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
Former Member
Are you stating this is the maximum distance knees apart?
Georgio :confused:
New questions as I get more comfortable with this:
1) on my glide, after driving my hands forward and slightly downward, my hands drift back up as I lose momentum. If this is right, at what point should I start the next stroke? When the hands are still deep, when they approach the surface, or somewhere in the middle?
2) I am to the point where the stroke is pretty consistent, so I want to make sure it is right. What is the approximate downward angle of the arms relative to the water surface on the glide? I am probably 20-30 degrees when my arms first fully extend.
3) At the wall, I am followed by several big (a few inches high, and forceful) waves after my touch. Does this mean I am doing something right, or am I doing something wrong?
4) I am down to 7-8 pulls per 25 yards, starting from a push. What is a good rate? (I'm only 5'9" if that makes a difference.)
Thanks again for the help so far. I hope my questions help others too.
Your hands are way too deep.You want a 0-10% angle(you are shooting forward,not down.)If your hands are drifting up you are too deep and have glided too long.I am 5'8'" and my strokes/length depends on my speed.just coasting it is 4-5,200 pace it is 6,100 pace 7-8,all out it is 9(this does not count the pull down.)7-8/25 is fine.Having the waves follow you into the wall is probably fine,you can't swim fast without making waves,but it is also hard to swim slowly without making waves so it doesn't tell you much.Keep it up.Can you get a video for us to look at?
Cool. :bow:
Thanks for the feedback. Heading to the pool now. I'll work on that arm angle. I thought I might be going too deep.
Re: video, once I get a day when I have open swim and my kids are out of school, I'll get my daughter to shoot some video. Might be a while though.
Well, if this worked, it's a vid of me swimming today. Lighting was really bad at the pool, so hopefully there's enough to see. I appreciate any feedback.
HrvWBlyhGsU
if you've got minor groin strains
rest them till they are better
then try kicking again
gentle at first
getting more intense but if there is ANY PAIN
STOP immediately
swim free back or fly and STOP kicking ***
now are you saying you've reduced your 25 *** from 12 to 8 or 9 strokes
that is still too many strokes
work on gliding more on your push offs
glide more before you pull
glide more after you pull
glide more after each kick
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
if you've got minor groin strains
rest them till they are better
then try kicking again
gentle at first
getting more intense but if there is ANY PAIN
STOP immediately
swim free back or fly and STOP kicking ***
now are you saying you've reduced your 25 *** from 12 to 8 or 9 strokes
that is still too many strokes
work on gliding more on your push offs
glide more before you pull
glide more after you pull
glide more after each kick
Thanks. I am over the leg pain. I think my main problem with the glide is that I am swimming in trunks. I'll know for sure soon, as I'm getting a new suit (then no excuses).
I also think I have upper body flexibility issues. The above vid is the first time I have seen myself swim since '87.
.
On the insweep, how do I fix that? Hand position? Timing?
First focus on accelerating into the recovery as a continuous motion.
Some drills-1)swim breaststroke underwater,this makes it easier to feel dead spots.
2) take a paddle and either take off the straps or turn it over so that as you do the pull the only thing holding the paddle in place is water pressure.Then if you have dead spots the paddles fall off.
3) Slugs head out of water BR pulls(I do it without the pull buoy so that it is sink or swim.)
