I am new to masters swimming, and had not trained since 1988 until a couple of months ago. I am not exactly killing it yet, but I am finally getting a feel for the water, and I cranked out a 1200 workout today and it felt like I was just getting started. Anyway, to the point ...
I was a breaststroker in the old days, and I never learned to swim with my head going under in my glide. About a month ago, I decided to try it (with help from some old posts here).
I finally got the rhythm down last week, taking my strokes per 25 down from 12 to 8/9, but it feels like I am putting way too much strain on my inner thighs during my kick, resulting in some mild groin strains (both sides)from trying to go to fast (kicking too hard, if there is such a thing).
Is this just a matter of getting used to a new angle? I can breaststroke kick only for as long as I want without trouble, but as soon as I put in the big glide, ouch. I swam plenty of breaststroke today without pain, but I went easy on the kick.
I appreciate any advice.
-Jim L
You are kicking way too wide.That not only increases the risk of groin strain,but it robs you of power.You want to kick back ,not out(keep your knees no more than 2 fists apart,get your toes pointing at the outside walls and kick straight back.It won't be actually straight back as your feet start outside your knees so they do follow a curve,but there is no kick out.)The other big problem is that you do not accelerate through the insweep into the recovery,but are getting stuck a little and the end of the insweep in the dreaded "prayer position." This causes a great deal of drag bringing you nearly to a stop.This is interfering with your glide and decreasing you DPS.
You are kicking way too wide.That not only increases the risk of groin strain,but it robs you of power.You want to kick back ,not out(keep your knees no more than 2 fists apart,get your toes pointing at the outside walls and kick straight back.It won't be actually straight back as your feet start outside your knees so they do follow a curve,but there is no kick out.)The other big problem is that you do not accelerate through the insweep into the recovery,but are getting stuck a little and the end of the insweep in the dreaded "prayer position." This causes a great deal of drag bringing you nearly to a stop.This is interfering with your glide and decreasing you DPS.
