have the problem fire the coach and get a coach who knows how to organise.
-but be assured, for some of us turns are difficult.
Turns are not difficult. One's ability to accomplish a flip turn is the result of only three things.
1. A coach or teacher to instruct.
2. The willingness and ability of a pupil to learn.
3. Practice.
The deficit in any one of these three areas will severely inhibit the learning and execution of flip turns.
Passing is a simple concept. If there are swimmers who are not cognizant of the others in their lane, it is the responsibility of the coach to remedy the issue before it becomes a problem. If the coach does not act, the other swimmers must act in concert against the offender.
Being passed is something precious few of us will never experience. Get used to it and life is made easier for every one in the lane. Of course, I am preaching to the converted on this DF. Alert the Triathletes.
I guess TI doesn't cover being passed in workout.
