OK, a bit of a flippant title, but I', seriously considering it unless someone can help me with my swim kick. 2nd season of triathlons and I've really worked on my swimming, given I'm moving up to OD including 2 open water sea swims at Llandudno and the Angelsey Sandman.
Tonight was the first time I've thrown drills in to the mix and it was a bit of an eye opener.
Main set 10 x 100 @ 2min with 10 sec rest. Absolutely fine. Now take the kick out of the equation using a pull buoy and I was doing 50s in 1 minute flat...EXACTLY THE SAME FRIGGING PACE!
Is it really possible that my kicking has NO IMPACT WHAT SO EVER? Please help before I go tie myself to the train track and rid myself of these useless appendages!!!
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i am quicker with a pool buoy... They lift your thighs and feet and make you more streamlined and therefore faster.
All the kick really does is keep your feet up....... It only adds power if you are a really good swimmer.......
Being streamlined is the most important thing.
Your times are about the same as mine.... we are still in the crap swimmer category where technique is more important than force - our mechanics / streamlining are ok, but can be better. (remember 10 year old girls swim faster than us......... its all about technique!)
O.RC you managed to build me up and knock me down so quickly. I'll take the silver lining that I'm matching my pull buoy time sans flotation aid and wipe the rest from my fragile memory, the ego can't take it.
Just wasting time on YouTube and there are some useful vids on simple flutter kick technique that I'll try out tomorrow
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&UTN=188722&last=1&V=8&SP=
I'm quicker when I don't kick and always use a pullbuoy in the pool
Isn't it to do with how well you float. Women generally have higher body fat so we float better, floating better gives you a more streamlined flat body position in the water so you swim more efficiently. Using a buoy aids your body position so you swim more efficiently. I have also hear that over a longer distance the kick is a lot about keeping you level in the water so you pull better, but in a sprint distance is more important for propulsion.
I think it's worth trying to improve your kick, cos even if you're not going to kick loads you still want to maintain as streamlined a position as possible and get whatever help you can from the kick. Do you do kick drills?
have started doing lengths with the kick board to try and help build glute strength. Session planned for tonight and will be the focus of the drills
Thanks again
Well my kick is pathetic and I hardly move when just kicking. However stick on a pair of swim flippers (Masters coach uses them for about 6 lengths out of 50) and I am away like a rocket. Quickest in lane (2nd slowest lane) by a decent margin. Take flippers off and I'm at the back kicking and not going anywhere.
Ankle flexibility is an issue for me.
So assuming you aren't moving to Spain don't worry the wetsuit will lift the legs and you will rocket along quite happily. Save the legs for the bike and run.
As the distances get longer saving the legs is more important.
M.eface
Thanks all for your replies. I had a session in the pool this morning and essentially reduced my kicks to nothing. The difference it made in terms of energy used to swim 1k was immense.
I used it to help with the rotation and that was it, so thanks to your combined words of wisdom, I may not be faster but based on one session of feedback, I am swimming more efficiently.
I'll continue to do some kick board drills as part of my core work and any gains I get will be a bonus.
Cheers again
... although an occasional strong kick can be handy in putting people off the idea of swimming over you