Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:42:43 GMT

Hey Forumites! I'm back from Alaska and back in a 25 yd pool! Unfortunately, it's 40 degrees warmer here, though, and our indoor pool has shot up to 86 degrees, due to the greenhouse effect. :bitching: Back to the positive... :D Vancouver and Alaska were AWESOME! If any of you decide to do an Alaska cruise, make sure to go on one that includes Hubbard Glacier in the itinerary. It's six miles wide and rises 350 feet above the water. The captain was able to navigate the ice field and get within 400 yds. of the glacier and sit there for over an hour while we watched an amazing show of calving (huge chunks of ice breaking off). Some were so dramatic, the falling ice caused large swells that made our huge ship rock. Amazing! Ok, back to the subject. As you can see by the photos below, I did my sculling drills in the ship's tiny pool. (Now, I DID use the LENGTH of the pool, rather than the width, and, I DID put my head back in the water for my feet first sculling, but I wanted to pose for these shots.) Thanks to all of you who wrote with suggestions, I had plenty of drills to keep me busy, when I wasn't trying to dodge others who were in the pool along with me, most of the time... What I DIDN'T take into consideration was the effect of the ship's rocking on the first sea day... Yikes! I had to get out due to my Meniere's causing sea sickness while I was IN the pool. Once I got out, I was fine! :blush: Otherwise, the stretch chord I brought with me worked great in the gym. I just wrapped it around the dance bar in the aerobics studio and swam my strokes dryland! :bliss: And, the gym was great. Cheers! Elaine-iaK :D

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:01:51 GMT

Cords are a great travel toy. Lunges around the ship walkway, use the stairs always, don't eat too much - have fun ! They're great! The HOA manager let me borrow one from the gym for the cruise (I thanked her with chocolate from Alaska :D ) and now I'm hooked! I've been "working" on cruises since 1983 (mostly since 1996) and I swear by the no elevator rule. I always take stairs, workout in the gym on sea days (before or after I teach my classes), walk miles and miles in port, and eat my normal, healthy, sensible food during the day (yogurt and granola for breakfast and salad bar with low-fat dressing for lunch). At dinner, all bets are off. I love seafood, so I always go for the seafood appetizer and entree. And, if chocolate is on the menu for dessert, I'm all over it! :bliss: Otherwise, it's chocolate ice cream (which is always available). I've been on 38 cruises and have only gained weight on one of them (1 pound), when I couldn't keep my hands off the mudslide (CHOCOLATE!) cookies. Otherwise, I either stayed at my same weight or have lost a pound or two. At 5'71/2" and 123 lbs., I don't need to be losing any weight, but if I do, it does allow for a little more chocolate in my otherwise very healthy diet! :bliss:

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:51:52 GMT

Or.. are you a swinger or not and getting naked on deck. See, you have to make Elaine miss the forums so she won't leave again. Awwwww, thanks Alison! :bighug: Thanks for your warm welcome back to the forums! But, no can do. If there is one passion I have that is greater than swimming (and chocolate :bliss:), it's travel! But, my next trip isn't until Oct., so you're all stuck with me and my Comic Sans (and Smilies) until then! :D

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

orca1946 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:41:58 GMT

Cords are a great travel toy. Lunges around the ship walkway, use the stairs always, don't eat too much - have fun !

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

swimshark — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:39:24 GMT

Yeah no kidding! Things were quiet here since you've been gone! Alls we've managed to talk about here was training quantification and deck changing... Or.. are you a swinger or not and getting naked on deck. See, you have to make Elaine miss the forums so she won't leave again.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

bzaks1424 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:30:39 GMT

Welcome back, Elaine!! I'm glad you had such a nice trip. Yeah no kidding! Things were quiet here since you've been gone! Alls we've managed to talk about here was training quantification and deck changing...

