Newbie Swimming Journal: Week 4: Mini breakthrough - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Ok, so I'm in week 4 of my training. Again, starting from no
base...sucking air after 2 lengths, felt like i was having an
impending heart attack after 4 lengths, passed out on the deck (ok,
not really) after my first workout.

I haven't gotten into the pool as much as I had hoped over the last
3-4 weeks, I missed my masters workout this morning because of my
wife's work and childcare issues...so took to the pool this afternoon.

I did a series of drills focusing on shoulder rotation, hand position
after recovery, gliding, maintaining my kick (which I seem to flutter
and stop after a while...quite maddening really).

I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without
stopping...and I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me,
was quite a revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11
minutes), and I seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I
have gotten it down to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on
pulling and gliding, but really can't sustain that at this point).

And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to watch
the kids.

There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
count to under 16.

Still bob my head up from time to time, especially when I'm tired.
focusing on the entrance of my hand into the water and extending it
out seems to help me to keep the front arm from dropping( especially
on my right side - the side that I breathe from).

Other bad habits I'm working on:
- I tend to reach my right arm ACROSS my body and angle my wrist. I've
been focusing on placing my right arm into the water after the recover
and then extending it straight out in front of me.
- kicking is sporadic...which causes my front arm to drop
- have this weird flutter at the end of my right arm (i think its when
i need an extra second to take in extra air)

I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)

Onward and upward!

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<fe5916f0.0406181611.7427d7bf@posting.google. com>...
> Ok, so I'm in week 4 of my training. Again, starting from no
> base...sucking air after 2 lengths, felt like i was having an
> impending heart attack after 4 lengths, passed out on the deck (ok,
> not really) after my first workout.
>
> I haven't gotten into the pool as much as I had hoped over the last
> 3-4 weeks, I missed my masters workout this morning because of my
> wife's work and childcare issues...so took to the pool this afternoon.
>
> I did a series of drills focusing on shoulder rotation, hand position
> after recovery, gliding, maintaining my kick (which I seem to flutter
> and stop after a while...quite maddening really).
>
> I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without
> stopping...and I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me,
> was quite a revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11
> minutes), and I seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I
> have gotten it down to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on
> pulling and gliding, but really can't sustain that at this point).
>
> And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
> swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
> have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
> triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to watch
> the kids.
>
> There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
> a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
> stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
> breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
> the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
> count to under 16.
>
> Still bob my head up from time to time, especially when I'm tired.
> focusing on the entrance of my hand into the water and extending it
> out seems to help me to keep the front arm from dropping( especially
> on my right side - the side that I breathe from).
>
> Other bad habits I'm working on:
> - I tend to reach my right arm ACROSS my body and angle my wrist. I've
> been focusing on placing my right arm into the water after the recover
> and then extending it straight out in front of me.
> - kicking is sporadic...which causes my front arm to drop
> - have this weird flutter at the end of my right arm (i think its when
> i need an extra second to take in extra air)
>
> I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)
>
> Onward and upward!

I'm new at swimming too. It sounds like I am behind in some ways and
ahead in others. I am benefitting from your focus on technique. Once
you talked about pressing the T, I checked on the internet, and then
you posted. As a result I have focused on keeing my head down, well,
not "down", because that would be just as bad, but not "up". I called
this same fault to my girlfriend's attention today, and she
immediately noticed a difference in her dynamics, although she has
been swimming for years.

Speaking for myself, once you and your aerobic system have gotten
where they are, you can now swim for great distances. I went from
struggling for a quarter mile to a mile and a half in two weeks, in
the ocean in rough water. I can't claim any technique in those open
water swims, but I am going back to work on that now. Also, maybe you
can begin to work on intervals now that you can swim. Think waht you
have done! YOU CAN SWIM! It seems silly, I am 54 years old and it made
me so proud of myself. It made me feel free.

