The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

Bude seapool re-opened last week after it’s spring clean and today is the first time I’ve been able to get in.
Was a bit nervous how it would go after the arthritis bout last month, but a solid 30min breaststroke swim in 16C water. A bit of a breezy, so some decent resistance. Only “pain” was I felt the cold and ache in my right elbow joint which is still weak from last month.

If you don’t swim with goggles then get some, they make a massive difference being able to see and not having your eyes stinging.

Regarding the stroke try and make sure your hands enter the water as far in front of you as possible, and pull downwards towards your upper thigh such that your hand follows virtually a straight line. When your hand exits the water try and have a high elbow such that you’re almost trying to touch your armpit as your hand passes forward. Basically you want your hand to be virtually a straight line forward and straight line back.

Your head should be slightly looking forward in a straight line as much as possible - the perfect front crawl would involve no breathing at all, but obviously that’s not realistic - such that the waterline is against your lower forehead just above your eyebrows. As you raise your arm out of the water turn your head slightly to breathe - pick a side that feels the most natural and stick with that. Not all the way sideways though but such that probably half your face is out the water. Turn too much and it upsets your balance and your whole body starts twisting which messes up the stroke. You want to try and stay as straight as you can from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. When I said about only having half your face turned to breath, your head creates a sort of bow wave, so you find most of your mouth’s out the water anyway. And breathe in through your mouth and not your nose.

As your arm goes over, turn your head back forwards and breathe out as hard as you can, that way when you take your next breathe you’re not taking time with your head turned breathing out when you could be breathing in. With your body and legs nice and straight you’re pretty streamlined, so don’t spoil it thrashing your legs like you’re trying to fend off a shark attack. You should pretty much just flick your feet up and down and not much more than that. All the power and speed comes from your arms so don’t waste your energy kicking ferociously, you only need enough to keep yourself balanced and flat in the water. If you don’t kick though you find your legs start to sink dragging your backside down too so you end up looking like a sea horse.

The long and the short of it is don’t thrash about and keep all movement to a minimum, save for your arms, and don’t windmill either. Keep your head down until you need to breathe, and do it to the side and not the front - head up means arse down and your back to looking like a seahorse.

Happy to be corrected on any of the above, but it’s how I was taught and it’s seen me alright for the last 50 years. Best of luck!

I use the "Faith in nature" shower gels
They are a bit more expensive, but SLS / paraben free

That’s very helpful. Thank you.

No substitute for coaching.

If you can't, or really don't want to....

https://www.instagram.com/effortlessswimming/

Is a nice account to start with, there's countless stuff out there though.

I heard a rumour that there were plans afoot to renovate the seapool at Ilfracombe.

Not been there for ages. It looks good! I'd getting out and straight for a pasty from that shop up the road!

I guess by cleaning they mean they just hooked all the green slime out of it?

Been watching some action this week…



A few WRs have been reset, inc women’s 200FR and men’s 200IM MC yesterday

The women's 200FR at Aussie Trials was insane; want to swim the individual? Swim under the WR. Want to swim the relay? Swim a time that would get you a world individual medal. Want to reach the final at your country's trials? Swim a time that would reach the world champs final.

Titmus is such a great racer, and doing that the day after an almost WR in the 400FR with no serious competition. The way she and MOC split their 200 free and she splits the 400FR are bang on.

Aus Paralympic swimming team announced last night - some expected names, a couple of new faces and one or two surprising inclusions.

I reckon the media darling of the whole swimming event could be Alexa Leary - S9 Freestyle specialist and current WR holder for S9 100M. Not only is she charismatic and photogenic, but her story is one for the movies…

She was a triathlete but had a serious accident a few years ago that left her on life support - so bad that the machine was turned off, and at that point she started to breathe on her own. Has been taught how to walk again though I think permanently on crutches for now, and is now off to the Paralympics.