1/26/2017 1 Comment Breaking bad habitsTracey Baumann highlighted my head movement when breathing left (preferred side by a mile) during our last session.
I confess sometimes I need a bit of time to figure things out after a session. Today swimming a bunch of sets at 1.0 and below, I was two strokes less breathing right. I don't breathe nearly as comfortably this side but my head snaps back into place better possibly through rotating a little less to breathe that side. When I focussed purely on keeping a still head when breathing left I dropped a stroke and noticed it was still not as stable as when breathing the other side. It's amazing the difference a still head makes. Breaking bad habits is never easy.
1 Comment
1/23/2017 0 Comments Exploring levels of relaxationI've been getting tired of late when swimming longer sets - just feel like I've been using too much energy. So with half a mind on the Summer ahead and some Open Water swims of 2K to 4K and possibly (if I can talk myself into it) the Lake Coniston swim of 10K in September.
I've been swimming at survival super easy pace a bit for warm ups of 1K - letting the water take the weight of my head, catching and holding but not pulling and yet still weight shifting. So relaxing - if you don't often swim like that I recommend it. Today I did nice tempo session: 3 x 400 at 1.20, 1.16, 1.12 then 4 x 200 at 1.08, 1.06, 1.04, 1.02. Then 1 x 200 at 1.06 (1.06 felt super easy). Yes upper end of my Green Zone, but super comfortable and still focussing on the same things. Relax and let head be fully supported, weight shift, catch and hold with featherlight pressure. Relaxation is the key. How many times do I learn that lesson? 1/4/2017 0 Comments My best swim in monthsSo ...what to do?
Back in the pool today with swim cap and tempo trainer to see if that might reveal anything. 5 x 200 working down from 1.24, 1.20, 1.16, 1.12, 1.10. Started to feel a bit more flow. Spent a bit of time exploring my right-sided breathing at 1.10. Getting better. I love the fact that denying oneself time means you don't have time to make some of the mistakes. Work to be done still. It's been a year so far and still much work to be done there. Then some 50s (actually 66s). 1.08, 1.06, 1.04, 1.02, 1.0, .98, .96. Comfortably held stroke count of 29SPL down to 0.98 Added a stroke at .96 and worked my way back. 1.0 then 1.04. At 1.04 (which felt very fast on the way down) I felt like I had all the time in the world. Definitely with my small hands and small feet and inflexible ankles, my best operating area is defintiely at the higher end of my Green Zone. More flow, more speed and I am not working hard and overtaking people. Those Tempo Trainers are invaluable tools. 1/3/2017 1 Comment My worst swim in yearsI got in the pool today and literally could not feel the water. Worse still I felt my hands slipping through it. (Not helped by pool being too warm).
Horrible. The main focus before getting in was to concentrate on technique and especially my hips 'holding on the rail' for as long as my arms were recovering to help sort out the right sided breathing. But I had to go back to basics first. I tucked in behind a convoy of swimmers traing together and focussed on relaxation. Immediately with less effort, I was on their heels touching their toes (would they let me past is another story). I focussed on weight shifting and some of the magic started to come back. Then I focussed on rotating with the hips especially when breathing right and i began to understand what's been going wrong even better. I have not been committing the hips when shifting to the left rail. When I do it feels better (still quite some way to go but at least 'finding it' was encouraging). Old habits of turnign/w twisting head that side head further than necessary and not tucking my chin in came back to haunt me. (Note to self ... must focus more on lazer on forehead). It took half a hour to sart feeling myself moving through the water weel. But here's the thing. ... I swam last Friday. Before that maybe only twice the previous week. Much much less than usual. So if you've been out of the water or not in it as much as usual you have to be patient with yourself and get back to basics. Tomorrow I am confident things will feel better again. Did enjoy my swim today? Not much whilst I was frustrated - but much more when I started working through the checklist. Not by nature a patient individual with myself this was good therapy for me! 12/19/2016 1 Comment Cold water swimmingToying with the idea of joining a channel relay team, I have been experimenting with sub 16 degree water for swimming. To that end last saturday I managed to immerse myself in the Petersfield Open Air Pool. Gently gently down the steps!
I spent the summer swimming once or twice a week in the 67 metre Hillsea Lido at 17/18 degrees, but 14 degrees was a completely dfferent experience. Despite taking a minute or two to try and acclimatise, I found it difficult to breathe for the frst 25 metres. My brain was sending conflicting messages: "What are you doing in here?" "Get out!" kind of stuff. Then, surprisingly, things settled down a bit, my face stopped hurting and I started to swim quite well despite contantly being aware of the cold temperature around me. My aim was 400m but I decided to stay in for an extra 100m which was a moment of "summit fever" I think - the last 50m became a bit of a challenge as the cold started to chill my core. It was certainly an invigorating experience but don't think I'm ready to join Penny Wilkin on her channel relay this year. Going back for more on Boxing Day though. (Why?) The big plus side is what a fabulous convivial vibe around the pool they have created there. Highly recommended. 12/12/2016 0 Comments Using the coreToday I focussed on keeping the core engaged and rotating (snapping) the hips, holding my body on the rails and not collapsing into the weight shift. I dropped two strokes when I focussed on this.
You know when you've been using your core, because you feel like you've done an abs workout. It's impossible for me not to be intrigued by Ben Hooper's monumental challenge. How far will he get? It seems preposterous (probably is) and yet how wonderfully preposterous to set the bar so high.
I wish him success in every stroke he takes and no matter how far he gets, applaud him for having such massive cojones. Go on my son! You can track his progress here: http://www.swimthebigblue.com/track-ben 11/16/2016 0 Comments My three focal points for the weekAnybody who knows me will no doubt be bored with hearing me complain about how my right sided breathing feels, but does not look so different to my left sided breathing. It's been a distraction for months and is related to a few things:
Tracey Baumann has told me I am not solid enough in the core when rotating to the left rail. I also think I am not rotating enough. Anyway I've had a minor breakthrough so these are my focal points for the week (and beyond) A) Make sure head is completely relaxed and in a good neutral position before and after taking breath. B) Rotate more using hips C) Remain on left and right rails a tad longer before rotating back. This controls and channels the weight shift better. Added benefit is this rotation facilitates a better arm recovery also. 11/11/2016 1 Comment Changing things is difficultI came to TI as a right sided breather with a head lift when breathing. I corrected this but it led to more problems as I was doing something weird and kind of twisting it back into a lower position. Neck ache for 6 months followed.
I became a swimmer who favoured breathing to the left but have continued to work on my right sided breathing. A combination of under rotation of body onto left "rail", simply twisting my neck too much all seemed to be the cause leading to a disrupted two beat kick timing. General confusion. I have been searching for reasons and causes and trying to figure why one side was better than the other. Today I had a breakthrough. I stopped analysing and looking for reasons and just resolved to breathe deeper with one eye in the water and believe in my bow wave and the pocket of air behind it - to keep it simple and just do it. Just change it. Just do it. I dropped 2 strokes and my left sided breathing immediately cooperated. My neck does not ache. How did I do it? I made sure my head was in the correct position before I even started thinking about turning to breathe first. Back to basics! This has taken me ten months. |
JamesI am a certified level 3.0 Total Immersion Swim Coach. |