A note on my rough ocean water swim technique: It is so bad that about
a month ago, when the rip currents were claiming lives here in South
Florida, I was swimming in the ocean. A passing motorist saw me and
called 911 to report a "swimmer in trouble". There must have been a
lot of splashing going on or something--the waves knock you down and
over, and sometimes you have to regroup, maybe even roll over on your
back and float. It was early, and the lifeguards weren't due for a few
minutes, so the 911 operator called the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard
sent a helicopter, and a boat. As I was exiting the water after a nice
mile and a half swim, the lifeguards showed up with a four-wheeler and
a surfboard. They came up to me and asked if I was alright and whether
I had been pulled out to sea. I was clueless there was any problem. so
I was a little confused. My son was with me tracking alongside me on
his surfboard, so I had not done anything stupid. There had been a lot
of coverage about the rip currents, drownings, etc., and the passing
motorist, I guess, couldn't really see exactly what was going on,
since we were out beyond the breakers. We laughed all the way home.
Had we been doing something stupid, like climbing Mt. Ranier in a
snowstorm against the advice of the Parks Service, I would have felt
guilty about the cost to the public and the risk and inconvenience to
the "Search Team". But honestly, I'm in a wetsuit with a guy on a
surfboard ten feet away, and this is not one of the areas that has
much in the way of rips. I always check in with the lifeguards, but we
started earlier than usual that day. You really can't blame the
motorist either. You have to be grateful for people who are concerned
for others and try to help.

Greg

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (FFBSensei) wrote:

> I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without
> stopping...and I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me,
> was quite a revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11
> minutes), and I seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I
> have gotten it down to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on
> pulling and gliding, but really can't sustain that at this point).
>
> And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
> swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
> have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
> triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to watch
> the kids.

that's great... congrats on your achievements! these sorts of things
really do *just happen*, and without planning. just work at it and it
all comes together. at this point don't worry about speed during those
long swims. but do some speed workouts separately and you will see your
longer swims speed up. i was slow, slow, slow last year, but after a
winter of speed drills and focus on technique, i have increased my speed
significantly... and i can maintain speed for longer periods too.

> There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
> a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
> stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
> breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
> the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
> count to under 16.

yup, the paddles are excellent. i also use other training aids, esp. the
buoy for the legs. i did a few laps with the paddles, a few laps with
buoy only, then a few laps with both....THEN i took 'em all off and man,
you feel like a spell has been cast on you. the muscles and mind have
been programmed (a little at a time) to move the way they must with the
swim aids and you really move.

> I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)

go for it. excellent progress. best of luck to you.

Cam

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Ffbsensei wrote:
> Ok, so I'm in week 4 of my training. Again, starting from no
> base...sucking air after 2 lengths, felt like i was having an impending
> heart attack after 4 lengths, passed out on the deck (ok, not really)
> after my first workout.
> I haven't gotten into the pool as much as I had hoped over the last 3-4
> weeks, I missed my masters workout this morning because of my wife's
> work and childcare issues...so took to the pool this afternoon.
> I did a series of drills focusing on shoulder rotation, hand position
> after recovery, gliding, maintaining my kick (which I seem to flutter
> and stop after a while...quite maddening really).
> I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without stopping...and
> I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me, was quite a
> revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11 minutes), and I
> seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I have gotten it down
> to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on pulling and gliding, but
> really can't sustain that at this point).
> And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
> swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
> have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
> triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to
> watch the kids.
> There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
> a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
> stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
> breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
> the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
> count to under 16.
> Still bob my head up from time to time, especially when I'm tired.
> focusing on the entrance of my hand into the water and extending it out
> seems to help me to keep the front arm from dropping( especially on my
> right side - the side that I breathe from).
> Other bad habits I'm working on:
> - I tend to reach my right arm ACROSS my body and angle my wrist. I've
> been focusing on placing my right arm into the water after the recover
> and then extending it straight out in front of me.
> - kicking is sporadic...which causes my front arm to drop
> - have this weird flutter at the end of my right arm (i think its when i
> need an extra second to take in extra air)
> I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)
> Onward and upward!

Great job! I'm in somewhat similar shape, so some notes you might
find helpful
1. Your times are good for your experience!
2. Your stroke efficiency is not so good (like mine is, right!). If you
can get it to 16... or even 12... you'll be a swimming GOD. =)

I bet if you keep up the good work on the stroke, you could gain some
serious efficiency and either not work as hard, or seriously improve
your speed.

I'm sure you know this already, but sometimes it's good have someone
point out the obvious!

keep up the good work!

