leg problem - Triathlon Week

julian · 03-07-2006, 08:45 AM

Whilst this my second season in triathlon I still have a problem with my leg technique, The problem is I cannot keep them straight I am ok until I start to get tired, I belong to a local tri club and the swim coach has tried but to no avail can any one give me any advice?????????

sfricks · 03-07-2006, 11:43 AM

My guess is that it comes from muscle memory forced by fear. Sorry, yes fear. It's natural to want terra firma beneath you and I think some swimmers just naturally migrate to it. My wife had the same problem (she was 36 when she learned to swim) & here's what we did...

After hiring a swim coach and spending many frustrating hours in the pool, she finally got agrivated and gave up. My thoughts drifted back to my barefoot waterskiing days and what my coach said to me. "If you don't know what it's supposed to feel like when it's happening, how do you know when you've got it?" I decided to make a "game" of body position, thereby taking away the natural fears she had.

We spent hours in the ocean with mask & snorkel (no fins) just floating and looking at fish & coral while I constantly reminded her to keep her body straight. She learned a) that as long as she was making forward progress things were fine and b) what it needed to feel like. Now she says she can "feel" when her body is out of position.

Not sure if that's an option for you but if not, maybe it's time for that Caribbean vacation you so well deserve! Good luck!

Carpe Diem · 03-07-2006, 01:34 PM

Fear not! Julian for this too shall pass. You need to devote extra time and effort to technique. There are many drills that will aide you and I know they can become monotonous, but the bottom line is being comfortable enough to become effecient. Most often you will be able to self adjust your form by swimming at a slower pace and gradually implementing changes over the longer duration swims. If you can take the time to go and observe a College team a few times during their workouts, you'll recieve a great visual and practical approach to drills and body position. Practice alot! I am of the opinion that you should concentrate on form only for the next few workout sessions and solicite the help of one of your Tri-club members to observe and critique for you.

Best wishes for a successful Tri Season!
ps a Carribean Vacation sounds like a winning proposition to me....definatly wouldn't hurt.

swimurguy · 09-02-2006, 12:17 PM

I think it just takes lots of time in the water...lots and lots of time. I have been swimming for years and I can tell you that swimming feels more comfortable and easier for me than walking...it just takes lots and lots of time. At some point, it will just click. It will feel natural and easy and smooth. You'll know it when that happens! You'll stop fighting the water and start gliding across the top of it!