What do YOU need to do to have a major swimming breakthrough?

this thread is for those brave enough to step up and declare then report their results I think most people know what they need to do, they just don't want to do it. That's my $.02, and worth every penny.

I can't keep my left elbow from dropping when I swim front crawl. There's a marked difference in the leverage I'm getting from my right side vs. left side. I try to work on it and to think about it, but when I get into a brisk set my left arm starts dropping out and feeling like it's not pulling much at all. I need to quit dropping my left elbow to have a breakthrough.

I've got to get stronger. It'll cost me, but I'm going to join _another_ gym that's 2 blocks from my office, so the weight training has a chance of happening. Plus, I'm going to try to follow Rich Abrahams advice about swimming slow slower and fast faster. Might have to do more solo training, as our team doesn't change speeds as often as it seems others do. Another theme for me: focus. I'm at a time in my life where I don't really want to run 10k's, or try to be a triathlete, or spend a lot of time on the couch, etc. It was inspiring being at nationals, and though I got master's PBs, I know I will have more speed if I do a few things but do them consistently and do them well.

I think most people know what they need to do, they just don't want to do it. That's my $.02, and worth every penny.

Gotta get up to 30 posts for my customized avatar, so here goes: Michelle's Dara-on-a-budget: (things I started this past season that I think really helped!!) 1. Dara: 2 full time masseuses => Me - joined Massage Envy. 2. Dara's supplements => Me - 1 Centrum A-Zinc. Metamucil as needed. 3. Dara swims 5x per week => Me - 3 or 4; up from 2 to 3 last year. 4. Dara's dryland/weight training routine => Me - 30 minutes 1x per week; up from nothing last year except stretching. Have now added/deleted: 1. More drylands, est sustainable at 2x per week. 2. Will not swim 3 days in a row. Too pooped on 3rd day. 3. Go back to the "1 dessert unit per day". 4. Continued focus on sprinting related swim workouts. My definition of the major breakthrough for next season: assuming I stay healthy and injury free (and my kids, which is the triple whammy if they get sick - no break, not able to work, and no swimming!): Really fast 50's for all strokes! Anything else - swum just to appreciate the 50's and to complete the check-off challenge.

Lose another 20 lbs & train all year not just the sc season!

I think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with my butterfly. Based on Paul/Hulk's comment on my video, that my recovery looked forced, I've been trying to do a more relaxed recovery and I think it has improved my overall technique significantly as the recovery now fits into the overall timing. I got a lot of comments at Nationals that my fly looked really good. It certainly feels smoother and more efficient. Unfortunately it is also slower :rolleyes: So, what I need to make a breakthrough is to learn to keep the form but with higher turnover (i.e. speed everything up equally instead of just my arms). And I need to improve my SDK. I think that my big problem may be ankle flexibility as I have no problem with fins which I take to imply that I've got the strength and fitness. Am I right about that?

I defintely didn't get the luck of genetics for my swimming (being the slowest person on my swim team :cane:) but I notice I do improve when: 1. I practice more (I am still a pretty new swimmer and find I improve with time). 2. I work on speed work, which has me get used to what meet pace feels like 3. I Work on all the flaws with my stroke. If I fix those flaws, I go faster with less effort.

anyone working on this? why not? ande

Don't forget your monthly trips to Croatia!! All I know is that there is a procedures to make you get the best breakthrough ever!!!!!