Too many miles on the tri bike may have resulted in some bad habits! The posture evidently had carried over to the water. Something about keeping your nose to the grindstone may have had something to do with it. But an innocent bystander observing my stroke on Friday morning asked if she could make a suggestion.
I was both thinking, "You have no idea what you're doing" meaning- giving me more things to frett about weeks before swimming longer than I've ever swam, in water colder than I've ever swam, with more people than I've ever swam...you get the idea!
However, I did have the common sense to identify that she had a beautiful stroke herself and was swimming with such ease that I was trying to emulate her even before she spoke to me. I called Tim Hansen and scheduled one of the half hour swim lessons I've had on my books for over three years!
Sat am at 7 I asked him to observe me as I started my long workout for that day and not give me too much to overwhelm me but tips that would make the biggest impact on economy and efficiency to help cut down on fatigue and ensure I could relax sooner into my own swim pace.
With his tips I cut 6 seconds off my 25yd and 16 off my 100. Plus, it felt easy- as if I was gliding rather than working harder expending more energy.
I wasn't sure about whether to laugh or cry.....the months of maybe less than good form- expending energy that could have been reserved for more distance, or for better recovery.
I laughed instead- how fun was that!
No one ever accused me of being fast! OK- one person, and I at the time felt sorry for him, thinking that he really needed lessons!
A friend of my son's commented to him on how slow I was in the pool while swimming laps at the country club this summer. Something like a "your mamma" joke I suppose. I couldn't hold telling the truth against him! All I could do was think, if you think that's bad you should see my run and bike! It's true I was getting slower every day !!
At least some light at the end of the tunnel.
New book by my nightstand. I finished "Seventeen Hours to Glory" and am reading the lone from swim coach, "Becoming an Ironman." It's exactly what I need this next three weeks. Triumph from all walks of athlete and the simple reminder that mere mortals do do this.
I may be learning the most about what to pack in my special needs bags from this book. The expert books all tell it like a bullet point list, but this one, from the trenches tells me what worked for these people. So far the common denominator? Advil, Aleve and some kind of treats to look forward to!
19 days to go. OMG.
Showing posts with label swim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swim. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
In the Swim
Swimming a triathlon is a different animal for several reasons!
New-to-tri people have primarily swam in a pool where the bottom is visible, the side is readily available for rest and a push off, standing up is quite often an option, and there is little risk of having to share a lane with too many people.
Lake swims change the rules. Goodbye bottom of pool, lane ropes, polite swimmers, rests at 25 or 50 yards.
The fun of it is having the experience! Suddenly though, becoming efficient becomes your best friend. Save energy, keep yourself focused on the moment and then readying yourself for the next event!
If you're already swimming a 50 in a minute or less- you can benefit from fitness swimming as you ready for your first tri- more endurance based sets and preparation for longer distances without breaks. If your pace is slower than that however, you will benefit from spending a greater proportion of your time doing drills to get more efficient with better technique.
Catch up: Swim like superman with both arms in front and take one stroke at a time, slapping the hand at the top before taking another stroke with the other hand. It helps with body position, learning to glide where you have the least resistance to the water, and will help you become more powerful in each arm stroke.
Single Arm: Keep one arm extended the entire time, swim with just one arm stroke, breathing as you need to- two or three strokes between breathes if you can.
Fist Swimming: Literally close your fist and swim that way. You can also open up one finger at a time with each 25. You'll learn to really use the most optimal arm pattern.
These are just a few to get you started- perform drills consistently when you swim- some days spending much more time and focusing on the purpose of the workout as a technique-enhancing session rather than a cardiovascular workout. You'll get better- faster, and have more economy resulting in less fatigue after the swim- with more technique work!
New-to-tri people have primarily swam in a pool where the bottom is visible, the side is readily available for rest and a push off, standing up is quite often an option, and there is little risk of having to share a lane with too many people.
