Learning to IM

RE: Learning to IM

debaru — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:12:09 GMT

So, Michael. It's been about 8 months since you originally posted. How is your butterfly/IM coming along?

RE: Learning to IM

rtodd — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:55:52 GMT

You can do it. I was 3:05-10 for my first few 200 IM's. I've dropped down to a 2:33 over the last few years and I think there is still much room for improvement. Just keep swimming strokes in practice and racing strokes. The biggest differnce I have found is now I finish 50 fly with alot of energy and can attack and work the middle part of the race much better.

RE: Learning to IM

bzaks1424 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 01:01:34 GMT

Well, I have since learned to swim fly. As I reviewed this thread - I had TOTALLY forgotten I had even started it. So far - I'm kind of in the rough stages in it. I don't go in the water with much of a plan aside survival right now. I haven't done nearly enough of them to have a plan yet. My biggest issue is actually my *** stroke. I'm getting very happy with my back stroke, my fly is coming along and my free is decent enough. In the last month I've dropped ~10 seconds in my 200 IM. www.usms.org/.../swim.php www.usms.org/.../swim.php 'er - but until then I need to learn *** stroke before I can realistically achieve that goal. I work on it a little bit during most practices, but I haven't had extensive opportunities to delve into it yet. Given the fact I've only really been swimming for 13 months - I'm really okay with what I'm seeing. You'll see at least 2 more 200 IMs out of me before nats though. I don't really expect to see a full 10 second drop, but we'll see :D

RE: Learning to IM

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:16:35 GMT

In my opinion, fly is something to be dreaded, not feared. I was never a great fly swimmer, however, I still had decent times. It is an intensive stroke, in that it really sucks the wind out of you, however, it is like dancing...once you know the steps it is much easier. I suggest working with a coach that is familiar with fly, as well as working with some fellow swimmers that are good at the stroke. Really work it into your sets in practice. If you can swim *** or back, fly....with a little work should be no different.

RE: Learning to IM

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:32:32 GMT

I do not know how to do butterfly, and the thought of doing it is for some reason scary! :afraid: Lots of good advice - don't be scared at all. My coach told me to swim a length fly, no instruction or anything and I just got on and did it. The fact I was 8 at the time might have helped though! I'd suggest that you build up the kick and the core steadily, then add the arms, one at a time at first to help with timing. Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're going backwards at first on the kick though, it took a few weeks for me to get back into doing more than 25m at a time.

RE: Learning to IM

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 08:01:13 GMT

I taught myself the fly, it all came together when I watched a youtube video and learned the kick is small- like 45 degrees, not a big kick- the only way to get 2 kicks to 1 stroke. Tho I've only been on my first swim team for maybe 3 months, I did a 100 IM at my first meet. Doing some butterfly at every practice- or the kick only for starts- makes it just part of what you do. I've swam recreationally for years and it took me a few years to teach myself how to almost do it right- if only someone had told me the dolphin kick is small!- could've learned it sooner.

RE: Learning to IM

Former Member — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:41:30 GMT

I would start working on Fly now, but don't worry about trying to go fast until you can comfortably swim at least a 50 at easy cruise speed. It's all about timing. 1... 2. 1... 2. Kick... kick. Reach on the 1, scull out, push under and then out past the hips on 2. Head goes down before the arms come over. Stretch the chest on the catch. Push the chin forward to breathe and stay low over the water. Don't kick too hard, just let your body undulate and end with a snap of the toes. This makes me want to go swim Fly right now! Disclaimer: I'm a butterfly newbie and not very fast. I can, however, swim 100 repeats without going vertical. (depending on the interval, of course :D ) You should search the forum on this. I recall a recent discussion about beginning fly that had a lot of great info.

RE: Learning to IM

bzaks1424 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:49:26 GMT

Are you on a masters team ? You should be , the coach will work on all 4 strokes & drills. Yeah - we don't do strokes consistently during practices. That's why I'm learning to do my strokes as much as I can on my own. (See my "Sprints and Strokes blog post") This is probably also a consequence of the fact that we only have 3 practices a week as well - so focusing on freestyle is probably what most of the other swimmers on the team want. -Michael P.

RE: Learning to IM

orca1946 — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:03:47 GMT

Are you on a masters team ? You should be , the coach will work on all 4 strokes & drills.

RE: Learning to IM

rtodd — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:50:35 GMT

You are right, fins can help. Just do underwater dolphin kick with arms streamlined. Once you have this motion working add the arms with the right timing, that is downward kick when hands go in and downward kick when hands exit. Go from giant fins, to zoomers, to nothing.

RE: Learning to IM

That Guy — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:44:45 GMT

Fins are a useful tool for learning to swim fly. I've seen beginners have a light bulb "aha!" moment because the fins provide the extra propulsion needed to get the arms out of the water. Develop your dolphin kick and eventually you won't need the fins anymore.

RE: Learning to IM

rtodd — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:54:16 GMT

Mike, I took up swimming five years ago and started with simple freestyle. I honestly thought that was all I would, or could do. Not in a million years did I think I would ever be able to do IM. I looked at IM'rs at meets like swimming Gods. However, if you swim every day (that's important, because if you don't you may only be satisfied with free) you will find it is a natural progression to start playing around with backstroke and breastroke. After a while, all that is left is fly. To be honest it was quite difficult for me to learn fly because I would aggrevate my lower back trying to learn and it was frustrating. I persevered and the better I got at fly (timing and feel), the less strain there was on my lower back. Once you become proficient, fly does not put alot of stress on the lower back (more in breastroke). Now I find the 100 and 200 IM are my favorite events (400 less so!). My advice is just swim at least 4-5 times a week with a good group and all the puzzle pieces will fall into place.

RE: Learning to IM

Elaine Krugman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:41:07 GMT

I do not know how to do butterfly, and the thought of doing it is for some reason scary! :afraid: I'm not sure what's the best way to go about this. Do I focus on back and *** and learning them to the point where I can at least do them pretty well THEN learn butterfly? Or do I just work butterfly into my repertoire now and then work on all 3 of them simultaneously? Hey Michael, don't psych yourself out about swimming butterfly! The first step to learning it is believing in yourself that you can do it. I'm not sure what the best answer to your question is, but my intuition tells me to work it into your repertoire now. The longer you put it off, the more psyched out you will be down the road! Take it in baby steps if you have to. Perhaps you just learn the dolphin kick first. Then, use a pull bouy and learn the stroke. While you are getting each component down, you will be building up strength for when you are ready to put the two together. You work with a coach, right? Ask your coach or a teammate for help with your timing for the kick and stroke combined. Then, set a small goal at first. Just set a goal of being able to complete 25yds of fly. And, make the 100IM your first goal in competition. Don't even think of doing the 200IM until you can feel confident with doing 50 fly! :afraid: Hey, I'm with you on this. I competed in 100 fly a few times in high school, but I'm mainly a breaststroker. I've been working on building my fly back up, as well as getting better at backstroke, so I can compete in the Peactree City Pentathlon, in September. Eventually, I would like to ad IM to my meet line-up. I know I can do it and I know you can do it! :cheerleader: