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.
One other thought about the breathing: are you holding your breath? Or put another way, is it possible that as you increase stroke rate, you are not getting enough air out before the next breath?
You nailed it. My usual breathing pattern is 2R/2L without much head turn.
1. When I concentrate on stroke changes or drills that differ from my usual stroke, I forget to breathe and hold my breath. As the drill or stroke becomes more familiar within the set I'll eventually remember to breathe.
2. I got past #1 in this drill, but by quickening my stroke rate, I wasn't exhaling enough before my next breath. For a faster stroke rate I might have to BE3 or something. I just need to find the breathing rhythm that allows me to make the most of each inhale and exhale.
While even the video I posted to start this thread clearly makes the point that different strokes work for different people, I'm trying to find if there are elements of my stroke on which I can focus for improvement in speeding up my long distance pace. So far, just by drilling a shorter, choppier stroke, I have removed some of the glide from my usual stroke which can resemble an almost catch-up drill. Before now, I had not considered maintaining momentum as part of stroke efficiency.
I am still trying to find my potential. I thoroughly enjoy swimming in open water events and will continue to do so even if my distance pace never breaks 1:25/100 yards. But it would be fun to go faster if I can.
One other thought about the breathing: are you holding your breath? Or put another way, is it possible that as you increase stroke rate, you are not getting enough air out before the next breath?
You nailed it. My usual breathing pattern is 2R/2L without much head turn.
1. When I concentrate on stroke changes or drills that differ from my usual stroke, I forget to breathe and hold my breath. As the drill or stroke becomes more familiar within the set I'll eventually remember to breathe.
2. I got past #1 in this drill, but by quickening my stroke rate, I wasn't exhaling enough before my next breath. For a faster stroke rate I might have to BE3 or something. I just need to find the breathing rhythm that allows me to make the most of each inhale and exhale.
While even the video I posted to start this thread clearly makes the point that different strokes work for different people, I'm trying to find if there are elements of my stroke on which I can focus for improvement in speeding up my long distance pace. So far, just by drilling a shorter, choppier stroke, I have removed some of the glide from my usual stroke which can resemble an almost catch-up drill. Before now, I had not considered maintaining momentum as part of stroke efficiency.
I am still trying to find my potential. I thoroughly enjoy swimming in open water events and will continue to do so even if my distance pace never breaks 1:25/100 yards. But it would be fun to go faster if I can.
