I will never race in a pool. If I race at all, it will be in open water.
I can do flip turns, but I don't think they are very good. When I do them, my head is directly under the backstroke flags when I take my first breath. With open turns, my head is about a length beyond the flags.
When I do flip turns, I notice a lot more cardio stress. I don't really recover until about half a length.
Is there a training benefit to doing flip turns in practice that will help me in open water? Does that second or two of holding my breath help me at all in terms of conditioning?
Parents
Former Member
Sarge,
You are not alone in your way of thinking.
We have several triathletes who swim with the masters group...and they simply avoid flip turns altogether.
Even though you won't be flipping in open water...it will absolutely improve your cardio conditioning. That said...one guy gave in.
He started doing flips for the last three months... and he kicked butt in the Lake Placid IronMan last weekend.
Raising the bar can only help.
Maybe start with just flips on one end of the pool...until you can handle both. Adaptation takes time, but it's worth it.
I will never race in a pool. If I race at all, it will be in open water....
Is there a training benefit to doing flip turns in practice that will help me in open water? Does that second or two of holding my breath help me at all in terms of conditioning?
Sarge,
You are not alone in your way of thinking.
We have several triathletes who swim with the masters group...and they simply avoid flip turns altogether.
Even though you won't be flipping in open water...it will absolutely improve your cardio conditioning. That said...one guy gave in.
He started doing flips for the last three months... and he kicked butt in the Lake Placid IronMan last weekend.
Raising the bar can only help.
Maybe start with just flips on one end of the pool...until you can handle both. Adaptation takes time, but it's worth it.
I will never race in a pool. If I race at all, it will be in open water....
Is there a training benefit to doing flip turns in practice that will help me in open water? Does that second or two of holding my breath help me at all in terms of conditioning?
