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.
Terry,
My demonstrably fastest times (measured by me) came after strenuous mountain backpacking trips, which work the legs (chiefly) and core without mercy. First day back in the pool I fly. The deconditioning effect is noticeable by day 4, and after 2 weeks I am back to my usual slow slog. Conversely, strong aerobic work in the pool before I hit the hills enables me to get up them feeling less taxed. So, I do believe there is a strong crossover effect between my two favorites.
I have a sneaking suspicion that kick sets slightly derail the neurological whole-body training to swim the full stroke, but I do them anyway, as there seem to be other advantages. My legs would happily be free-riders if I did not chastise them.
:)
For what it's worth - and some will disagree - I believe that cycling conditions and strengthens your legs for cycling. Running ditto for running. And kicking sets do the same for kicking sets. Other than anecdotally I'm not aware that anyone has ever demonstrated that kicking sets condition and strengthen the legs for how the legs interact with the rest of the body in whole stroke.
On the other hand, it would be difficult to argue the premise that swimming whole stroke will condition and strengthen all parts of the stroke - the kick included.
.
Terry,
My demonstrably fastest times (measured by me) came after strenuous mountain backpacking trips, which work the legs (chiefly) and core without mercy. First day back in the pool I fly. The deconditioning effect is noticeable by day 4, and after 2 weeks I am back to my usual slow slog. Conversely, strong aerobic work in the pool before I hit the hills enables me to get up them feeling less taxed. So, I do believe there is a strong crossover effect between my two favorites.
I have a sneaking suspicion that kick sets slightly derail the neurological whole-body training to swim the full stroke, but I do them anyway, as there seem to be other advantages. My legs would happily be free-riders if I did not chastise them.
:)
For what it's worth - and some will disagree - I believe that cycling conditions and strengthens your legs for cycling. Running ditto for running. And kicking sets do the same for kicking sets. Other than anecdotally I'm not aware that anyone has ever demonstrated that kicking sets condition and strengthen the legs for how the legs interact with the rest of the body in whole stroke.
On the other hand, it would be difficult to argue the premise that swimming whole stroke will condition and strengthen all parts of the stroke - the kick included.
.
