Update - all around exercise, swimming
 

As many of you know, I enjoy exercising in a number of dimensions - PT for my back, weights and resistance exercises, walking, bicycling, stretching and swimming.

I didn't start swimming until December, 2007. I could swim a bit, but never knew how to really do the strokes, etc.

A couple of interesting things.

1. I have been swimming with two guys who have a goal of a triathlon, but have never done much swimming. They are both absolutely amazed at how different the aerobic requirements are for swimming as opposed to running and/or bicycling. Yesterday, one of the guys - likely in his late 20's, remarked that he could run 5 miles easily, and bicycle 20+ miles, but could not swim the length of the pool. Ditto for the other guy.

2. I found myself giving swimming tips to both these guys - at their request. I never considered myself a good swimmer, but I have folks frequently state that I seem to just glide through the water!

So, here I am at 70, having only been swimming two years, giving swimming tips to folks in their 20's and 40's.

BTW, I am trying to increase my bicycling length of riding. However, today, after an hour of PT and resistance training, 2 miles of walking and 45 minutes of swimming, my leg just sort of wore out in the store - the result , of course, of my stenosis and other back problems.

Aargh!!

Any other swimmers or all-around exercisers out there today?

I've swum on and off since my cancer diagnosis, and it is completely correct that the aerobic requirements are different for cycling and swimming. I think that's why triathletes are some of the best all-around athletes. To be able to swim, bike and run well in all three disciplines is a great achievement. As soon as my pool gets warm in about a month, I'm back in it.

I also think swimming is pretty different. It has always been hard for me to remain aerobic while swimming. Zing goes the HR and I'm not going far. Also... you can drown in that stuff! :lol:

Fox, I could sure use your coaching! I'm a runner in addition to being a cyclist, and at 63 can run a half-marathon in about the top third of my age group. But I recently started swimming (or, more accurately, trying to swim!) and it has been kicking my butt to put it mildly. I'm actually not getting into the aerobic issues because I'm having trouble with the basic mechanics. I thought I knew how to swim even though I've done little of it, but apparently not.

I foolishly entered an indoor triathlon that takes place this coming Sunday, figuring that I could learn to swim well enough to do the 10-minute part of the event, but now I'm thinking I might have to do the backstroke since that way I can at least stay afloat. And since this is at the rec center of a nearby college campus, I'll be up against some of those 20-year-olds.

I took a lesson from a really good swimming instructor. One lesson was all I needed to get that "boost" although I am sure I could benefit by more lessons.

I take a lap swim class every spring semester at the local community college. We're on spring break this week. It doesn't help my legs, but it helps with upper body and aerobic capacity. My perennial technique issue is dragging my left shoulder. After the pneumonia, I'm only up to about 250 yards at a time. Luckily, very few of the sets involve more than 100yds between breaks.

Most of your power in swimming comes from the upper body. So a good runner and or cyclist is not necessarily a good swimmer. Another thing about swimming is having an efficient stroke makes a big difference. So there is a bit of technique involved.

Have never enjoyed swimming and don't intend to make it a form of exercise for me- BUT- When I had an Angiogram many years ago- the cardiologist asked me if I was a swimmer or a cyclist? Apparantly these are the two sports that are cardio vascular benificial and I only do one of them.

I grew up on the beach and am completely at ease in the water. Unfortunately I'm a terrible swimmer. I have a poor kick, an awful stroke, and I don't know how to breathe.

Also, having grown up on the beach makes me thoroughly intolerant of pools. You have to turn around all the time.

Get your friends interested in Total Immersion swimming. This helped me a lot. Here's a video.

I haven't been on the road bike since late Dec., did some mt. biking in Jan. , but the snow here in NYC area sent me back into the pool. I once swam Masters, did this for 12 years or so, and am a better swimmer then cyclist, but then got bored with endless laps as well as the time commitment to get the riding mileage in as well as pool yardage, so the past 12 years have seen once a month getting wet, at best.

