December 7th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming
There is a misconception with many swimmers that the stronger their body is the more powerful their swim stroke will be. While this is an important factor in your performance, it is not the most important factor. The most important factor is the manner in which you are performing your stroke. This includes paying attention to the way your hand enters the water, the way your hand moves through the water, how your legs move and the breaths you take. All of these factors are highly important to having the best performance possible.
How the Hand Enters the Water
A sloppy swim stroke is easy to see because there will be a big splash and a loud noise every time a hand enters the water. The idea is not to just get the hand in the water so you can pull. The idea is to get your hand in the water in the most effective manner possible so you can get the most out of the stroke. To start, your fingers should all be together and your hand should be stiff. Point your hand so it enters the water fingers first and thumb pointed down. This will put your hand in the perfect position to start your stroke.
The Powerful S-Stroke
Now that your hand is in the water, it is time to create the power which will propel you through the water. This is done by making sure your hand is always meeting resistance in the water. Do not simply drag your hand through the water as you will lose resistance after the first foot or two. Instead, start by pushing your hand out and down until it is just outside your shoulder. Next, draw your hand in towards your stomach and groin. Last, push your hand back out towards your hip and beyond. Your hand should come out of the water pinky first.
The Most Effective Kick
Backing the power of the right swim stroke is possible when you have the right kick. This means making sure you pay proper attention to where your legs are at all times. Your thighs should always remain as close together as possible. When your legs split apart too far, you end up creating drag. Using a floater will help you train yourself to keep your legs together. The majority of the movement will come from the knees and the ankles. The toes should always be together to create the closest you will ever come to a flipper.
Breathing Correctly
Breathing is something you normally do not have to think about. For a good swim stroke however, the right breathing technique makes all the difference. Do not take a breath every chance you get. This will cause quite a bit of drag. Instead, breathe every other stroke if possible. The longer you can go without breathing, the less drag you will create. You are better off taking a full breath when you get a chance rather than taking gulps of air.
Photo Credits: kenoncjones
Originally posted 2010-04-01 10:20:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 24th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming
Swim training can be a challenge when you do not have the right swimming facilities to train in. The good news is there are facilities available to you no matter where you live. Some will be more convenient to use than others. Finding the right place to train is important whether you are looking to train for a swim meet or for a triathlon. This is important so that you can get the training you need in the environment which you need it. This is the only way you will get the preparation you will need to compete at the right level.
Outdoor Swimming for Triathlon Training
It is not recommended you train for a triathlon by always swimming in indoor swimming facilities. This is because when you are swimming for your triathlon you will not be doing and flip turns. You need to train in an environment which will be similar to the environment you will be swimming in for your race. This is so you can get your cadence down. You should try to train at least once a week in an open area for a free swim. This can be a lake or in the ocean depending on where your event will be held.
Swimming Pools in Gyms
A very popular option for people looking for the right swimming facilities is to join a gym with a pool. This is because you will get the benefit of swimming in a 25 yard length pool. This allows you the ability to know how long you are doing specific exercises like kick board training, paddle board training and floater training. You will also have access to a large clock on the wall in which you can time your training and log your success in interval training or other styles of training.
Swimming Pools in Swim Clubs
For those looking for another level of swimming facilities to train in, there are swim clubs you can join. These have facilities which are nothing more than a pool which is warehoused in a natatorium. You will get the benefit of being able to train all year long. You will also get the advantage of great coaching advice from those who run the facility and the club. Remember, these types of clubs are usually used by those training for the Olympics and professionally.
Training at Home
If you have the money and cannot find the right swimming facilities for you, it is possible to build your own. A popular option which many people have been investing in is a swimming simulator. This is a pool of water which is no bigger than a hot tub. It has a water propulsion chamber which will create a flow of water at the speed you prefer. This will allow you to swim as long as you want to without having to build a full sized pool. You can even get units which are heated. This will allow you to train all year long right in your back yard.
Photo Credits: havenholidays
Originally posted 2010-03-21 03:01:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 16th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Training
Training for a triathlon is never an easy task. You not only push your body to the edge, you need to engage in specialized forms of training to get the performance you need. This is as true for swim workouts for triathletes as for any other section of the race. The reason why the exercises are so important is because you need to train your upper body to be strong enough to do the majority of the work. This way you will be able to save your leg muscles for the other two sections which are ahead.
Using Paddleboards
One of the many swim workouts for triathletes is to use paddleboards. These will help you to find the strengths and the weaknesses in your stroke. They will also help to develop the muscles you use to pull your body through the water. Because the paddleboard is a thin piece of hard plastic, you will recognize it immediately if you have your hand at the wrong angle. Your hand will slice through the water rather than meeting with great resistance. As long as you are using a good stroke, you will feel resistance the whole stroke. The more resistance, the more power you develop.
Using Floaters
Another effective method of swim workouts for triathletes is to use floaters. These are little more than cylindrical pieces of Styrofoam connected by tethers. What you do is clench the tethers between your legs. You then swim through the water without kicking your legs. You will have only your upper body to pull you through. The floater creates drag, but more importantly, it prevents your lower body from sinking towards the bottom of the pool. This prevents you from using your legs at all.
Closed Fist Training
One of the swim workouts for triathletes seldom heard about is the closed fist training drill. This is a method by which you will dig your fingers into your palms as you swim. This will force you to use your forearms as a paddle to move you through the water. This is a good exercise to use with floaters as you will not be going very fast. Do not use your legs and concentrate on how your arm is moving through the water. This will help to make sure your arm will combine with your hand to create a great force to propel you through the water.
High Intensity Interval Training
A training method used as swim workouts for triathletes among others is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). This is a method which includes short intervals in which you are swimming as hard as you can for about a minute and then taking a thirty second break. This is used because a 15 minute workout will be more effective than a thirty minute workout. The level of workout will train your muscles to be more powerful for the big day. The secret is the fact your body will continue to be effected long after you get out of the pool.
Photo Credits: Grahambones
Originally posted 2010-03-20 03:55:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 14th, 2011 — Swim Bike Run, Swimming, Triathlon Tips
The most effective stroke for people in a triathlon is the overhand crawl. This is a style which is also known as freestyle. The swimming kick used for this stroke is very important to your performance. It is also the most undertrained part of most people’s stroke. It is taken for granted as something which cannot be improved. In fact, you can train your leg muscles to be stronger and more effective. You can also train your kick to be more effective by creating less drag and more push. By following some simple advice, you will turn your kick into a propeller.
Developing Strength
One of the best ways to develop strength in your swimming kick is by using a kickboard. This is little more than a piece of Styrofoam. What you do is rest your torso on the board and then kick your way from one side of the pool to the other. The board will stop you from using your arms to pull you through the water. The board will also create extra drag to make it even more difficult for you to kick your way from one side to the other. You will have to train your feet to be like flippers.
Flipper Training
While using the kickboard to develop a stronger swimming kick, you might want to also use flippers. This is because the flippers will help to show you the angle which your feet should be when you are kicking. You will be able to feel the difference when your feet are angled correctly and when they are off. By using the flippers you will also create greater strength in your legs because of the excess force you will need to push the water.
Keeping Your Legs Together
Floaters are a great way to train your legs to stay together. This is an important part of the swimming kick because if your legs are far apart, they create more drag. By clenching a floater between your thighs, you force your legs to stay together. If you allow your legs to separate, you will know it right away. This is because the floater will come loose and float away from you. The other added benefit you get from the floater is that it will create extra drag. This is important to develop better strength in your upper body as well as in your legs.
Photo Credits: hectorir
Originally posted 2010-03-19 10:53:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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