I am slow, and when I mean slow, I mean slow. I can do a 26 sec 50 with fins, but without I come in just under 1:20! I think a big part of it is just taking the fins off and doing a lot of kick sets to learn to feel the water better with my feet. I have a good breaststroke kick so I don't think my problem is an overly weak pair of legs, although they could be in better shape. Also, myankles are fairly flexible as I can point my toes and make my feet bend backwards past an even position with my shins. However, I do think that I need to loosen up my ankles when I kick. I feel like I get more out of my kick for those brief moments when I allow my ankles to snap back and forth with my kick. I think I actually need to relax more to kick faster as weird as that sounds.
I suppose the answer to my question is that I simply need to take of the fins and do kick set after kick set until I learn to feel the water better with my feet and become more efficient.
Originally posted by ande
I've written about this in Swim Faster Faster
you need to STOP USING FINS
STOP saying you can't kick fast
begin by improving your 25 speed
time yourself for an all out 25 kick from a dive in streamline position with no board
find out where you are
then time yourself once a week or every other week
to train and improve
start doing sprint kick sets with lots of rest between each one
Like
4 x (3 x 25 swim easy on :45 or 1:00, on 25 FAST for time)
YOU'VE really GOT TO GO FOR IT on the fast kick.
Pretend it's a LIFE or DEATH MATTER, put for that kind of effort.
pay attention to your times and work on improving them from one week to the next
I swear this WILL WORK
Also you might not have that great of a toe point
it helps to stretch your ankles / feet and improve your foots flexibility. generally the more flexible your foot is
the faster you can kick
once you have speed then start working on speed endurance
50's, 75's and 100's
come up to austin some time and I'll work with you in person
or if I ever go down to the coast we can meet at the aransas pass pool
Ande,
I am going to take you up on that offer (even though it wasn't for me!) this summer. I am still trying to build my legs back since surgery and need someone who actually knows to watch and give me feedback. As we get closer to the summer (i.e. make plans for our trip to Lake LBJ) I will get in contact with you
Good luck this weekend...
Originally posted by ande
I've written about this in Swim Faster Faster
you need to STOP USING FINS
STOP saying you can't kick fast
begin by improving your 25 speed
time yourself for an all out 25 kick from a dive in streamline position with no board
find out where you are
then time yourself once a week or every other week
to train and improve
start doing sprint kick sets with lots of rest between each one
Like
4 x (3 x 25 swim easy on :45 or 1:00, on 25 FAST for time)
YOU'VE really GOT TO GO FOR IT on the fast kick.
Pretend it's a LIFE or DEATH MATTER, put for that kind of effort.
pay attention to your times and work on improving them from one week to the next
I swear this WILL WORK
Also you might not have that great of a toe point
it helps to stretch your ankles / feet and improve your foots flexibility. generally the more flexible your foot is
the faster you can kick
once you have speed then start working on speed endurance
50's, 75's and 100's
come up to austin some time and I'll work with you in person
or if I ever go down to the coast we can meet at the aransas pass pool
Ande,
I am going to take you up on that offer (even though it wasn't for me!) this summer. I am still trying to build my legs back since surgery and need someone who actually knows to watch and give me feedback. As we get closer to the summer (i.e. make plans for our trip to Lake LBJ) I will get in contact with you
Good luck this weekend...