6 weeks ago I started back in the pool, quickly got up to 9,000 yards a week with a good bit of speed workouts, but fully expecting that my yardage would drop back down once the snow cleared and I started riding again. One drawback to having a refined stroke is that you are more efficiant and thus, burn fewer calories, unless you make an effort to swim hard.

I did a so-called "easy" road ride this past Sat. with a Tri buddy/Ironman in training. I was surprised that on my first road ride in 10 weeks I actually felt strong and the reason is the time in the pool. No doubt about it that cross training makes you stronger all around. Finding the time for it is the problem !.

SB

I started cycling about 5 years ago after a long absence. About 3 years ago, my wife took up jogging, so I started going with her (although I'm pretty sure I once swore that running was a stupid activity and I was never going to do it :) When I was a kid, I used to swim competitively, so I figured that since I was 2/3rds of the way to a triathlon, I might as well start swimming again. Since then I've managed to complete two incredibly slow half-ironman events.

As part of my reintroduction to swimming, I read the Immersion Swimming book. There are some good ideas there about technique, and it's much different than what I was taught back in the 70's. The one line description would be "Reducing drag is WAY more important than increasing power. So work on your form."

Nick

I've been checking out the Total Immersion web page. I think that is pretty much how I swim, rotating my body around an axis, not turning my head, but my body, to breathe, etc.

Anyway, that's how my wife says I look when I swim.

There's a good animation of the proper stroke here at http://www.swimsmooth.com. Studying this has actually helped me out a bit. I do know a local triathlete who gives personalized lessons, but I think I should have a few more of the basics before I subject myself to her coaching.

Check out the total immersion swimming web page.

They have a whole set of animations and lessons and a different theory, which differ from the animation you referenced, especially as regards the feet.

http://www.totalimmersion.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpwhzTCWh8Y&NR=1

re: "after an hour of PT and resistance training, 2 miles of walking and 45 minutes of swimming, my leg just sort of wore out"

this sounds like too much in one day or without enough recovery time between activities. in addition, what was going on with your nutrition during all this? adequate carbs? maybe not!

about the swimming - that's awesome! I've been swimming for just over a year and I finally feel like I do a proper job of it. however I know I'm doing it for body transformation and not because I want to compete. my arms are too big and heavy. this is by choice through my weight training. I love what swimming has done for my body this past year. it compliments the pushups and pullups very nicely.

controlling my diet is my biggest challenge right now.

You are 100% incorrect.

It has to do with the nerves and the stenosis in my spine, period. That level of activity is my usual level. I have excellent blood sugar level, and can and have ridden for hours with no nutririon. I guess you would have to be me and to have been there to really understand. Unfortunately, you weren't and aren't.

um OK dude - didn't mean to offend you ... yeesh

Guess I came on a bit strong there. Bad morning.

Sorry about that!

The aerobics are definitely different. The max heart rates are different. I don't swim, but my max cycling is 174 and my max sprinting/running is 190. I think the max swimming is slightly less than for cycling, but not sure.

Al

Strange coincidence you should post on swimming. You, of course, know I can swim. But, not very efficiently or speedily. So, last Saturday I took the first of a series of swim lessons to work on stroke, breathing and kick. I just returned home from an hour practice session. Man am I beat! I kicked and kicked and kicked. But, at least now I'm getting somewhere instead of kicking and getting stationary.

Now my activity routine of weights and bike will have added to it swimming. My phsical therapist is encouraging me to resume running so I can compete in a short triathalon this July. Don't know about that but I appreciate the compliment that I might even be competitive.

So far it has been one class Saturday and one on-my-own practice session yesterday. Must have been a good session yesterday because I am sore with DOMS. Guess I'll lay off today, maybe do some weights and the spin bike, since I have class again tomorrow evening.

Oh the price we pay for physical fitness :)

That doesn't sound like it will end well.