Hey, solo swimmers! :wave: Welcome to the thread for all of us who train solo. Whether you train on your own due to a lack of a Masters team in your area (or for any other reason), this is our virtual locker room. Please post training tips that you think would be helpful, or anything else you would like to share with the rest of us. Have a rant? Go ahead and vent here! :rantonoff:
I'll start with a tip:
The most frustrating thing for me training solo is not having a coach on deck to evaluate my stroke and keep me on track, so I bought a waterproof camera and enlisted the help of my husband to periodically shoot video of all four strokes. Shooting underwater video became a knee/back buster, so I bought a camera mount and attached it to PVC pipe, so my husband could stand up straight to shoot underwater video. The camera gets dunked underwater, and he twists the pipe to pan the camera as I swim by.
Today, I bought a 2-pack of 12-inch "Gear Tie" reusable rubber twist ties (available at Home Depot), so I can tie the PVC pipe to the pool ladder (located in the corner of the pool) and shoot video myself. (If I angle the camera just right and keep it on wide angle, I can video me coming and going.)
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After each video session, I upload the videos to my desktop computer and compare my stroke to my favorite Go Swim stroke videos to see what I'm doing well (or not). I also post them on the Forums for feedback.
Ok, solo swimmers, what's your tip?
I agree with Swimspire 100%. Although I said in my earlier post that fins are good for strengthening the muscles in your legs and ankles, I neglected to elaborate or explain the flip side-- the pitfalls of using fins if not done properly. Personally, I haven't used fins since having hip surgery for a labral tear in 2014, because I am afraid of re-injuring my hip (or sustaining any other over-use injury). The labral tear wasn't caused by swimming or using fins ; however, I can see how the overuse of fins could cause that type of injury.
Ditto on the gloves. For that matter, I NEVER use paddles, because I am susceptible to repetitive stress injuries. (I know my body well enough to know I am a walking repetitive stress injury waiting to happen!)
It is CRUCIAL you use proper swimming technique, especially when using "toys" such as fins, paddles, pull buoys, etc. As your body ages, it is even more important! (I'm almost 56, so I can say this to you!)
My advice regardless if you decide to use fins or any other "toy" for swimming: Have a good swim coach teach you proper stroke technique, so you can avoid future injury. At the very least, have somebody shoot some short videos of your stroke (25 yards of swimming, for example) and post them here on the Forums for feedback. :agree:
I agree with Swimspire 100%. Although I said in my earlier post that fins are good for strengthening the muscles in your legs and ankles, I neglected to elaborate or explain the flip side-- the pitfalls of using fins if not done properly. Personally, I haven't used fins since having hip surgery for a labral tear in 2014, because I am afraid of re-injuring my hip (or sustaining any other over-use injury). The labral tear wasn't caused by swimming or using fins ; however, I can see how the overuse of fins could cause that type of injury.
Ditto on the gloves. For that matter, I NEVER use paddles, because I am susceptible to repetitive stress injuries. (I know my body well enough to know I am a walking repetitive stress injury waiting to happen!)
It is CRUCIAL you use proper swimming technique, especially when using "toys" such as fins, paddles, pull buoys, etc. As your body ages, it is even more important! (I'm almost 56, so I can say this to you!)
My advice regardless if you decide to use fins or any other "toy" for swimming: Have a good swim coach teach you proper stroke technique, so you can avoid future injury. At the very least, have somebody shoot some short videos of your stroke (25 yards of swimming, for example) and post them here on the Forums for feedback. :agree:
