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.
Thanks Paul,
I will count them on a kick board.
Will order the toy, too.
a) I probably look up ahead of me too much. Will work on it.
b) they shouldn't be straight without ever bending though, right? they need to bend a little to try and achieve the whip effect?
c) I try to reach forward as far as I can, then hinge my elbow and pull back towards my thigh in conjunction with rotating. I find a problem when I rotate left as in my left side rotating towards the bottom; inasmuch as I feel like I don't get rotated till the last second of the pull whereas when my right side is facing the bottom I seem to get a better "elastic band effect" in that the rotation and the pull seems to work in tandem a bit better.
Then again, this is all how it *feels* to me and I don't feel like I am bending my legs too much but it's entirely possible I am.
DSG10715,
Quickly, counting your kicks is when kicking with a board - not when you are swimming. Should be relatively easy to count when you have a kickboard or even a snorkel.
The Finis tick tock is one of the toys I think is worthwhile.
Everything else in your post suggests three things: a) you head is too high in the water, you are bending your knees too much when you kick, and your pulling pattern is way off.
Describe the pulling pattern you are trying to emulate, ok? of course, video will be really helpful too. - when it comes.
Paul
Thanks Paul,
I will count them on a kick board.
Will order the toy, too.
a) I probably look up ahead of me too much. Will work on it.
b) they shouldn't be straight without ever bending though, right? they need to bend a little to try and achieve the whip effect?
c) I try to reach forward as far as I can, then hinge my elbow and pull back towards my thigh in conjunction with rotating. I find a problem when I rotate left as in my left side rotating towards the bottom; inasmuch as I feel like I don't get rotated till the last second of the pull whereas when my right side is facing the bottom I seem to get a better "elastic band effect" in that the rotation and the pull seems to work in tandem a bit better.
Then again, this is all how it *feels* to me and I don't feel like I am bending my legs too much but it's entirely possible I am.
DSG10715,
Quickly, counting your kicks is when kicking with a board - not when you are swimming. Should be relatively easy to count when you have a kickboard or even a snorkel.
The Finis tick tock is one of the toys I think is worthwhile.
Everything else in your post suggests three things: a) you head is too high in the water, you are bending your knees too much when you kick, and your pulling pattern is way off.
Describe the pulling pattern you are trying to emulate, ok? of course, video will be really helpful too. - when it comes.
Paul