--

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

pcs_ronbo said:

> Ffbsensei wrote:
>> Ok, so I'm in week 4 of my training. Again, starting from no
>> base...sucking air after 2 lengths, felt like i was having an impending
>> heart attack after 4 lengths, passed out on the deck (ok, not really)
>> after my first workout.
>> I haven't gotten into the pool as much as I had hoped over the last 3-4
>> weeks, I missed my masters workout this morning because of my wife's
>> work and childcare issues...so took to the pool this afternoon.
>> I did a series of drills focusing on shoulder rotation, hand position
>> after recovery, gliding, maintaining my kick (which I seem to flutter
>> and stop after a while...quite maddening really).
>> I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without stopping...and
>> I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me, was quite a
>> revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11 minutes), and I
>> seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I have gotten it down
>> to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on pulling and gliding, but
>> really can't sustain that at this point).
>> And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
>> swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
>> have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
>> triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to
>> watch the kids.
>> There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
>> a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
>> stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
>> breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
>> the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
>> count to under 16.
>> Still bob my head up from time to time, especially when I'm tired.
>> focusing on the entrance of my hand into the water and extending it out
>> seems to help me to keep the front arm from dropping( especially on my
>> right side - the side that I breathe from).
>> Other bad habits I'm working on:
>> - I tend to reach my right arm ACROSS my body and angle my wrist. I've
>> been focusing on placing my right arm into the water after the recover
>> and then extending it straight out in front of me.
>> - kicking is sporadic...which causes my front arm to drop
>> - have this weird flutter at the end of my right arm (i think its when i
>> need an extra second to take in extra air)
>> I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)
>> Onward and upward!
>
>
> Great job! I'm in somewhat similar shape, so some notes you might
> find helpful
> 1. Your times are good for your experience!
> 2. Your stroke efficiency is not so good (like mine is, right!). If you
> can get it to 16... or even 12... you'll be a swimming GOD. =)

I sure hope you guys are counting one stroke for _both_ arms! Our coach has
us count one for each arm. I'm 51 and swim in a 50 metre pool at about a
minute a lap with the stroke count well into the 40s. I console myself with
the fact that I watched Brooke Bennett win the women's 800 metres at the
last Olympics (here in Sydney) and counted her stokes: 51 per lap! If it's
good enough for the world champion...

Steve = : ^ )

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Hi Steve,

I am counting 1 stroke per arm, altho I'm swimming in a 25 yard pool,
rather than a 50 meter pool. I suspect I would be equally as slow and
inefficient in meters as I am in yards!

I believe the conversion is 1.09 yards per meter. so your pool is 55
yards long (over twice as my 25 yard pool!).
>
> I sure hope you guys are counting one stroke for _both_ arms! Our coach has
> us count one for each arm. I'm 51 and swim in a 50 metre pool at about a
> minute a lap with the stroke count well into the 40s. I console myself with
> the fact that I watched Brooke Bennett win the women's 800 metres at the
> last Olympics (here in Sydney) and counted her stokes: 51 per lap! If it's
> good enough for the world champion...
>
> Steve = : ^ )

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Appreciate your updates! From what you've posted, I think I'm where
you were 4 weeks ago. I can't recall, but did you mention in an
earlier post that you took some instruction from a professional
instructor? If not, how are you learning proper technique?

My biggest problem is technique, and although continued
swimming/struggling won't hurt, I don't think it's helping me improve
my technique.

I have not been able to find instructors in my area who could work
with my schedule for private lessons. I looked into the Total
Immersion program, but am unsure how well a video/book will help for
something like swimming.

Anyway, bottom line is, I'm wondering where/how you obtained ideas,
drills, etc. to learn good form/technique.

