I know this is a running website but since I got such a helpful response to my last tri query and there are no decent tri forums(?)anywhere I thought I would ask another tri type question.
It relates to swimming which is probably my weakest discipline, does anyone know how important the regularity of breathing is as a training tool and race performance driver?
When I breath every 2 strokes on front crawl I feel strong and can swim with little fatigue up to 2 miles. However when I try 3's & 4's my stroke becomes erratic and I lose speed and strength as well as tiring easily. The fact that changing breathing makes me more tired suggests to me that this is a more efficient training method, but is it worth it if it slows me down?
Also when swimming in a triathlon is it right that you should minimise the leg kick in order to maintain energy for the cycle & run? If so should you be doing this on training swims as well?
All advice welcomed... Cheers
The "Tri-baby"
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Comments
As for the leg kick, I don't kick much anyway, so I can't say from experience, but I have read the same as you, and it does seem to make sense. I think the "experts" recon that a small flutter every other stroke is enough to keep the legs horizontal in the water. Probably worth experimenting in training, although leg kicks in the pool do strenghten the legs a lot.
If you can find a copy (it may be out of print), Dave Scott's Triathlon Training goes into it all in depth, although it is quite technical.
JFTR when I said every "two" strokes I probably should have said "one" since I, like you, breathe every time my right arm goes in the water.
Don't get out of the water knackered, you've a long way to go.
As for leg kick, Popov reckoned that if your stroke is efficient, you'll only get a max of 10% thrust from your legs anyway. I find if I kick alot, it starts to slow me down. Just use legs to keep your body straight.
Leg kicking doesn't contribute much propulsion but is important for body position - you need to be horizontal in the water. It is important to kick from the hip keeping the legs straight.
The best thing would be to join a club, either tri or swimming, and get a coach to check out your stroke. This will result in significant improvements as technique is far more important than fitness.
Martin.
I breathe on every right arm stroke, and find that if I change pattern for any length of time I get out of breath quickly.
As for the legs - in most Tri's the swims are open water and you have to wear a wetsuit - this keeps your legs high in the water - so no need to kick - just flutter to maintain balance.
I've gone from only being able to manage a couple of lengths 2 years ago to doing Ironman swims in a little over 75 mins.
If I can do it anyone can !!
It's strange because now I can't swim in the old stroke I used to. If you can have improver lessons, they are well worth the effort.
If you can't get to the swimming club, try:
http://www.svl.ch/crawl/freestyle.html
Go - its great.
Doing Lanzarote Ironman next May - hopefully !
CLS is a great place - I don't work for them !!!!
It's not the cheapest of pastimes is it?!
No you're right this sport isn't the cheapest - average Ironman entry fee is £150 - to "beast" yourself for 12hrs plus !
Visit www.clublasanta.com for details of training camps etc.
it is important that you are not shortening your stroke in order to get your next breath. it's better for you to breathe every two (ie every time your right arm goes in the water) and to have a long relaxed but strong stoke than to cycle your arms in the water faster but less efficiently just so you can breathe every three. i'd highly reccommend joining your local masters swimming club or improver swimming lessons to improve your swimming. unlike running and cycling, swimming is all about technique and not much about fitness. you can gain so much by swimming more efficiently so that when you leave the water you'll just feel like you've had a gentle warm up and are ready for your ride.
one reccommendation (apart from lessons) is to read the TI books and emmet hines 'fitness swimming' which teach what i call 'triathon crawl' that is a very efficient frontcrawl. also look at the articles on the houston masters swimming club website www.h2oustonswims.org they are very informative.
hope this helps -sorry if i rattled on!
(sounds bizarre doesn't it?)
The website has some good articles too - just do a search on total immersion.
Cheers.
Martin.
Suppose I should take a deep breath and join the Triathlon club, don't know what I'm scared of really, I think it's just I've got so used to running which is a solitary sport (which is how I like it) that I feel strange going and training with a group of people. I think I'm pretty fit but I suppose deep down just worried of being embarassed.
Sad eh!!
I occasionally do a breathing drill set in my drills session, which takes the form of:
5 x 25m breathing on 2 (right)
5 x 25m breathing on 3
5 x 25m breathing on 4 (left)
5 x 25m breathing on 5
5 x 25m breathing on 4 (left)
5 x 25m breathing on 3
5 x 25m breathing on 2 (Right)
Total 875m
The problem with limiting yourself to only breathing on one side is that if you swim in unfavourable water conditions and the waves are breaking from the side you normally breath you may find yourself in trouble – the above drill – is like any other drill aimed at improving a specific aspect of your swim – in this case breathing
Will
The last riht / left are the wrong way round, it should read:
5 x 25m breathing on 2 (right)
5 x 25m breathing on 3
5 x 25m breathing on 4 (left)
5 x 25m breathing on 5
5 x 25m breathing on 4 (right)
5 x 25m breathing on 3
5 x 25m breathing on 2 (left)
Will