Drowning with Style - Triathlon Week

TriFatBoy · 05-16-2007, 06:21 AM

I've had some lessons in the past, and have read up, and watched a few vids on good technique, but it doesn't seem to get any easier.

Head down, breathe to the side, kick from hips, and it still feels like flailing about. Outside of more lessons (no capital at the moment) any other advice you can give a noob?

~fatBoy
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pyschosyd · 05-17-2007, 08:14 AM

Yup, it can be the most frustrating sport to learn. I thank my lucky stars that my parents forced me to take lesson's and join the swim team.

So what can you do! Without seeing your stroke, my first suggestion would be to get as comfortable in the water as possible. This means time. I had a coach once that preached to newbies to hit the pool as much as possible for a month. We are talking 6-7 days a week. This will give you the comfort factor. Doesn't have to be long swims, maybe only 20min.-40min. Just get in there and develop a feel.

Now, what do you do while you are there? Drills. There is no point in swimming long until you have good technique. Kicking drills, stroke drills, breathing drills. It sounds like you may already know a bunch. Mix it up, keep it as interesting as possible.

Ex. workout

Warm-up: 50 free, 50-kick (3 or four times)

Workout:Drills. 25 right arm, 25 left arm, 50 kick, 50 closed fist drill, 50 free, 50 breast (X4)

4X100m repeats at race pace. Consistent times.

Cool down.

there are hundreds of variations on this. Any will work.

so until you get your 1000m time under 20min. keep working on these.

Butt up, head down, long stroke. etc...
This is your new mantra!

Cheers
hope this helps
Syd

rhino52 · 05-22-2007, 05:43 PM

great advise for the newbie swimmer i willl try your methods thanks again rhino