Getting started on the swim
588
Member
442 days
jnrice posted 48 weeks ago.
#1 make it fun.
#2 make it fun.
#3 talk to a coach, or someone who can give you some pointers and break down your stroke.
#4 make it fun.
#5 find a masters swim group if nothing else.
198
Member
568 days
azmojo804 posted 48 weeks ago.
+1 to jnrice
What are you looking for for getting off to a good start? Training plan? Ideas for just getting back into the pool?
333
Member
662 days
chekmarks posted 48 weeks ago.
if you used to swim, regardless of the stroke, i think you'll be fine figuring out a different one. at least the work ethic is there. and for what its worth, if you really can't figure out freestyle (you will!) breaststroking a sprint tri swim won't get you out of the pool first but you'll finish.
5783
Member
2081 days
beads1985 posted 48 weeks ago.
You can check out a number of books on swim technique and also check out you tube for swim technique.
Start slow and work on your form.
Good luck!!
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
709
Member
523 days
jonovision_man posted 48 weeks ago.
melicharlie wrote:
I swam competitively years ago but specialized in the breast stroke and never really got a feel for freestyle, which is kind of like taking French in high school. Nice at the time, but not too practical in the long run. Oui?
I found the Total Immersion book was a good starting point, they organize the drills as a progression so you can step through them and hopefully get to the end and have a great freestyle. :)
The only thing is that I needed to borrow *ahem* the DVDs to gets some of what was described in the book, sometimes it's hard to visualize.
jono
10
Member
430 days
melicharlie posted 48 weeks ago.
This is all great advice, thanks so much. I'm nursing a running injury, so the pool is going to be my friend for a while, so this should all be very helpful.
Anyone use an ipod in the pool? Someone mentioned that they use one in their training, which seemed both fun and dangerous. Which actually makes it more appealing.
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 48 weeks ago.
My swim training consists of watching this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6qIhkuzTx0
As said before, find a coach to break down your stroke. Aside from that, the interwebs have TONS of swim plans. Good luck, and ENJOY!
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
101
Member
1177 days
skunkworxz posted 48 weeks ago.
jhudalla - that video is amazing!
+1 to all the comments. The best thing I did was hit the masters swim and get a few pointers from a coach. I shaved 30 seconds / 100 in 2 weeks, all based on form not fitness.
1813
Member
1392 days
gfd posted 48 weeks ago.
Get a few lessons from a coach before you start imprinting poor form and it becomes part of your muscle memory. I really wish I had in the beginning.
"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/
1813
Member
1392 days
gfd posted 48 weeks ago.
Get a few lessons from a coach before you start imprinting poor form and it becomes part of your muscle memory. I really wish I had in the beginning.
"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/
588
Member
442 days
jnrice posted 48 weeks ago.
jhudalla wrote:
My swim training consists of watching this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6qIhkuzTx0
As said before, find a coach to break down your stroke. Aside from that, the interwebs have TONS of swim plans. Good luck, and ENJOY!
great video. I've posted this one before, but it's applicable being that we are triathletes and don't race in pools. I think it's good training advice.
10
Member
430 days
melicharlie posted 48 weeks ago.
I did my first swim today and am going to hunt down a coach. I have a lot of work to do and can't even tell where to start. I'm guessing breathing should be priority number 1 since I was pretty clueless and ended up breathing on every stroke, which just winded me.
Was fun to get in there and go after it.
755
Member
911 days
Socket posted 48 weeks ago.
During races I usually ended up breathing every stroke, but I practiced bilateral breathing in the pool. Trying to breathe calmly while avoiding getting kicked in the head by invisible assailants didn't really work well for me.
I'm going to be getting into the pool tomorrow for the first time in my training (working toward a sprint tri in the spring) and am looking to start out on the right foot, or fin as it were.
I swam competitively years ago but specialized in the breast stroke and never really got a feel for freestyle, which is kind of like taking French in high school. Nice at the time, but not too practical in the long run. Oui?
So, any tips for getting off to a good start?