[RunningForT3]

As I repeatedly said, my swimming has improved significantly since I took a few lessons.<br><br>
Yesterday I read something interesting in Triathlete magazine. It was about panicking in open water, which happened to me at my first OWS, and I know a lot of people here who had the same problem... Apparently, if you don't breathe out completely (as I do, since breathing is one of my main problems), there's a buildup of CO2 in the body, which leads to faster breathing, hyperventilating, and everything else that happened in my first Tri. So apparently, the solution is to make sure you breathe out completely before inhaling. I tried this today when I was feeling out of breath, and it really worked.<br><br>
Other things I recently learned:<br>
- I have to push with my hand all the way to the exit. Before, I used to pull, and then just let my hand slide back<br>
- Kicking is done from the hips, not from the knees<br>
- When I grab, and rotate, I have to reach as far as possible, like stretching to grab something<br><br>
The result of all this is that now I was able to swim continuously for 800y (before, 300y was the max).<br>
And today, I swam 1,500y for the first time since my Oly in July. And it only took me 45 minutes, compared to 1:01 at that time. Consider that today I was taking breaks between sets... and I did some kicking laps (on which I'm lucky if I don't go backwards).

 

[Tithers]

Congrats on the improvements! That's AWESOME! Everyone freaks out in their first OWS. I sure did! OMG.<br><br>
Sheldon must think I'm a dork. We had another swimming conversation. He was talking about his stuffy nose and he couldn't blow out underwater inb/w breaths.<br><br>
Sherry doesn't do that.<img alt="uhoh2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/uhoh2.gif"><br>
My breathing hasn't failed me yet!<br><br>
Kinda like the "kick" conversation. I assoc. kick w/dreaded kickboard. I didn't realize that crap like kick on side is what I was supposed to be doing.

 

[RunningForT3]

Tithers, I do the kickboard, which is super-slow, and I also do the kick on the side which is waaaay faster... Why would that be? I think I'm better extended with the kickboard.

 

[MBannon]

When you kick face down you're a barge. When you kick on your side you're a canoe. Less surface area pushing the water. This is why you want to have a good roll in your swim - you'll spend less time as a barge.

 

[niemsco]

Sounds great! I had the breathing issue also and panicked in my first race. I certainly wasn't breathing out all the way. Keep it up!

 

[RandMart]

That's funny, because I can swim in the ocean, the bay, or a lake all day.<br><br>
Put me in a pool, indoors, and I freak out sometimes ... of course that may be from either claustrophobia or the weird dude in lane 2.

 

[Tithers]

You could use kickboard...but I HATED it and saw little/no improvements w/my swim.<br><br>
It killed by back...either I used it slightly wrong, or I did way too much of it. Imagine how much 400-600 kick takes.<br><br>
I don't use flippers either, although it's on my list.<br><br>
Once I saw some utube footage and heard an xp of WHY to do those other kick drills I understood what I was supposed to do...my body got in better position and voila...things got better for me.

 

[pete_72]

I'm doing the Tarpinian drills and he's massively into all (except one) drills being done with the flippers on. Including Kick on Side.<br><br>
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUt, the very best thing about the flippers, is not the drilling and improving the simming, it's the way you can absolutely freak the person in the next lane. They are ploughing away, max effort, but you (with your hidden-beneath-the-surface-flippers stealithily flapping away) can fly past them with zero effort and no visible means of propulsion. it's dead funny. you're like a submarine with just the periscope up...<img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><br><br>
of course. I'm a pretty sad individual, so this is not necessarily as hilarious as I like to think, but I make it from dawn to dusk, and I'm harmless...

 

[Kate60]

I have learned that the chlorine really affects my breathing. It is much more difficult for me to swim indoors. In the summer I try to swim in the outdoor pool and can swim further faster.

 

[ForceD]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">That reminded me…I’d been meaning to mention this somewhere in the MS forum…</span></span><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Get this…a week ago at the (indoor) pool where I swim <b>a skunk</b> got under the building somewhere near the locker rooms and sprayed. Of course the way the building’s ventilation is designed there is a large exhaust fan at the end of the pool opposite the locker rooms so all the odor is pulled out into the pool area. Just standing around on the pool deck it doesn’t smell that strong. But, for me anyway, once I start swimming laps hard my sense of smell seems to intensify and the odor gags me. And, I’ve since learned that I’m a bit allergic to the skunk odor because it sends me into a slight asthmatic reaction (I had asthma bad as a kid).</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Regarding OW swimming… I prefer being in conditions where I can’t see the bottom at all. I would just rather NOT know what’s down there. I can deal with completely clear water conditions. But being able to see the partially visible, blurry, dark shapes down there freaks me out. Did that one just move? Is it seaweed? Mommy!!!</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Dan</span></span>

 

[Stitcher]

Yes.....<br>
indoor breathing can be difficult because the various chemical fumes aren't always ventilated all that great.<br><br>
Tithers.....blowing air out through your nose, means water can't get in. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
For those doing flip turns......if you get water in your nose...be sure you're blowing out while you're flipping.<br><br>
Also, I find that when I concentrate on making sure bubbles are coming out of my nose, I'm more in control of my breathing, and pace,......it's a focus thing for me.

 

[RunningForT3]

I can't get myself to breathe out through the nose yet... I can, when I'm kicking for example, cause it's just two things to think about (legs and nose), but when I freestyle there are way too many things to focus on.<br>
That same article said that if you exhale through the nose, it creates an air bubble when you turn so you can inhale through the mouth without rotating your head too much.

 

[4boysmom]

I hate, Hate, HATE the pool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me OW any day!<br><br>
I worked with a swim coach yesterday. Yah, I swim like a barge. So we worked on the 'long and strong' thing. I was dead at the end. My usual stroke count is 27, maybe 25 if I get a really good push off the wall. Today, I did 23!!!<br><br>
Yah, very, very worth it to work with a swim coach!!!

 

[wyrillco]

Wow, that makes an incredible amount of sense.<br><br>
Who wants to come to colorado and help me with my pitiful stroke? I'm real fun! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[LookiLoo]

That's great Chris - I especially agree with the 'reach as far as possible, like stretching to grab something' part as I had a coach explain this to me last summer. It instantly improved my rotation and I felt like I was gliding much more smoothly through the water.<br><br>
Keep up the great work!!

 

[RunningForT3]

You're right Heidi, by trying to reach with the grab, you also tend to rotate more.<br><br>
Speaking of stroke count, before the lessons, I had about 30. Now I'm around 20. Yesterday at the pool there was a guy who was going very relaxed and super fast... I counted and he was consistently doing 13-14.

 

[Abb94]

I have never swam (swum?) in an OW situation, but I have an intense fear of living (or dead) things in the water, so I know I will freak out when I do an OW swim. And my first OW swim will probably also be my first tri, just the way my schedule is working out. So I am doomed to freaking out. Oh well - I will tough it out. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Tithers]

Stitch...I blow out my nose for flippie turns, but for regular breathing nothing ever went in my nose w/o me blowing out...

 

[Tri-Tammy]

I just finished reading that article as well.<br>
I was getting sinus infections so my Dr. suggested using a nose plug. Which I now use diligently with great success.<br>
But I also just read that I shouldn't be doing this. How come? If I make sure to get all of the air out of my lungs before taking a breath, what's the harm?

 

[4boysmom]

Abb94--OW is SUPPOSED to have floatie things. Doesn't bother me at all. I get totally grossed out with floatie things in the pool, though!!!!!!!!!