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.
Parents
Former Member
Terry, I'd love to the try the experiment you propose, but it wouldn't be a fair test, because of my circumstances. RC problems have forced me to cut back a lot on my swimming and increase my kicking. That means a trial set today would be slower than a couple of months ago, and it might have nothing to do with failing to integrate the kick with the rest of the stroke. It might be a good experiment in a couple of months, when I've had a chance to build my stroke back up.
Also, I think there's merit in your statement that cycling primarily helps cycling and running primarily helps running, etc. I think that's particularly true with well-conditioned athletes. Believe me, I'm not one of those. I'm a 6-foot-2 male. After all the kicking and cycling, I can move 170 on a leg extention, about five pounds more than I weigh. I can leg press 300. Up to now, anything that strengthened my legs improved my kick.
Sixteen months ago it took 1:40 to kick 50 yards on my back. (Yeah, I timed myself even back then. I think I used a Sports Illustrated calendar.) At that speed it's easy to get discouraged. Changing the type of exercise makes it more interesting when you are in the 'baby-step' phase, as I was.
I particularly liked spinning because the bikes are constructed so that no one in the class knows how much resistance you are pedaling through. You can pedal as fast as the jock next to you and neither of you really knows who is doing more work. Under these circumstances, I find it easier to challenge myself and not feel embarrassed.
I consciously work on integrating the kick into the stroke. I will have to do more. When my kick gets to 20 seconds for 25 yards - maybe next spring if rtodd is correct :bliss:- I plan to step up my efforts at kick-swim integration.
Thanks, all, for the encouragement and generous advice.
Terry, I'd love to the try the experiment you propose, but it wouldn't be a fair test, because of my circumstances. RC problems have forced me to cut back a lot on my swimming and increase my kicking. That means a trial set today would be slower than a couple of months ago, and it might have nothing to do with failing to integrate the kick with the rest of the stroke. It might be a good experiment in a couple of months, when I've had a chance to build my stroke back up.
Also, I think there's merit in your statement that cycling primarily helps cycling and running primarily helps running, etc. I think that's particularly true with well-conditioned athletes. Believe me, I'm not one of those. I'm a 6-foot-2 male. After all the kicking and cycling, I can move 170 on a leg extention, about five pounds more than I weigh. I can leg press 300. Up to now, anything that strengthened my legs improved my kick.
Sixteen months ago it took 1:40 to kick 50 yards on my back. (Yeah, I timed myself even back then. I think I used a Sports Illustrated calendar.) At that speed it's easy to get discouraged. Changing the type of exercise makes it more interesting when you are in the 'baby-step' phase, as I was.
I particularly liked spinning because the bikes are constructed so that no one in the class knows how much resistance you are pedaling through. You can pedal as fast as the jock next to you and neither of you really knows who is doing more work. Under these circumstances, I find it easier to challenge myself and not feel embarrassed.
I consciously work on integrating the kick into the stroke. I will have to do more. When my kick gets to 20 seconds for 25 yards - maybe next spring if rtodd is correct :bliss:- I plan to step up my efforts at kick-swim integration.
Thanks, all, for the encouragement and generous advice.
