Hi All,
This is a very newbie question and a hesitant one at that having read forums.usms.org/showthread.php
and being from that group of how was if phrased "trying 2 b athletes" or "mediocre at 3 sports" ouch.
Still I thought the best place to get swimming advice would be from swimmers.
I only started swimming this month. I have worked steadily at it but only know three basic strokes (crawl, *** and side). Needless to say I have been concentrating on the crawl and have progressed from being able to do 50M non stop to 1800 M non stop but painfully slow (40 minutes!). Still it beats the alternative which is drowning.
Going to a masters class is not an option the only class available to me conflicts with my wife's dragonboat practice. Which leaves open swim during regular pool hours to do laps.
1 - What would be the best DVD or book for a new swimmer to get to improve their technique. Specifically crawl.
2 - How do you keep count of laps without losing track!?! Sometimes I lose track in the mid 30's other times in the 60's either way I am either swimming more or less than intended and of course the times may look better than they actually are. Any advice would be appreciated.
3 - Last thing - I really need to learn how to do a flip turn. Can anyone point me to a FAQ or video that shows how to do it?
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Wookiee
1800 M non stop but painfully slow (40 minutes!).
First of all, that's not painfully slow. There are lots of people in your pool (and on this board) who envy that.
So you do just a little over 65 seconds per 50. Keep this in mind for something I'll mention below.
conflicts with my wife's dragonboat practice.
Dragonboat practice? Do tell! Wazzat?
2 - How do you keep count of laps without losing track!?! Sometimes I lose track in the mid 30's other times in the 60's either way I am either swimming more or less than intended and of course the times may look better than they actually are. Any advice would be appreciated.
Someone already mentioned breaking it up into smaller chunks, so I won't belabor that point.
If you insist on doing 1800M nonstop, recall your 65 seconds per 50. That means, if you start with the second hand at the top of the minute, then you'll end the first 50 at 5 seconds after the minute, and the second 50 at 10 seconds after the minute, etc.
If you have lost count, when you hit the next 50 and you see the second hand at the 45, for instance, you have either done 9 50s, or 21 50s, or 33 50s. You don't even have to figure it out right at the turn. You have the whole next 50 to get the math right and get back on count! And if you actually do 66 or 67 seconds per 50, well, you can still guestimate where you are at.
Also, watching the clock this way can help you see if you are starting to lag pace (or get stronger) as you move into your workout. You can also see degrees of improvement as you progress from day to day and month to month. (Your thread title asks how to get better. Trying to beat your times as you work out is a great way to improve! So if you are doing 67 per 50 now, try holding 65 per 50 for as long as you can. And if you do that, you will have measurable improvement, AND it would be easier to keep your lap counts on the clock at 65 than at 67. And once you can hold 65, aim for 60!)
3 - Last thing - I really need to learn how to do a flip turn. Can anyone point me to a FAQ or video that shows how to do it?
Flip turn video
Originally posted by Wookiee
1800 M non stop but painfully slow (40 minutes!).
First of all, that's not painfully slow. There are lots of people in your pool (and on this board) who envy that.
So you do just a little over 65 seconds per 50. Keep this in mind for something I'll mention below.
conflicts with my wife's dragonboat practice.
Dragonboat practice? Do tell! Wazzat?
2 - How do you keep count of laps without losing track!?! Sometimes I lose track in the mid 30's other times in the 60's either way I am either swimming more or less than intended and of course the times may look better than they actually are. Any advice would be appreciated.
Someone already mentioned breaking it up into smaller chunks, so I won't belabor that point.
If you insist on doing 1800M nonstop, recall your 65 seconds per 50. That means, if you start with the second hand at the top of the minute, then you'll end the first 50 at 5 seconds after the minute, and the second 50 at 10 seconds after the minute, etc.
If you have lost count, when you hit the next 50 and you see the second hand at the 45, for instance, you have either done 9 50s, or 21 50s, or 33 50s. You don't even have to figure it out right at the turn. You have the whole next 50 to get the math right and get back on count! And if you actually do 66 or 67 seconds per 50, well, you can still guestimate where you are at.
Also, watching the clock this way can help you see if you are starting to lag pace (or get stronger) as you move into your workout. You can also see degrees of improvement as you progress from day to day and month to month. (Your thread title asks how to get better. Trying to beat your times as you work out is a great way to improve! So if you are doing 67 per 50 now, try holding 65 per 50 for as long as you can. And if you do that, you will have measurable improvement, AND it would be easier to keep your lap counts on the clock at 65 than at 67. And once you can hold 65, aim for 60!)
3 - Last thing - I really need to learn how to do a flip turn. Can anyone point me to a FAQ or video that shows how to do it?
Flip turn video
