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.
https://youtu.be/NNXOjJUIass
So I made a very short video on my own today. I think I will ask for help in making a longer one next week when I am back in the US if this isn't enough.
But I was surprised at the disconnect between what I *thought* I was doing, and what I see in the very short video which I tried to do a couple angles on.
Its pretty clear my fundamentals are in need of all around attention and the snaking problem I *think* is due to some level of crossover/fitness/breathing problems.
Would love to have one or two things to really work on and nail down as I don't think I can learn more than one or two fundamentals at once.
First quick observations:
Your left arm has a low elbow/arm on your recovery (looks sort of like you are "swinging" it, which will also send your body in that direction causing some "snaking")
Your right arm is recovering way outside your body underwater. You almost have a ninety degree angle with your upper arm/shoulder and lower arm. I have attached some pictures.
11793
Your head seems to always be moving. Try to keep it still when not breathing (sometimes overlooked fact: you don't really turn your head so much as rotate your body so your mouth just peeks above water to grab a breath. You actually don't even need the whole mouth to exit the water, because there is a natural air pocket/bubble that forms as you move through the water and you can pull air in from it!).
I don't see much crossover (maybe a little on your left arm as you finish under your body, but NONE on your right arm (see above analysis of underwater recover).
https://youtu.be/NNXOjJUIass
So I made a very short video on my own today. I think I will ask for help in making a longer one next week when I am back in the US if this isn't enough.
But I was surprised at the disconnect between what I *thought* I was doing, and what I see in the very short video which I tried to do a couple angles on.
Its pretty clear my fundamentals are in need of all around attention and the snaking problem I *think* is due to some level of crossover/fitness/breathing problems.
Would love to have one or two things to really work on and nail down as I don't think I can learn more than one or two fundamentals at once.
First quick observations:
Your left arm has a low elbow/arm on your recovery (looks sort of like you are "swinging" it, which will also send your body in that direction causing some "snaking")
Your right arm is recovering way outside your body underwater. You almost have a ninety degree angle with your upper arm/shoulder and lower arm. I have attached some pictures.
11793
Your head seems to always be moving. Try to keep it still when not breathing (sometimes overlooked fact: you don't really turn your head so much as rotate your body so your mouth just peeks above water to grab a breath. You actually don't even need the whole mouth to exit the water, because there is a natural air pocket/bubble that forms as you move through the water and you can pull air in from it!).
I don't see much crossover (maybe a little on your left arm as you finish under your body, but NONE on your right arm (see above analysis of underwater recover).
