why am i so sloooooooooow? i've been swimming since i was 21, i'm now 30. When i was 21 i basically taught myself to swim and with a few tips here and there from lifeguards, i was able to swim 3 miles in the pool at approximately 35 minutes a mile.
fast forward a few years, i would consider myself a much better swimmer now, i've gotten a few lessons with coaches and i've been told my technique has gotten better. but my speed has BARELY improved!!! i'm talking major changes in technique and training, and it still takes me 34 minutes to do a mile! that's a 1 minute improvement over the time when i had taught myself to swim! it's ridiculous. and i swim so much...i swim in open water and have been doing master's for 7 months now.
is it possible that i was just born slow, or do you think i need further refinement to my technique? none of it adds up--i work very hard in the pool, my technique sounds like it's decent, and i am physically in very good shape. i can swim 9 miles in open water, but i just cannot bring up my speed! it's ridiculous. i don't want to be fast, i just want to be somewhere near 30 minutes per mile!
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Former Member
Do you swim like this:
www.youtube.com/watch
or do you swim flat in the water--no hip or shoulder rotation? If your stroke count is 25/25 meters you probably swim with just your arms and a relatively non-propulsive kick. That's like paddling a canoe with no shoulder or hip movement.
In the video Popov moves his hips and shoulders rhythmically so he doesn't speed up, slow down. You probably know about the efficiency of constant speed from your distance running. Also the hip and shoulder rotation engages the big muscles of the back, extends his reach, and reduces frontal drag forces by placing him on his side. If you swim flat drag increases.
You might try swimming with a straight arm recovery to force your shoulders and hips to rotate. Set the rhythm with your hips. Try to relax your recovering arms much like Popov in the video. --mjm
Do you swim like this:
www.youtube.com/watch
or do you swim flat in the water--no hip or shoulder rotation? If your stroke count is 25/25 meters you probably swim with just your arms and a relatively non-propulsive kick. That's like paddling a canoe with no shoulder or hip movement.
In the video Popov moves his hips and shoulders rhythmically so he doesn't speed up, slow down. You probably know about the efficiency of constant speed from your distance running. Also the hip and shoulder rotation engages the big muscles of the back, extends his reach, and reduces frontal drag forces by placing him on his side. If you swim flat drag increases.
You might try swimming with a straight arm recovery to force your shoulders and hips to rotate. Set the rhythm with your hips. Try to relax your recovering arms much like Popov in the video. --mjm
