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.
Couple of things. Looks to me like you are not driving from your hips and engaging your core. Your upper body is not rotating as much as it should. That impacts your breathing as you have to roll your head over more. But you should find that your shoulder rubs against the back of your jaw on your non-breathing side.
Looks also like you are looking up a little bit too much. Try taking a tennis ball and holding it between your chin and sternum. That will keep your head down. You'll need a snorkel to breathe. Someone, I think Dolphin, makes a ball with dimples for that purpose, but I could never rotate my head without losing it. When your head is positioned like that, you'll see your elbow come out of the water, as you'll be looking about 3/4 rearward when you breathe.
I know someone mentioned stroke efficiency/Distance Per Stroke. That is the best instant feedback you can have. Always count. My DPS has improved drastically, over 50%, since I started a bit under 2 years ago. I think you'll find if you start driving from the hips, and keeping your head down, your DPS will improve pretty dramatically.
Not an expert, hope if I miss something those more experienced than me will correct me, but those are things I think I see.
Couple of things. Looks to me like you are not driving from your hips and engaging your core. Your upper body is not rotating as much as it should. That impacts your breathing as you have to roll your head over more. But you should find that your shoulder rubs against the back of your jaw on your non-breathing side.
Looks also like you are looking up a little bit too much. Try taking a tennis ball and holding it between your chin and sternum. That will keep your head down. You'll need a snorkel to breathe. Someone, I think Dolphin, makes a ball with dimples for that purpose, but I could never rotate my head without losing it. When your head is positioned like that, you'll see your elbow come out of the water, as you'll be looking about 3/4 rearward when you breathe.
I know someone mentioned stroke efficiency/Distance Per Stroke. That is the best instant feedback you can have. Always count. My DPS has improved drastically, over 50%, since I started a bit under 2 years ago. I think you'll find if you start driving from the hips, and keeping your head down, your DPS will improve pretty dramatically.
Not an expert, hope if I miss something those more experienced than me will correct me, but those are things I think I see.
