ModeratedUser150120149

Today I finished my Advanced Swim Class. I've almost always known how to swim and can do it almost literally forever. But, style and speed lagged far, far behind. Due to travel I had to miss the first two sessions but it still gave me good training.

To finish the class I passed the Level 5 test with no problem. When I started I had a hard time with the crawl and how to breathe while doing it. Gagging was the order of the day and I was weak from oxygen deficit. Today I 5 lengths of the pool with no breathing problem. Today I did all the strokes except butterfly (which was only introduced today) with no form issues. The butterfly; well it will need some more work. But, it is not a stroke I will use anyway so NBD. The thrust is to develop form and endurance. Both were achieved and the door was opened to do even more.

A byproduct for biking is the increased leg and cardio strength will help with my endurance and maybe my speed. Certainly it will help me have even more fun as I can do the same rides with less effort.

A very good investment of time and money along with a nice feeling of satisfaction.

cyclinfool

As a kid I spent my summers in a pool. I use to be able to do 4 laps under water without taking a breath. No I don't like to swim, just not into water sports.

Lightingguy

Not sure what your expectations are, but as a former Masters swimmer and former Cat4 racer as well as having done many team relay Tri's as either swim leg or bike leg, I can tell you that unless you are doing a LOT of kicking, swimming will not make your legs stronger for bicycling.

If anything, I find that a lot of hard cycling actually hinders my swim training, as I need to use pull buoys to avoid leg cramps, especially if doing back to back cycle to swim training.

That said, I've been in the pool 4 days per week for 9 weeks now and noticed that my early season, getting back into it cycling is easier due to the improved cardiio fitness from swimming.

SB

10 Wheels

My word for Tri's.... Pain

ModeratedUser150120149

I should have said in my original post that at the start of class I essentially had no kick. When the instructor told me to show her my kick I did not move at all in the pool. Flailed away vigorously. But no forward progress. Now I have a Kick. And it gets better every pool session.

Oh yes, by "Tri" I guess you mean "Triathalon". Never entered either my mind of my plans.

Monoborracho

Though I grew up in the Great American Desert, I learned to swim early and did the BSA Mile Swim twice before age 12. I've been sort of kicking around trying to man up and do an AquaMan biathalon in the next year or so. 56 miles on a bike no problem. 1.2 miles in the water.....no idea right now.

DnvrFox

Check out Total Immersion Swimming for a totally different perspective on kicking (and swimming).

https://www.totalimmersion.net

Congrats on finishing the class.

I continue to plod away - about 4 - 5 days per week.

DougG

Many of the tri guys that I know say that they don't kick much. They get all that buoyancy from the wetsuit, and they really want to save their legs for the biking & running. I'm still not very comfortable with swimming (just started a couple months ago), so have just entered the duathlon in a June event (first timer!).

Lightingguy

All true

Most distance swimmers, including Olympic/NCAA/World class, for distances in the 800/1500 or for open water swims, use what is known as a 2 beat kick. Sprint swimmers use 4 or 6 beat and the kick provides a small amount of added propulsion, especially the dolphin kick coming off the wall, with backstrokers using a very strong kick. The kick used for sprint distances can put you into aerobic dept quickly, which is why the 2 beat is used for distance.

Here's a good description:

https://badig.com/2009/06/the-two-beat-kick/

SB

ModeratedUser150120149

But with my new kick, stroke and breathing now I have a choice that I didn't have before Especially since I have no intention of competing like you super athletes.

Lightingguy

"Super Athletes", that's pretty funny, as it's been 10 years since I last wanted to compete. Now it's just cycling and swimming for fun and exercise.

Swimming is something I learned young and got good at and you never really forget it. If you can improve your stroke, position, kick and breathing at an older age, then it's a terrific activity that is pretty safe and not one where you get easily injured, except possibly from overuse.

I think that's it's a great achievement to make the effort to take lessons and to want to get better, so keep it up !.

SB

rumrunn6

congratulations! :-)