After recognizing that my stroke is much longer than most OWS, I decided to poke around and see if stroke was different for OW as opposed to swimming in a pool. I found this (There is a part 2 if you click on the channel and scroll down the right side):
YouTube - Swim Smooth: What Is An Efficient Freestyle Stroke? Part 1
I would love to get reactions. I know that when I quicken my stroke rate and shorten my stroke I seem to fatigue much more quickly. However, this could be due to not pursuing this long enough to re-establish breathing patterns. (When I concentrate on my stroke, I tend to hold my breath without realizing it).
I do know that while my per 100 pace is slowly improving with more speed work in my work outs, it has dropped now where near what it used to be 20 years ago.
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Former Member
I'm still wondering if I should continue this experiment.
golf is a good experiment:
repeat 50's on x interval
establish a comfortable avg time
reduce SPL until you can no longer hold time as above.
now experiment with adding strokes without increasing time.
does this feel easier? better able to sustain over long periods?
these are questions you have to answer for yourself.
now, add all the OW variables.... chop, waves, current, sighting, etc. i know i vary my SR and breathing pattern to adjust to the moment though i have watched some very impressive performances where the swimmer held steady through quite varied conditions.
you have to work with what you have. me? i never had a high SR... and i'm not that fast.
I'm still wondering if I should continue this experiment.
golf is a good experiment:
repeat 50's on x interval
establish a comfortable avg time
reduce SPL until you can no longer hold time as above.
now experiment with adding strokes without increasing time.
does this feel easier? better able to sustain over long periods?
these are questions you have to answer for yourself.
now, add all the OW variables.... chop, waves, current, sighting, etc. i know i vary my SR and breathing pattern to adjust to the moment though i have watched some very impressive performances where the swimmer held steady through quite varied conditions.
you have to work with what you have. me? i never had a high SR... and i'm not that fast.
