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.
Parents
Former Member
For somebody already below 15 SPL, there may be gains to be found on the SR side of the equation (usually, through increasing strength and fitness). The latter point is, I believe, somewhat underappreciated in some circles.
I think there's definitely something in the SR only to a point theory. I count strokes a lot and can do 13 or 14 per 25 yards in warm up, but that increases to around 17 when I need to hold a decent 100 or 200 rep pace.
I also noticed yesterday when I swam long course (for the first time in years) that my SR went through the roof at 44 - 46 per length. I actually thought while swimming that I'd gone into OW "panic" mode. So maybe its an instinctive thing for some, to shorten the stroke in an attempt to maintain a higher velocity.
Interesting thread :)
For somebody already below 15 SPL, there may be gains to be found on the SR side of the equation (usually, through increasing strength and fitness). The latter point is, I believe, somewhat underappreciated in some circles.
I think there's definitely something in the SR only to a point theory. I count strokes a lot and can do 13 or 14 per 25 yards in warm up, but that increases to around 17 when I need to hold a decent 100 or 200 rep pace.
I also noticed yesterday when I swam long course (for the first time in years) that my SR went through the roof at 44 - 46 per length. I actually thought while swimming that I'd gone into OW "panic" mode. So maybe its an instinctive thing for some, to shorten the stroke in an attempt to maintain a higher velocity.
Interesting thread :)
