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.
Hi Michael,
Keep doing the sets
you'll get faster
when 25's aren't as challenging start doing 50's
Also be sure to do one super faster test 25 per week
take way more rest before you do it
have someone time you with a watch
here's LINKS to:
Help My flutter Kick is Horrible
www.usms.org/.../showpost.php
Help my SDK is horrible
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Help my Speed is horrible
www.usms.org/.../showthread.php
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
I thought I was toast after the 4th 25, but I got distracted. For the last 4 I just focused on hitting the other wall with the kickboard.
This set will definitely improve my kick endurance, thanks Ande.
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
I thought I was toast after the 4th 25, but I got distracted. For the last 4 I just focused on hitting the other wall with the kickboard.
This set will definitely improve my kick endurance, thanks Ande.
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
12/12/08: 19,20,20,21,21,23,22,21
I was toast after that set, but my times are dropping fast, so it is worth it. Took me maybe 600 yards to recover.
I don't think my kick is balanced. By the end of the kick set, my right quad feels like it is twice the size as the rest of my body. My left quad is just tired, but not over inflated. I have had problems with my left knee in the past, and I think I am babying it without thinking about it. Next week, I will work on balancing out the pain.
Ande, I will ask the coach to start timing me once my rate of decent slows down. Right now, I could track my progress with a sun dial.
Till now:
3/1: 30.2
3/8: 28.0
3/15: 27.12
3/22: 27.62
3/29: 26.27
4/4: 27.18
5/10: 25.55
7/2: 25.45
7/6: 24.94
7/26: 25.92
8/10: 23.48
8/12: 25.24
9/6: 23.08
9/20: 24.05
9/27: 23.21
10/4: 24.37
10/11: 24.49
10/25: 23.70
11/1: 24.89
11/8: 23.63
11/29: 23.66
12/6: 24.00
This time: 12/14: 24.30
Realized this time that my feet were dragging. Need to keep them closer to the top of the water.
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
12/12/08: 19,20,20,21,21,23,22,21
12/15/08: 18,21,19,22,21,21,22,23
Very inconsistent today. I was surprised to see the 18 on the first one, but I wasn't happy with all the bouncing around. I think I am going to switch from 10-20 seconds rest to a fixed interval of 1:20 or 1:25/75. That should still give me the same rest I am getting now, just more consistently.
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
12/12/08: 19,20,20,21,21,23,22,21
12/15/08: 18,21,19,22,21,21,22,23
12/17/08: 19,21,19,21,20,21,22,22
:bitching: The clocks were not in sync, so those numbers are meaningless, other then I averaged well.
I will get a watch eventually. Maybe after Christmas, when I don't risk being trampled to death. Then I can get more detailed times, but I was hoping I wouldn't need more accuracy until I dropped below 20 across the board.
The kick set today was less painful, so my leg muscles must be figuring this kicking thing out.
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
12/12/08: 19,20,20,21,21,23,22,21
12/15/08: 18,21,19,22,21,21,22,23
12/17/08: 19,21,19,21,20,21,22,22
12/19/08: 21,21,21,20,21,21,21,21
Used the same clock, which required me to turn around for half the set to get times, and I was very happy with my consistency. The times weren't great, but endurance was something I was looking for.
I need to push myself harder. I know I am afraid that I am going to die in the back half of the set and am holding back.
After Christmas, I will get a watch so I can get better times.
got a few questions:
what sort of suit did you wear?
with a board or with out?
we're these from a push?
are your easy 50's on like 1:30?
also work to integrate your new improved kick into your stroke
ande
Thanks Ande,
I wear a chlorine resistant practice brief. It is indestructible.
With board, from a push.
I am doing the 75s on 1:40. Push, kick, get time, ez 50 back, rest 20-30 seconds.
I started the fixed interval last week I think. Before that I was just giving myself more then 10 seconds rest, but less then 30. Since I am as interested in building kick endurance as well as speed, I figured moving to a fixed interval made more sense than what I was doing.
Integration is not a problem. I have always been able to kick my feet fast when I was supposed to, but I never generated much propulsion. My new kick isn't throwing off my old stroke at all :)
good job
you're pretty consistent and making improvements
got a few questions:
what sort of suit did you wear?
with a board or with out?
we're these from a push?
are your easy 50's on like 1:30?
look forward to hearing how your super fast test 25 goes
you should also test a 50, when you do get your 25 split
also work to integrate your new improved kick into your stroke
ande
12/21/08: 21,21,21,21,20,21,21,21
Two more workouts and I will hunt down a stop watch.
Set: 8x : 25k sprint, 50 ez
Goal: 8x 25 sprint k under 20, 50ez between each
12/8/08: 20 (1st) to 25 (last)
12/10/08: 20,21,21,24,21,21,22,23
12/12/08: 19,20,20,21,21,23,22,21
12/15/08: 18,21,19,22,21,21,22,23
12/17/08: 19,21,19,21,20,21,22,22
12/19/08: 21,21,21,20,21,21,21,21
12/21/08: 21,21,21,21,20,21,21,21
Two more workouts and I will hunt down a stop watch.