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

swimshark — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:27:37 GMT

Welcome back, Elaine!! I'm glad you had such a nice trip.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:58:58 GMT

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

floswimmer — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:38:59 GMT

Elaine...hmm forget drill in the pool have the Capt. assign you a watcher...jump over the side and keep up with the ship...simple really... :bolt: Feel drills, paddle entry...personally I'd just forget it and relax use the cardio equipment in the gym if you can. :bump: Thanks for the laugh:) 's Boy do I wish I had Elaine's job....(you're kidding about your first suggestion right:afraid:)

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Fri, 28 May 2010 07:10:58 GMT

the best way to get something out of a workout when you don't have goggles is to go buy goggles. The best way to get something out of a small pool is to buy a stretch cord! Do the drills recommended here too and you wont miss a beat! I have goggles; no problem there. As for the stretch cord, I figured it was too late to order it and have it arrive on time. And, I didn't feel it was worth paying extra $$ to have it sent "rush". The drills posted on this thread will keep me busy- and a happy camper! :bliss:

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:52:09 GMT

Will you be on land long enough during stops to find a pool? I haven't been to Alaska since 1983 and my husband has never been. So, our free port days will be spent exploring- and getting A LOT of walking/ hiking in! :D

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

__steve__ — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:36:46 GMT

Will you be on land long enough during stops to find a pool?

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:29:55 GMT

Can I ask how? We have only gone on one short, "test" cruise since I get motion sick very easily. I was ok except the day at sea when half the boat was green because of a storm. I survived with dramamine but I felt dull and zombie-ish instead of like I was on a party boat. I couldn't even eat breakfast. I wish I could give you some tips for drills in small pools but that is not something I have had personal success with. When the pool is tiny, I head to the cardio and weight equipment instead. If it's during the day and I can see out, I look out to the horizon and keep my eyes fixed on it to stay oriented. Better yet, if it's not too rough to be out on deck, the fresh air helps. Ginger and apples both help and I take Antivert which doesn't make me drowsy like Dramamine. Alcohol is off limits, as is rich food. I also use a battery operated wristband that looks like a watch, but it delivers an electronic impulse to the nerve in the wrist. It's my husband's; he use to use it when he went out albacore fishing. I can't remember the details as to why/how it works, but he was given it as a gift by a fishing buddy and I figure what the heck? :)

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:30:49 GMT

...Or the champagne of beers :D

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:23:30 GMT

Champagne would be nice...

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

jessicafk11 — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:16:35 GMT

And, fortunately, I have figured out the best ways to avoid seasickness when the seas are rough aboard ship...:agree: Can I ask how? We have only gone on one short, "test" cruise since I get motion sick very easily. I was ok except the day at sea when half the boat was green because of a storm. I survived with dramamine but I felt dull and zombie-ish instead of like I was on a party boat. I couldn't even eat breakfast. I wish I could give you some tips for drills in small pools but that is not something I have had personal success with. When the pool is tiny, I head to the cardio and weight equipment instead.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:48:52 GMT

Various sculling: Laying on belly, Arms out in front (**** outsweep/insweep) Scruntch scull: knees are up to your chest while doing fast BR* pulls Laying on back, sculling underneath Various Kicking: 1. Vertical Free or Fly or Eggbeater* (10 x 45 seconds w/15 Sec rest) - Try various hand positions during the 45 seconds: rest = hands sculling, hands at head height then hands straight up in the air 2. Horizontial kicking (already mentioned) with hands against the wall 3. Horizontal "Eggs*" or Bikes (Like eggs but with your knees in tighter) "kid's contest" Hypoxic training: see how many lengths you can do underwater back and forth doing open turns underwater. Try to increase the amount everyday. Try challenging various people to a contest; if it is an old dude or a kid try to double or triple their attempt. Probably want to reward yourself with various alcoholic shots! Have fun!! :2cents:

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:38:21 GMT

Thanks so much for taking the time to offer all these great drills to do! I can't wait to give them a try! Lucky me, when I "work" on the cruise ships, I am considered a "guest lecturer" and have passenger status. That means, I get a passenger cabin, eat in the dining room, and have the run of the ship. The only thing I can't do is gamble or participate in games with prizes; no biggie for me! :D No problem. They won't be all that exciting, but they'll at least be something rather than doing stairs and pushups :) You could also practice flip turns in that pool. Looks long enough for some turn and pushoff SDK work. :)

