I am fast when it comes to fins-- I am faster than anyone in my lane, and can easily keep up with everyone in the next faster lane, both from a speed and endurance perspective. Unfortunately, when it comes to kicking without fins (with a board), I am sloooooooow and I peter out easily. It's so odd to me because it would seem that even though fins are faster, you should be able to keep up with the same people when not wearing fins as you do when wearing fins (if that makes sense). What does this mean? I would appreciate any insight.
P.S.-- I will check out Ande's "Help My Flutter Kick is Terrible" tips as well-- just trying to figure out what my problem could be.
To work on ankle flexibility, I have been holding my legs still and making circles (both clockwise and counterclockwise) with my feet, moving only at the ankle, for several years as part of my daily stretching routine. An alternative to circles is to make the "A B C's" with your foot (doesn't matter upper- or lower-case). This one is used a lot with ankle sprains.
I think I was already decently flexible in the ankle department, but my kick has gotten considerably better the last several years. This has also had a nifty side benefit as well: I tend to roll my ankle almost every time I step onto the basketball court (all those cuts to the basket, you know), and since I have started incorporating these exercises into my daily routine, if there is any pain from the roll, it lasts just a few minutes and the swelling is non-existent.
Me neither. It is not my legs that are dragging a little higher up and starts with an "A"
I would love to add something here but considering that my legs just seem to drag behind me, I must decline
I saw two kids consistently go under 40.00 in LCM 50 kicks with a board last week. They did 20 50's on 1:30 decend 1-4. Typically just over 40 on # 3 and under 40 on # 4. Their easy ones were in the high 40's. On #20 both went under 36. Curious how this stands by your standards: All out with a minute rest before hand I can break 40 in a 50 LCM. But I would need 10 minutes warm down to do it again.
That's fast. :bow:
I'm a MASTERS kicker. I have no idea how those kids can hold that kind of pace/interval. And, you know, I don't know how I'd really stack up. Probably not very well. I haven't swum LC since last August and we rarely did timed 50 kicks that I can recall. When I swim with my team in SCY we tend to do longer kick sets, and I only rarely use a board. When I do solo speed work, I often dolphin kick with a monofin. My last fast timed 50s were 21.5-22ish. But I usually do repeats of those on the 3:00 with recovery in between. I'll have to try some LC 50s this summer. Plus, Chris S. did a LC 50 shooter (wtih fins) last year and I feel compelled to attempt this as well.
Thanks, everyone, for these suggestions. I am working foremost on ankle flexibility, using some exercises I found online. I hope to see some improvement in a month or so and will keep you posted on my progress! :)
To work on ankle flexibility, I have been holding my legs still and making circles (both clockwise and counterclockwise) with my feet, moving only at the ankle, for several years as part of my daily stretching routine. An alternative to circles is to make the "A B C's" with your foot (doesn't matter upper- or lower-case). This one is used a lot with ankle sprains.
Hm.. I may have to try these, too. I rolled my ankle in the water the other day. Yes, the Boot ankle. The pain is worse now. Going in for the cortisone shot soon. Thanks Jeff.
Wookie, The CZ will take you any day :)
Hm.. I may have to try these, too. I rolled my ankle in the water the other day. Yes, the Boot ankle. The pain is worse now. Going in for the cortisone shot soon. Thanks Jeff.
Wookie, The CZ will take you any day :)
Thank You!
How does one roll their ankle IN the water????
I'm getting very good result from 2 basic exercises used from ballet dancer to stretch the top of my feet. in 2 months I've see drammatic improved in flexibility in my top feet, nothing to write home about but still a vast improvement.
Also I'm using a homemade device to stretch the foot, one like the ones used from dancer or "The rack", but simply relaxing the leg lay down on my bed for 15 mins e apply ice just after, no force down no under the couch.
I've see a big change in the feeling that I get kicking, I can move more easy at cruised speed kicking, now I've got a nice feedback from my lower leg, I can relaxed the lower leg more easy and I can point my toes with much less effort that before. The ankle is more "freely" to move.
My kick is more effective swimming, I feel a more easy hands' entry and catch thanks an improved propulsion kicking hard, just like the feeling that you'll get from fins just scaled back of course.
I've posted a video on youtube that show the 2 exercise that I'm taliking about.
YouTube - basic feet stretch
I saw two kids consistently go under 40.00 in LCM 50 kicks with a board last week. They did 20 50's on 1:30 decend 1-4. Typically just over 40 on # 3 and under 40 on # 4. Their easy ones were in the high 40's. On #20 both went under 36. Curious how this stands by your standards: All out with a minute rest before hand I can break 40 in a 50 LCM. But I would need 10 minutes warm down to do it again.
Holy crap.
C'MON!
I can barely do 26 seconds in the middle of a set of 25s! :badday:
I should really do more kicking...
I am a semi professional kicker by masters standards.
I saw two kids consistently go under 40.00 in LCM 50 kicks with a board last week. They did 20 50's on 1:30 decend 1-4. Typically just over 40 on # 3 and under 40 on # 4. Their easy ones were in the high 40's. On #20 both went under 36. Curious how this stands by your standards: All out with a minute rest before hand I can break 40 in a 50 LCM. But I would need 10 minutes warm down to do it again.
