The latest threads clearly reveal that the vast majority of masters swimmers wish breaststroke did not exist (except Peter, Allen, Aquafeisty, and a possiblely experimenting SCY freestyler). So why does everyone hate breaststroke? :mad:
I'll go first. I hated it when I was young because it was too slow, I never learned how to do it right, and I never learned the wave action because it didn't exist when I was young. I can't seem do get the timing right now. And I have no excuse. Unlike my shoulder, my knees are fully intact. Not sure I have the gumption or time to put in 100,000 yards for a complete overhaul on a stroke I don't swim in meets. But I'd like to be able to fake it in IMs ...
I can't believe this thread has remained hidden from me so long...Fortress must truly fear my wrath....
I just got home from a nice swim & shop trip and I'm feeling all holly jolly. And now I find that you accuse me of hiding and fearing your wrath? Look how cute I am? Do you want to take your wrath out on me? I think I was very mindful in seeking help for my admitted deficiencies. I think I sought help on another hidden thread called "The Mystery of Breaststroke" as well. Now, when you make your national cuts in ***, we can talk further Speedo Santa.:thhbbb:
What's that mean? Breaststroke isn't real? Huh?
If the truth be known, I am envious of those who can swim it because for me it's a struggle. Fly is easier.
Floyd if we ever get to the same water...we'll do 50 of yours and you can do 50 of mine :D
I'm tempted to try fly at my next training session just to report how comedic it was :rofl:
Get video and share it with us.:rofl: :rofl:
The word hate should not be used. It is dangerous to say hate. It could lead to dire consequences.
I'm going to say it anyway. I agree with what someone said before. I hate breaststroke because I suck at it.
I was OK at breaststroke as a youngster but a knee injury pretty much wiped it out. The nerve damage makes it so I can't totally feel what that leg is doing and the scar tissue keeps it from bending much; plus the hamstrings that were harvested for spare repair parts mean I have no strength. It hurts and I rarely go more than about 10 yards w/ the correct kick, although I'll slog through it for an IM in a meet, rarely.
But the stroke is defective anyhow. It's too easy to be a hurry-up-go-slower stroke. The kick is dangerous kicking other people and the wall. There is that weird pocket of turbulence over the lower back. It can be ugly to watch even fast swimmers that look like inchworms thrashing across the pool
In practice the slow underwater recovery just makes me want to switch over to butterfly.
I think breaststroke is not the main ingredient of most of the workouts. I use it for two reasons:
1. stretching: at the warm-up set after a couple of 100 free and/or back, I do a slow 100meter breaststroke (gliding). Very long strokes (1/2 of which I take in free), full breath in and out, stretching my arms very far (trying to reach the end of the pool with my whole body forward, nose down), squeezing my ears between my shoulders, not so hard kick (maybe 75%) , I do not look ahead during any phase (including the inhale part, keep your body low, looking down). This is a very good ending to a warm-up set.
2. breathing: at the end of a workout try a 50 or 100 breaststroke to cool down and breath deeply (use 100% of the lungs) and stretch again.
I do not care if I am fast or slow during breaststroke, I just enjoy my very long strokes. It is cool, soft, flexible, silent and fluid.
;)
Surely the Fortress would not have said this, it must have been Bunny Girl:
"I am actually a vocal distance free hater. I always say, "oh no, not another 400 free." I'd much rather work on *** than pounding out junk yardage doing long free."
And Scarlett says to Rhett: I think I am going to faint here.
And Bunny Girl: I used to always swim 50,100,200back and those aren't distance, but I had it then, I have lost it now, so distance free is now my swim by design. I think many people who don't like distance don't like it because they can find it boring; something I had to overcome, too. But I am heavily protected now with dementia so I can't tell the difference:rofl:.Donna
Hey, my avatar has reverted to my usual best event, the backstroke. Although I'd rather be a flyer. Actually, back and fly may be in a dead heat now. It's all those TI drills I do. Remember, you saw me and said I was swimming "low in the water..." :rofl:
But you definitely socked me, Sox. Get ready to faint again. I really truly would rather swim the 50 *** than the 400 meter or 500 yard free. I hate distance free in pools. Really, I prefer to do it in the ocean rather than the pool. Then at least the salt water holds me up some, I'm distracted by waves, and I don't have to do thousands of flip turns and try to remember what length I'm on.
And now I have a confession to make. I actually made national cuts in the 50 *** last year at 44 and signed up to do it at SCY Nats in May as a "warm up" for other events. But, just to prove the KNelson is wrong about us night owls, I decided to scratch it and sleep in. So I went to late warm up and swam fly and back later on. :rofl: So glad I saved myself for the important stuff. Because, at my advanced age, with MMA setting in, I just can't swim too many events.
Now, when you make your national cuts in ***, we can talk further Speedo Santa.:thhbbb:
Don't goad me....I might reinjure myself trying to make the cuts...