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:01:20 GMT

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:55:49 GMT

For a good free drill, do closed fist swimming. Simply do free but ball up your hands into fists. You won't move as fast and it works on getting the feel of your pull out of the forearms alone rather than the whole hand. Skulling is good but don't limit it to feet first. Work on each part of the stroke as a skull. it's nice and slow so a short pool seems longer when doing this. Do wall kicking with hands on the side of the pool like 45seconds kick and 15 sec rest, etc. Vertical kicking if the pool is deep enough. 15 seconds elbows out of the water, 30 seconds armpits out of the water. 15 seconds rest. Edit intervals to your ability. In the shallow end do jumps. Lock your hands above or behind your head, crouch down under the water, then blast up out of the water, and immediately get back in the crouched position. Do this repeatedly for an interval time (45 sec and 15 rest?). REALLY works the pushoffs for the wall/start and is useful for a breaststroker too. You should be in chest to stomach-deep water and blast off so you get your knees out of the water or close. This one is surprisingly tiresome. Another one, Stand in the pool facing a wall. Do a pushup on the side of the pool such that you end up with your legs in the water, and hands on the deck outstretched straight holding you half out of the water. With your hands only, walk hand over hand around the outside of the pool with your feet dangling beneath. Not quite sure what muscle group works on but I always found it hard to do. A canadian olympic coach came to one of our practices back in like 1997 and claims that all members of their olympic team do this twice around the pool every day. I had a hard time making it 25 yards without dropping back into the pool to rest. I still have my doubts whether or not the guy was really an olympic coach since he just showed up one day, but it sure is hard and works the hell out of the arms.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:12:11 GMT

Various sculling: Laying on belly, Arms out in front (**** outsweep/insweep) Scruntch scull: knees are up to your breasts while doing fast BR* pulls Laying on back, sculling underneath Various Kicking: 1. Vertical Free or Fly or Eggbeater* (10 x 45 seconds w/15 Sec rest) - Try various hand positions during the 45 seconds: rest = hands sculling, hands at head height then hands straight up in the air 2. Horizontial kicking (already mentioned) with hands against the wall 3. Horizontal "Eggs*" or Bikes (Like eggs but with your knees in tighter) "kid's contest" Hypoxic training: see how many lengths you can do underwater back and forth doing open turns underwater. Try to increase the amount everyday. Try challenging various people to a contest; if it is an old dude or a kid try to double or triple their attempt. Probably want to reward yourself with various alcoholic shots! Have fun!! :2cents: Great stuff- thanks! Would champagne do???:wine:

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Former Member — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:46:42 GMT

stuff about small pool Elaine...hmm forget drill in the pool have the Capt. assign you a watcher...jump over the side and keep up with the ship...simple really... :bolt: Feel drills, paddle entry...personally I'd just forget it and relax use the cardio equipment in the gym if you can.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:45:41 GMT

No problem. They won't be all that exciting, but they'll at least be something rather than doing stairs and pushups :) You could also practice flip turns in that pool. Looks long enough for some turn and pushoff SDK work. :) I discoverd (rather unfortunately...) I can't do flip turns, like I used to do in high school. In between then and now, I developed Meniere's and tinnitus. But, it didn't occur to me when I was practicing flip turns that the reason they kept getting worse and worse the more I did in a given session was because of my inner ear problem! :badday: Getting "sea sick" and having to, uh, leave the pool, was the "Aha!" moment... :blush: Practices are miserable when I do flip turns, so my goal is to perfect the open turn. Fortunately, I'm a breaststroker, so I'll be practicing those turns, instead... :D And, fortunately, I have figured out the best ways to avoid seasickness when the seas are rough aboard ship...:agree:

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

aquageek — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:25:05 GMT

Go buy some stretchcordz. That's all you need.

RE: Drill recommendations for a tiny cruise ship pool?

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:22:36 GMT

Now that I see the picture... hook your feet over the ladder when you do the closed fist free. You won't be pulling hard enough to make the feet hurt either. However, I know when people from work have to go "work" on a cruise ship they're not allowed to go above deck! Hopefully that's not the case for you. Thanks so much for taking the time to offer all these great drills to do! I can't wait to give them a try! Lucky me, when I "work" on the cruise ships, I am considered a "guest lecturer" and have passenger status. That means, I get a passenger cabin, eat in the dining room, and have the run of the ship. The only thing I can't do is gamble or participate in games with prizes; no biggie for me! :D