Okay, so I last swam a meet in April, and have been working out alone exclusively. Not in great shape, but eager to get started again to officially launch my season. I'm signed up to compete at a meet at Mizzou, a SCM pool that's supposed to be very nice--haven't been there yet. Signed up for 7 events, but will probably bag one.
Here's my question. I have been enjoying throwing in wild card events that I have never swum before, and this time it's the 100 ***. Last night toward the end of my workout I tried to "sprint" 100 ***, and my legs cramped up like crazy at 75. Is there a trick to this? I'm mostly a sprinter in free and fly, and my breastroke is not very speedy. Have never swam 100 *** for time in my life.
Guidance from you breaststrokers out there?
And anybody headed to Columbia this weekend?
Paul, what is the distinction you are drawing between sculling and the alternative?
Well, let's see if I put this in words.
The way I swam breaststroke 20+years ago was that it was a pulling motion where you would pull your hands almost in a circular/oval motion where your hands would travel about 6 inches outside of your shoulder and be recovered at about the bottom of your ribcage. Using myself as a guide, my hands would travel approximately 4 feet or so from the furthest expnsion forward to about mid torso.
Compared to that, today's stroke is a more compact motion that is more of a scull than an actual pull. By this I mean, the stroke is much shorter. Instead of a recovery at mid-torso the recovery is either at or slightly above the shoulders and there is more emphasis on the submerged glide. This is a direct result from the change in the 'head must remain above the surface' rule. So using myself again as an example, instead of travelling approximately 4 feet per stroke, my hands now travel about 2-2.5 feet per stroke leading to a much more compact stroke, and honestly, a much more efficient stroke. And because the recovery is much higher on the body than before, it is very possible to generate a forward motion on the recovery by having the palms of the hand turned slightly inward, i.e sculling.
I hope this helps.
Paul
Paul, what is the distinction you are drawing between sculling and the alternative?
Well, let's see if I put this in words.
The way I swam breaststroke 20+years ago was that it was a pulling motion where you would pull your hands almost in a circular/oval motion where your hands would travel about 6 inches outside of your shoulder and be recovered at about the bottom of your ribcage. Using myself as a guide, my hands would travel approximately 4 feet or so from the furthest expnsion forward to about mid torso.
Compared to that, today's stroke is a more compact motion that is more of a scull than an actual pull. By this I mean, the stroke is much shorter. Instead of a recovery at mid-torso the recovery is either at or slightly above the shoulders and there is more emphasis on the submerged glide. This is a direct result from the change in the 'head must remain above the surface' rule. So using myself again as an example, instead of travelling approximately 4 feet per stroke, my hands now travel about 2-2.5 feet per stroke leading to a much more compact stroke, and honestly, a much more efficient stroke. And because the recovery is much higher on the body than before, it is very possible to generate a forward motion on the recovery by having the palms of the hand turned slightly inward, i.e sculling.
I hope this helps.
Paul