Lake swims change the rules. Goodbye bottom of pool, lane ropes, polite swimmers, rests at 25 or 50 yards.
The fun of it is having the experience! Suddenly though, becoming efficient becomes your best friend. Save energy, keep yourself focused on the moment and then readying yourself for the next event!
If you're already swimming a 50 in a minute or less- you can benefit from fitness swimming as you ready for your first tri- more endurance based sets and preparation for longer distances without breaks. If your pace is slower than that however, you will benefit from spending a greater proportion of your time doing drills to get more efficient with better technique.
Catch up: Swim like superman with both arms in front and take one stroke at a time, slapping the hand at the top before taking another stroke with the other hand. It helps with body position, learning to glide where you have the least resistance to the water, and will help you become more powerful in each arm stroke.
Single Arm: Keep one arm extended the entire time, swim with just one arm stroke, breathing as you need to- two or three strokes between breathes if you can.
Fist Swimming: Literally close your fist and swim that way. You can also open up one finger at a time with each 25. You'll learn to really use the most optimal arm pattern.
These are just a few to get you started- perform drills consistently when you swim- some days spending much more time and focusing on the purpose of the workout as a technique-enhancing session rather than a cardiovascular workout. You'll get better- faster, and have more economy resulting in less fatigue after the swim- with more technique work!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Iron Confessions
I have a confession. When I went to sign up for the Ironman Arizona- after thinking seriously about it for a few months- and more subconsiously for about 20+ years- it was full. I had to pay nearly double in order to sign up through the community support category.
That means that I am supporting the community hosting the tri- and all they will do to host a huge crowd of not only athletes, and vendors, but spectators and the like. It was going to be that disappointing to me not to be able to do it once I had made up my mind I wanted in. Look what that says about tri people- they are so committed they made a point of being there on the scene and either signed up again prior to actually doing the '09 AZ or traveled to Tempe to watch in order to stand in line and get first shot at registration slots. Though they are in the minority in America, not all are lazy.
Every year I contribute to something. This year I guess it's a more selfish contribution to the greater good.
If everyone made their mind up to do something bigger than they have done before they'd be amazed what happens. The change in mind and thought and focus when you pick and commit to a big task is astounding. If you tell yourself you're going out for a five mile run, you begin to fatigue at 4. If you on the same day had set out to do 10, you wouldn't fatigue until 8. The mind is the most important thing to train.
I can talk a big talk right now. I'm 11 months away from having to walk (or swim, bike, and run) my talk. I have already benefitted from the strength that comes from deciding to do it and the knowing that I'll do everything I can to make it end successfully- or at the very least get to the starting line successfully. Between start and finish there is less control than in the training months leading up to it.
Set your own goal. What will you do this year?
That means that I am supporting the community hosting the tri- and all they will do to host a huge crowd of not only athletes, and vendors, but spectators and the like. It was going to be that disappointing to me not to be able to do it once I had made up my mind I wanted in. Look what that says about tri people- they are so committed they made a point of being there on the scene and either signed up again prior to actually doing the '09 AZ or traveled to Tempe to watch in order to stand in line and get first shot at registration slots. Though they are in the minority in America, not all are lazy.
Every year I contribute to something. This year I guess it's a more selfish contribution to the greater good.
If everyone made their mind up to do something bigger than they have done before they'd be amazed what happens. The change in mind and thought and focus when you pick and commit to a big task is astounding. If you tell yourself you're going out for a five mile run, you begin to fatigue at 4. If you on the same day had set out to do 10, you wouldn't fatigue until 8. The mind is the most important thing to train.
I can talk a big talk right now. I'm 11 months away from having to walk (or swim, bike, and run) my talk. I have already benefitted from the strength that comes from deciding to do it and the knowing that I'll do everything I can to make it end successfully- or at the very least get to the starting line successfully. Between start and finish there is less control than in the training months leading up to it.
Set your own goal. What will you do this year?
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