Thanks,
Mike

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<fe5916f0.0406181611.7427d7bf@posting.google. com>...
> Ok, so I'm in week 4 of my training. Again, starting from no
> base...sucking air after 2 lengths, felt like i was having an
> impending heart attack after 4 lengths, passed out on the deck (ok,
> not really) after my first workout.
>
> I haven't gotten into the pool as much as I had hoped over the last
> 3-4 weeks, I missed my masters workout this morning because of my
> wife's work and childcare issues...so took to the pool this afternoon.
>
> I did a series of drills focusing on shoulder rotation, hand position
> after recovery, gliding, maintaining my kick (which I seem to flutter
> and stop after a while...quite maddening really).
>
> I then thought I would try and swim the 400 yards without
> stopping...and I did the 16 lengths without stopping!! Which, for me,
> was quite a revelation. No speed records mind you (a shade under 11
> minutes), and I seem to be averaging about 22 strokes per length (I
> have gotten it down to 16 if I rarely breathe and really focus on
> pulling and gliding, but really can't sustain that at this point).
>
> And the amazing thing was after I did my 16 lengths in 11 minutes...i
> swam for another 20 minutes without stopping. I felt like i could
> have kept on going, but my wife (who's also training with me for the
> triathlon) was waiting to go running and i needed to get back to watch
> the kids.
>
> There was a guy at the pool who was swimming with hand paddles...I did
> a lap with them...AMAZING, it makes me realize what i could do with a
> stronger pull...I could really sense that "swimming downhill",
> breathing was easy because I could rotate so easily, much easier on
> the legs because i was flying down the lane, and reduced my stroke
> count to under 16.
>
> Still bob my head up from time to time, especially when I'm tired.
> focusing on the entrance of my hand into the water and extending it
> out seems to help me to keep the front arm from dropping( especially
> on my right side - the side that I breathe from).
>
> Other bad habits I'm working on:
> - I tend to reach my right arm ACROSS my body and angle my wrist. I've
> been focusing on placing my right arm into the water after the recover
> and then extending it straight out in front of me.
> - kicking is sporadic...which causes my front arm to drop
> - have this weird flutter at the end of my right arm (i think its when
> i need an extra second to take in extra air)
>
> I guess I'll shoot for swimming a mile now ;)
>
> Onward and upward!

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Mike) wrote:

> Appreciate your updates! From what you've posted, I think I'm where
> you were 4 weeks ago. I can't recall, but did you mention in an
> earlier post that you took some instruction from a professional
> instructor? If not, how are you learning proper technique?
>
> My biggest problem is technique, and although continued
> swimming/struggling won't hurt, I don't think it's helping me improve
> my technique.
>
> I have not been able to find instructors in my area who could work
> with my schedule for private lessons. I looked into the Total
> Immersion program, but am unsure how well a video/book will help for
> something like swimming.
>
> Anyway, bottom line is, I'm wondering where/how you obtained ideas,
> drills, etc. to learn good form/technique.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike

not familiar with the video, but i own the book and it helped a lot.
anything can help, though perhaps not quite as well as an instructor. i
do run my thoughts and learnings past a more experienced swimmer for
opinions.

Cam

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Mike) wrote in message news:<680522da.0406211023.3cddbd3c@posting.google. com>...
> Appreciate your updates! From what you've posted, I think I'm where
> you were 4 weeks ago. I can't recall, but did you mention in an
> earlier post that you took some instruction from a professional
> instructor? If not, how are you learning proper technique?
>
> My biggest problem is technique, and although continued
> swimming/struggling won't hurt, I don't think it's helping me improve
> my technique.
>
> I have not been able to find instructors in my area who could work
> with my schedule for private lessons. I looked into the Total
> Immersion program, but am unsure how well a video/book will help for
> something like swimming.
>
> Anyway, bottom line is, I'm wondering where/how you obtained ideas,
> drills, etc. to learn good form/technique.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
Hi Mike,

Check with the local pools around your area for a masters training
program. They seem to be fairly ubiquitous. I was fortunate that the
person who runs the training program at the pool I went to was a
professional triathlete in his younger days, and a very good technical
swimmer (his strong suit).

The masters program has 1 hour workouts from 6am, 7am, 11am, and 12am.
He conducts stroke clinics from 11am to 12am Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday. And has weightlifting classes at 8am on Tuesday and Thursday
for swimmers/triathletes. I don't attend all of them, because of my
family/work/rest of life schedule...so I also go and swim laps when
these times aren't convenient for me.

And while the one hour workouts aren't for "instruction", the coach
has been VERY generous with his time in giving me some one-on-one
instructions (perhaps he just feels sorry for me or he's afraid I'm
going to drown :)

I also have signed up for some private instructions from a stroke
coach. As it turns out my 6 year old is taking swim lessons at this
place, and my mom (who is 60 is also learning how to swim from one of
the adult teachers). I was talking to this guy while watching my 6
year old take a lesson and telling him what I was doing. As it turns
out, he was also a very competent swimmer, having recently competed in
a 2 mile open water swim. So I ended up signing up for a series of
lessons from this guy. I was thinking of spreading them out over a
month, but then decided to string them together. So I'm going about 3
times a week and doing individual lap swimming and masters training
program in between. The more time I spend in the water on consecutive
days...the quicker I notice I improve. Its all about building up
positive muscle memory (that is learning how to do it correctly).
What I didn't want to happen is to spend hours in the pool and finding
out I had been doing it incorrectly!

