Just for context, I started swimming five years ago and I'm 42 years old. After a lot of floundering I got down to 1:50 per 100, and I do about 3000 meters a workout. I used to just swim it out, now I'm working on intervals and actually trying to push myself in a semi intelligent way.
I am haunted by my kicking problems, inasmuch as they're weaker than my arms and I tend to always move from side to side. I came to the conclusion this morning in my workout that breathing on only one side on every second stroke was forcing me to angle out every stroke and compounded my problems with keeping straight and letting my kicking propel me forward as opposed to side to side.
I started working this morning on breathing on alternate sides on every third stroke and while I have to re-train my lungs to accept the breathing differently and get comfortable one goggling the non dominant side, I immediately saw a big change in how I was gliding through the water and felt like I was swimming a bit with a pull buoy.
I had back surgery two years ago and for 18 months only swam with a buoy which probably made my problems a lot worse because I wasn't working on my core but was getting stronger with my pull, and wasn't addressing my weak kicking problem and facing up to the challenge of breathing on one side was pulling me a bit askance every stroke.
Anyways here's the question for you pros. Am I thinking about this problem right?
I tried to post the workout I need today. When I was working half through on breathing side to side I felt I had to go a lot slower to accommodate the new breathing technique and get comfortable with turning to the left, as well.
Any feedback would be really helpful. I know it's going to take a long time to put the breathing, catch and kicking pieces back together but I really want to get down into the 1:30's per 100 just for me, and I know without some great kicking I will never ever get there.
dsg10715,
Thanks for the clarification. Now knowing your goal and a little of your background, I suggest you consider the following:
a) Stop spending alot of time kicking since your goal is swimming faster. The primary sources of swimming speed is upper body and reducing drag. And, too often people who kick alot don't kick when they swim - kind of a waste.
b) Get rid of the pull buoy (PB). They alter body position, do not make a big difference in building upper body strength, and make it easy to let lower back/glutes/hamstrings relax and do nothing. And, if your goal is to swim faster, you want to get used to using your legs and get those muscles used to maintaining a streamline position.
c) Get rid of the snorkel - most of the time. I believe the snorkel is also a crutch that makes it easy to forget how to breathe properly.
d) Get rid of the fins when swimming because they are also a crutch. They make you think you are better than you are.
We have a guy at our pool who swims for 2 hours every day (fins, snorkel, and pull buoy). One day he decided he would try to swim without any of the stuff. He thought, since he swam so much, he could. He could not swim 5 strokes without stopping because he had no idea how to breathe, how to keep his toes pointed, and how to maintain a horizontal body position. He gave up after 10 minutes.
That is why I don't like toys that make it easy to feel good when it does no good.
Good luck and look forward to the video. :)
Paul
dsg10715,
Thanks for the clarification. Now knowing your goal and a little of your background, I suggest you consider the following:
a) Stop spending alot of time kicking since your goal is swimming faster. The primary sources of swimming speed is upper body and reducing drag. And, too often people who kick alot don't kick when they swim - kind of a waste.
b) Get rid of the pull buoy (PB). They alter body position, do not make a big difference in building upper body strength, and make it easy to let lower back/glutes/hamstrings relax and do nothing. And, if your goal is to swim faster, you want to get used to using your legs and get those muscles used to maintaining a streamline position.
c) Get rid of the snorkel - most of the time. I believe the snorkel is also a crutch that makes it easy to forget how to breathe properly.
d) Get rid of the fins when swimming because they are also a crutch. They make you think you are better than you are.
We have a guy at our pool who swims for 2 hours every day (fins, snorkel, and pull buoy). One day he decided he would try to swim without any of the stuff. He thought, since he swam so much, he could. He could not swim 5 strokes without stopping because he had no idea how to breathe, how to keep his toes pointed, and how to maintain a horizontal body position. He gave up after 10 minutes.
That is why I don't like toys that make it easy to feel good when it does no good.
Good luck and look forward to the video. :)
Paul
