So I was browsing through the forum, LOTS of talk about kicking. Which brings me to discuss:
What's up with my kicking?
My kicking has been, is, and I believe will forever be SLOOOOOW. It's horrible. My breaststroke kick is MUCH faster than my free kicking. When I was a teenager on my club team, the coaches thought it would be funny to have me race some of the 10 year olds a 25yd free kicking. Needless to say, they won, and I didn't find it so funny. And not by a little bit, they were done and I was just getting to the flags. That's how slow I am.
I'm convinced I'm a puller-swimmer, not a kicker-swimmer, if there is such a thing. I'm a sprinter, and I'm sure if you watch me swim a race there is little kicking going on (4 beat kick, rarely 6 beat). I don't have any video to share, sorry. My breaststroke kick is a decent speed...but it's breaststroke kick!!! What's wrong with my free kick? Seriously! In sets, I cannot make the times if I do free, but if I do *** I'm just fine.
Is this normal? I've been "stuck" this way forever. I can hold 100's easily on the 1:50 with ***, and I can do that all day....I can do about 1 on the 2:00 with free and it just gets slower from there. :drown:
Swimming? I can hold 100's on the 1:20 all day. I can also pull 100's on the 1:20 all day. Hmmmmm.
Is there someone out there that can figure this out? :help:
Former Member
Stacy
Not quite 6 foot. But I am 5 '10 so I am a big girl. Comes in handy when shopping. Do you know how many times I have been asked to reach something on the top shelf for a shorter lady lol lol?
Because I am taller and bigger boned my 25 to 30 pound weight gain is bad but does not look as bad as if I was shorter. But I am hoping by June 1st it is gone
Good luck with the kicking. I think mine is getting stronger. I am loosening my ankles as I get more comfortable in the water. My knees hurt while doing it but not afterwards.
Katie
Donna
I will definitley have to try harder with my kicking. I do find that my right calve will get a cramp after kicking. Though that is lessoning as time goes on. I need a thinner body everywhere LOL. Though I am losing inches in my back and chest. YEAH.
I will concentrate harder and try not to groan when I see the coach has posted kicking sets. YUCK LOL
Katie
Every time I hear coach assign a kicking set I just say "My hips, thighs and butt will thank me for this later!"
Every time I look in the mirror, I thank my coach. He never assigns a kicking set. My hips, knees, thighs, and butt will thank him later.
I was the same way Katie. Now that I actually have to do kick sets on an interval and try to hold a specific pace, I put the effort into my kick like I never have before. Breaking a minute for a 50 kick was a major deal to get to. Next goal is to break 50 seconds.
It translates to a thinner lower body, less weight to drag and more SPEED!
I'm also a slow kicker. For sprints I'll go all out, but for anything longer than 100, I'll switch to 2-beat kick and my goal is not propulsion but to keep a body position which minimizes drag.
I am always surprised at how hard kicking is. I am really trying to concentrate on kicking from the hip more. I think I kick from the knees and my feet more. Ah all the things I am learning.
Nothing makes me madder than seeing some of the people I swim with literally churn up the water as they fly past me. I want to be one of them LOL LOL
Donna I joined facebook yesterday. I will go check it out
Katie
This swimming from the core looks so... fast?
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
Its three time olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett (800 and 400 m).
Brooke :bow:!