Many of the drills I get for my individual workout come from the Total
Immersion book. Good luck training!

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<fe5916f0.0406211424.6d7cc10e@posting.google. com>...
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Mike) wrote in message news:<680522da.0406211023.3cddbd3c@posting.google. com>...
> > Appreciate your updates! From what you've posted, I think I'm where
> > you were 4 weeks ago. I can't recall, but did you mention in an
> > earlier post that you took some instruction from a professional
> > instructor? If not, how are you learning proper technique?
> >
> > My biggest problem is technique, and although continued
> > swimming/struggling won't hurt, I don't think it's helping me improve
> > my technique.
> >
> > I have not been able to find instructors in my area who could work
> > with my schedule for private lessons. I looked into the Total
> > Immersion program, but am unsure how well a video/book will help for
> > something like swimming.
> >
> > Anyway, bottom line is, I'm wondering where/how you obtained ideas,
> > drills, etc. to learn good form/technique.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mike
> >
> Hi Mike,
>
> Check with the local pools around your area for a masters training
> program. They seem to be fairly ubiquitous. I was fortunate that the
> person who runs the training program at the pool I went to was a
> professional triathlete in his younger days, and a very good technical
> swimmer (his strong suit).
>
> The masters program has 1 hour workouts from 6am, 7am, 11am, and 12am.
> He conducts stroke clinics from 11am to 12am Monday, Wednesday, and
> Friday. And has weightlifting classes at 8am on Tuesday and Thursday
> for swimmers/triathletes. I don't attend all of them, because of my
> family/work/rest of life schedule...so I also go and swim laps when
> these times aren't convenient for me.
>
> And while the one hour workouts aren't for "instruction", the coach
> has been VERY generous with his time in giving me some one-on-one
> instructions (perhaps he just feels sorry for me or he's afraid I'm
> going to drown :)
>
> I also have signed up for some private instructions from a stroke
> coach. As it turns out my 6 year old is taking swim lessons at this
> place, and my mom (who is 60 is also learning how to swim from one of
> the adult teachers). I was talking to this guy while watching my 6
> year old take a lesson and telling him what I was doing. As it turns
> out, he was also a very competent swimmer, having recently competed in
> a 2 mile open water swim. So I ended up signing up for a series of
> lessons from this guy. I was thinking of spreading them out over a
> month, but then decided to string them together. So I'm going about 3
> times a week and doing individual lap swimming and masters training
> program in between. The more time I spend in the water on consecutive
> days...the quicker I notice I improve. Its all about building up
> positive muscle memory (that is learning how to do it correctly).
> What I didn't want to happen is to spend hours in the pool and finding
> out I had been doing it incorrectly!
>
> Many of the drills I get for my individual workout come from the Total
> Immersion book. Good luck training!

Muscles don't have memory.

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Ironic) wrote in news:38f527b7.0406211737.3d891406
@posting.google.com:

> Muscles don't have memory.
>
>

I beg to differ. Mine remember a good workout for 2-3 days!

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

> > Muscles don't have memory.
> >
> >
>
> I beg to differ. Mine remember a good workout for 2-3 days!

Good point. Naive question, but do top athletes get muscle soreness? I
have a weightlifting buddy who has been at it for years, who is never
sore. I look forward to the taper week, because it is the only time
something isn't hurting.

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Ironic wrote:
> > > Muscles don't have memory.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I beg to differ. Mine remember a good workout for 2-3 days!
> Good point. Naive question, but do top athletes get muscle soreness? I
> have a weightlifting buddy who has been at it for years, who is never
> sore. I look forward to the taper week, because it is the only time
> something isn't hurting.

If something is ALWAYS sore then you're probably overtraining those
areas. Consider cross training into different areas and REDUCING
intensity. After 2-4 weeks you really shouldn't see lots of soreness...
now, I didn't say anything about completely exhausted muscles... no, now
that's something entirely different.

I've been sick w/ a cold for a week and it's AMAZING how weird it feels
to go up stairs and.... NOT be listening to my legs. Actually my legs
are like, whooo hooo let's kick some stair BOOTY!

Anyway, I'm only 22 weeks into Triathlong training coming from couch
potatoe (and 320 lbs down to 295) and that's a definately lesson
learned... things do not and SHOULD not be constantly sore. Remember,
you HAVE to give them time to heal, so they can get stronger. If you're
constantly tearing them up, you're not getting stronger, you might be
getting weaker.

--