OK, my new year resolution was to get back into swimming, and I've been doing very well building from essentially a zero base (I've always been the "last kid picked in gym class" sedentary geek, and haven't swum a lap in at least 4 years), using Katz's Swimming for Total Fitness. I'm enjoying this more than any exercise I've done since I had to quit martial arts a few years back, I suspect because the emphasis on form is similar to that, and allows me to use my brain a lot more than when I'm plodding along on the track or treadmill.
For those of you who know the book, I'm up to fundamentals lesson 3, and am deliberately taking it slowly to make sure I actually learn the skills being taught. I like the book, the explanations are more or less clear (I'm still working my way up to that push-up pool exit thanks to a high deck, short arms, and crap upper body strength), and it will eventually teach me all four strokes. However, it doesn't really get into the intricacies of form, and while I'm in the early stages of doing kick sets, I feel like I'm flailing around in the pool to very little purpose as I splutter my way through :50 25s. While I've no delusions of looking like Dara Torres in the water, if a few form changes now would make my life simpler, I'm all for that.
Enter Fitness Swimming by Hines. I got this one as part of a package deal from amazon with my goggles & swim cap, and I only cracked it open last night. In the first 20 pages I found that I was doing at least 2 things wrong, and clear instruction on how to fix them. To be clear, the books didn't contradict, they just emphasize different things in their "newbie" workouts--Katz cares more about breathing skills and general endurance, while Hines emphasizes learning how to streamline and advocates a swim snorkel in the early workouts, and not even bothering with trying to learn how to breathe yet. however, his early workouts, at least on paper, look a tad too easy from a endurance standpoint.
If one was clearly better than the other, to my inexperienced eye, I'd change and be done with it. that's part of why I'm asking--to see if one of these books is generally more regarded than the other. my goals right now are pretty basic, but ultimately I would like to focus on distance swimming, perhaps even compete locally in the 1500 and try my hand at a postal swim. I also hope to get involved with some sort of club or training program, but the only semi-local one I could find is about a 20 minute drive from my house, and if I can be frank, I'm a bit timid about going to a "real" workout with folks like you when I can barely get through 200 yards of flutter kicking. My local rec center (10 minutes from the house, and around the corner from my work) is a great place to work out, but just offers the standard kiddie swim lessons and rather lame-looking "noodle classes", which I refuse to attend on general principle (I have this strange desire to get in shape, thank you). Water temp's OK for me, but probably would seem a tad high for more advanced folks (low 80s).
Thanks again for any advice you can give on a good starter program, and while I don't have much to add to the conversation, I've enjoyed lurking the past couple weeks and hope to stick around!
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Coached workouts or a private lesson with a knowledgable coach would let you know what you need to work on most, which would likely tip towards one book or the other. Don't be intimated by a masters group - there will be a lane with folks your speed and being coached will help quite a bit. If it's a longish drive, you could try to swim with the team a couple of days and a few days on your own.
Be patient with yourself as your learn this new sport. Where in Oklahoma are you located? I was born in Stillwater, and still have family there.
--mj
I've just about decided to call up the rec center and see if any of their teachers do private coaching. I also think I may give the group a try in a few weeks--the drive isn't that bad. I also am going to try Fitness Swimming during my next workout and see how it works for me. (don't I recall hearing here that Total Immersion was a bad book? maybe I'm thinking of another one.)
And I live in Tulsa but was born & raised in the OKC metro and went to college in Norman, but I can be friends with anyone. *wink*
Sarah
LOL! My folks met as students as OSU, although my dad was raised in Cleveland, which is closer to Tulsa. I have uncles and cousins who went to OU, so I tend to root for which ever team is playing and a good game when they play each other. I was raised in Southern California and am now retired in Oregon. I am related to the man who homesteaded the land and then donated it to the school that would become OSU as well as pistol Pete. Both sides of the family were in OK prior to statehood.
Keep us posted on your progress - if you stick with it, you will find you improve your fitness quickly and that joining a masters team is really fun.
--mj
Sarah, I am new to this forum but have coached adult new swimmers and triathletes for years. Many of them do not feel "ready" for Master's swimming. One thing I tell them to do is have the life guard of the pool (or someone else standing around) video your stroke on a digital camera and then watch it yourself. I use a cheapy digital camera in the video mode. There is nothing like seeing what you are doing from the camera lens.
Proper head position is very important.
That's probably why Coach Hines is advocating the snorkel.
Too many swimmers, both new and old, raise their heads to breathe. Not good.
If your head stays down, the hips will ride much higher in the water.
Instant drag reduction. And that's what you want.
My advice is to put away the snorkel and all other toys. Get the Total Immersion book and practice the drills in there. Don't worry about not being able to flutter kick 200 yards. Body position and balance while actually swimming are more important when you're starting out.
Hi Sarah,
Coached workouts or a private lesson with a knowledgable coach would let you know what you need to work on most, which would likely tip towards one book or the other. Don't be intimated by a masters group - there will be a lane with folks your speed and being coached will help quite a bit. If it's a longish drive, you could try to swim with the team a couple of days and a few days on your own.
Be patient with yourself as your learn this new sport. Where in Oklahoma are you located? I was born in Stillwater, and still have family there.
--mj
I've just about decided to call up the rec center and see if any of their teachers do private coaching. I also think I may give the group a try in a few weeks--the drive isn't that bad. I also am going to try Fitness Swimming during my next workout and see how it works for me. (don't I recall hearing here that Total Immersion was a bad book? maybe I'm thinking of another one.)
And I live in Tulsa but was born & raised in the OKC metro and went to college in Norman, but I can be friends with anyone. *wink*
Sarah
Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, former World Masters Swimmer of the Year, is holding swimming clinics in Tulsa next week on Jan 27 and 28. I attended one of her clinics in OKC in December. It was one of the single best swim training sessions that I have attended.
Details on her website: http://www.aquaticedge.org/
Good luck,
RadSwim
I can't address the Hines part of the question, but I did use the Katz book when I was just getting back into swimming and I really loved it. She gave good advice, and I really liked the workouts.
I also recommend Total Swimming by Janet Evans. She gives good stroke advice and has a really comprehensive set of workouts in the book as well.
I'm self-coached now, but I was a competetive swimmer in my youth and in college - so I wasn't starting from ground zero with these books. If you can, definitely get a little bit of advice from someone (clinic, private session or two with an instructor or competitive swimmer looking to make a few bucks) the books will work even better for you
good luck!
