I don't think it's possible for me to get any slower My lesson last week identified that I need to pull underwater with a bent arm, so I'm working on that, and some other drills. I made the mistake of swimming yesterday when there were loads of lovely young things around the sunning themselves. One bloke was nice enough to ask me if I was ok when I got to the end and was literally gasping for air

It will get easier though, just like running, you have to keep at it.

Fi

Heylo!

Have you heard of a technique called 'total immersion'? There's lots on youtube concerning it. A friend who is a triathlete swears by it. I too am trying to improve my swimming with vague daydreams of triathlons....
So I usesd to be able to only manage a couple of lengths without dying but after reading about this I went back to the pool and knocked out 750m no worries Give it a look!

I sympathise with anyone struugling with their swimming, i'm hoping to do a sprint tri this year so decided to go to the pool saturday morning for my first practice.

I could only manage 2 lenghts at a time and swallowed half the pool!

I'm sure swimming was easier when I was a kid. By the end of the hour session i has got used to breast stroke again, but front crawl was a nightmare, getting the breathing right is going to take some doing!!

it's a good method; however sometimes some TI swimmers do tend to over emphasise the front quadrent aspect of the method - not starting the next stroke (catch) until the recovering arm is past the head and about to enter the water. swimming TI i can do 1500m in around 28 minutes, if i revert back to my original technique i can knockoutthe same distance in 25 minutes

Thats ok providing your strokes good enough... http://youtu.be/4InLAsnmKhY

agreed

Just out of curiosity Pete, whats the difference in strokes per length between your regular stroke and Ti stroke...

In a 25m pool swimming TI 14, regular stroke 17. Even though I'm slower swimming TI I find it excellent for longer distances of 2000m+. Terry Laughlin has changed a lot of the technique since i first read his book. for example i think he now advocates the arm entering at an angle rather than straight out in front.

Howdy!

Ant I can certainly sympathise with swallowing half the pool, that seems to be my problem now, everything starts off fine and then i cock up one stroke and end up taking a mouthful of water instead of air and then i struggle to recover, I don't think I am taking enough air possibly caused by too much water

Victoria - Yes I have heard of this Total Immersion business, although to be honest I don't really know much about it, I just assumed it was a swimming network or something, didn't realise it was a specific technique. I have noticed there are lots of youtube videos on it so I will have to do some research later, it would be useful to have a go just to see how it all works, it can only help, right?? Going from 2 lengths to 750m is pretty impressive, I only need to get to 400 so I have a chance, not worried about pace yet that will come later (hopefully)

I am determined to crack this!!!

i'm glad it's just not me!, i'm worried my local pool will think they have a leak because i'm drinking so much!

lets hope practice fixes the problem!

Lol you never know!! I've needed the loo about 25 times this morning I now this explains it

Swimming is technique, followed by being able to keep that technique when tired!!! so perfect the technique and then the speed will come.

As for my swimming, I was never that bad,nor great but since starting to swim again front crawl, I joined a swimfit session and my swimming has gone from strength to strength. I could only swim 400 in half an hour with stops...now I do 400m in 5 mins 45sec and regularly swim 3KM per hour session.

I put this down to the session being taken by an ASA Coach, its been the main stay of the improvement. My opinion of Ti Swimming is stay away until you have a good regular technique and confidence in the water, then you can adjust when/if you need too.

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This years Challenge: To be announced

Last years Challenge: . Ironman UK 70.3 - COMPLETED - Click for report

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Thats bloody good going mate!

Are you doing IM 70.3? I deferred my entry as i didnt think id be ready.

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2013 goal is training consistently, leading (hopefully) to sub 20 5k, sub 42 10k and sub 1:37 half
Pain is temporary, Quitting is forever.

thanks and yes Im still up for it, Been doing well with the training completed a hilly half marathon at the end of March in 1hr43 and have done 2 long cycles 1 77 in Feb and 1 just over a week ago of 74 miles in 5hrs 45....so in my head Ive built good endurance and now just trying to fine tune my fitness leading up to June 19th. It a really strange game training for an endurance event, but ive had some good advice and support from a local tri club and read allot of stuff....I suppose i will find out at the end of June!!!

Rob

PS Sorry for the slightly off topic post.

__________________
This years Challenge: To be announced

Last years Challenge: . Ironman UK 70.3 - COMPLETED - Click for report

My New Newton running shoe experience

Have you done any brick sessions Rob... ??