RE: Swim Lessons-Do they Help?

Former Member — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:36:51 GMT

Chris, Most triathlete need to address their workouts more than their form. How do you swim your 13,000 or so yards? How many days per week? How much interval training? I am not saying your think this, BUT, there is no panacea. Train properly and you will get better even without lessons. If you are already doing that then I would consider lessons because yes, they help.

RE: Swim Lessons-Do they Help?

rtodd — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:31:19 GMT

will a coach will be able to provide with the proper tips to improve my stroke Probably. You are new. Better yet as a start, look around for the good swimmers and ask. They will help and it will be free. 8 miles a week is alot so you want to get the right form imprinted right away. You are probably beyond "swimming lessons" if you are doing that kind of yardage. Seek out and swim with better swimmers (for free). Learn the pace clock and swim intervals. Ideally join a Masters group. YOu will know when it is time to do that. It is a natural progression. Learn to bilateral breathe to help balance your stroke. Swim fast and swim slow, it will expose your technique flaws. Don't swim that boring mundane speed all the time. Use fins to swim faster and expose your arm entry and catch problems. As a new swimmer kick 30-40% of your workout. Seems like a waste, but it is not. Watch and study video. Think about what you are watching and work on imprinting that into your form. I video taped just about every Beijing race and I study it all the time.