fleet feet Pete

I've been able to get my swim time on the 800m down to around 18 minutes or so using mainly my arms, I get totally gassed when I kick. How much can I improve on this before I have to start using my legs.

Thanks

lovestoride

alot, no offense thats not that impressive, i've done 800's in less than 10 mins with little to no kicking. Just work on swimming, and your technique and you will become much faster

Velo Gator

Focus first on swimming pretty, then speed. Once you're pretty, the speed will come.

fleet feet Pete

Thanks, I just needed some sense of referance. I'll continue with lots pull sets.

lovestoride

i no your going to hate this suggestion, but swim alot like everyday (during swimming you rarely need to actually take a day off). join a masters program (that will really be embarrassing at first, because most of the other people in the group will be big time swimmers, but it will force you to be stronger.)

jasonball

don't worry about pull sets and all that other crap. go to your local gym. and take about 5 adult swim lesson. focusing on technique. once you have the tech down your time will be faster already. becuase i'm pretty sure your fighting the water right now. I using to be a competive swimmer and water saftey instructor. dude it is all tech.

focus on freestyle which is the most natural, breast stroke and back stroke. those three are the easiest most energy efficient and the last two are the most life saving.

lovestoride

if hes really looking to improve speed wise i would say spend limited time on breast/back, they only slow you down and should really only be used in a ironman distance or to quickly get a feeling for were you are after a big time in a group of swimmers

travelmama

Yes it is if he doesn't know how to swim properly.
I second what was said about joining a Masters Swim Program. To join a team is not embarrassing especially given you are taking lessons. Embarrassment in the pool only comes from those with zero self confidence. Kicking hard should only be done if sprinting. Since you are looking at a half mile swim, you should be relaxed and use your arms for the majority of the swim. A slight kick should be done to keep you streamlined and bouyant. I swim 5 to 6 days per week and rarely kick while swimming because I am all about the arms.

lovestoride

i only said thats not that impressive, because he was asking if it was possible to improve on that without kicking, so i told him yes it is very easy to go alot faster without kicking

travelmama

And?

lovestoride

You commented say how i shouldn't have said it wasn't impressive, so i explained why i said it was not impressive.

travelmama

Give up. It isn't that serious.

fleet feet Pete

Thats exactly what I wanted to know. How much propulsion can I get with only my arms?

fleet feet Pete

Thank you all for the input, I truly appreciate all of your adivice. I am a member of a masters swim club and swim about four day a week, sometimes twice a day. I'm focusing more on staying horizontal, eliminating unnecessary movements, being more efficient in my strokes, especially when I start feeling gassed.

travelmama

Check this out https://www.swimtypes.com/typesindex.html. Perhaps you can get a little guidance to put your mind at ease.

Body_Fortress

Unless you can do 1 mile in 30 mins you're below the reccommended time for competing. Most lifeguards have to pass this test to become qualified (where I'm from anyway)

kuf

wut?

Since when is being a lifeguard a requirement for doing triathlons?

Check out age grouper times for half-ironmans (1.2 miles), then rethink your statement.

kuf

You need to make sure you're doing proper technique. Get some underwater footage and we can critique you. Check out my video. It was pointed out to me that I'm not bending my elbows soon enough underwater here. (don't bother mentioning my toes-they won't point)

Dirtbagfitness

I wouldn't fret about not using the kick when you're swimming. If you don't kick at all your legs are just dead weight dragging you down. A steady rhythm of short flutter kicks, not real hard, not using a ton of energy, will do wonders for your body position in the water, which will improve everything else about your stroke. Obviously, with the next two disciplines being so leg-heavy you don't want to burn up your legs, but dragging them around will just wear you out. Freestyle is 75-80% arms 25-20% legs anyway, even when you're chugging. Light little kicks will help your entire stroke.