BX Starting Simple Project

[bx]

I have no data. No stroke length data, no tempo data, no speed data. The aim of this project is to acquire data.

Summary of practises in 2016.
All 100m repeats, typically 10x100m in a session.

Total distance by month:
Jan 3.7km
Feb 8.8km
Mar 8.8km
Apr 3.6km
May 4.6km
Jun 5.2km
Jul 6.8km
Aug 9.1km
Sep 6.9km
Oct: 7.0km
Nov: 13.2km (mix of 100m and 200m repeats)
Dec: pool closed

Goal:
Count strokes for ONE length, and remember to breathe whilst doing so.


Height = 177cm, Wingspan = 180cm
Green Zone: 20 to 16 SPL (scm)

[WFEGb]

Hello bx,

Goal:
Count strokes for ONE length, and remember to breathe whilst doing so.

How about counting your breaths and calculate your SPLs from your breathing pattern?

Best regards,
Werner

[CoachSuzanne]

Originally Posted by bx

Goal:
Count strokes for ONE length, and remember to breathe whilst doing so.


[Height = 177cm, Wingspan = 180cm]

Excellent Goal! Simple. I like werner's suggestion too...maybe counting breaths is a start. If your pattern is regular you can quickly estimate strokes, but even if it's not, you might practice counting breaths for a few lengths then you won't forget to breath.

[bx]

Thanks Werner and Doc Suzanne (btw I just saw about your car accident, hope all recovers fully and speedily). I will count breaths and live with the +/- 1 error for now.

I could have made my goal more precise:
Count strokes for one length and remember to breathe OUT.

(Breathing IN is never the problem.)

[CoachSuzanne]

Originally Posted by bx

Thanks Werner and Doc Suzanne (btw I just saw about your car accident, hope all recovers fully and speedily). I will count breaths and live with the +/- 1 error for now.

I could have made my goal more precise:
Count strokes for one length and remember to breathe OUT.

(Breathing IN is never the problem.)

How is your project going?

[bx]

Originally Posted by CoachSuzanne

How is your project going?

Thanks for asking :) I've been surreptitiously updating my original post in this thread. I counted spl only for a few lengths in one practise. It wasn't "good" by the published guidelines, but I can't say I'm too bothered, as my swimming in general is going so well since I started swimming a broken kilometer twice a week. It was a psychological issue. Now I go into the pool and swim first, and only after a 1km am I allowed to practise drills. But now i prefer swimming to drilling anyway, so it's all switched around.

I'll do another spl later this month. Maybe once a month is a good idea.

[bx]

February: Best SPL = 23
March: Best SPL = 22

[5 month gap working on breathing form mostly, which has improved balance tremendously, legs always feel light and floaty now.]

01 September: Best SPL = 19

Woo-hoo! I've ducked into my Green Zone for the first time ever!

Height = 177cm, Wingspan = 180cm
Green Zone: 20 to 16 SPL (scm)

[bx]

So, how was 2016?

I didn't pursue stroke counting. However, my best SPL decreased from 23 to 19 for 25m.

I swam 100m repeats the entire year, with a few 200m repeats towards the end.

2016 was an important year. Something changed in my head. I used to always drill first, and then felt uncomfortable swimming more than 50m. In 2016 I just wanted to get in the pool and swim lots of 100m repeats. I hardly did any drills at all. I never want to get stuck in a drill rut again.

On technique, I think upon reflection that two things really helped:

1. Lots and lots of hardcore core exercises in the gym. "yin"

2. Learning to keep face relaxed during breathing. Relaxed mouth, lips, forehead, jaw, neck. "yang"



What's planned for 2017?

In 2017 I'm only swimming 200m repeats, lane traffic permitting. 200m gets just a teensy bit challenging to hold my vessel shape towards the end, so that's the perfect distance for me now.

Technique focal points:

1. Imprinting glute engagement. This is nearly subconscious already. Glutes switched ON keep my legs light, knees relaxed, and lets the legs react naturally to rotation.

2. Driving spearing arm to its target with more authority. ie. Acceleration. I have a bad habit of being lazy and letting the spear decelerate, which doesn't generate much power. This will require much effort to change.

3. A little more work on keeping lower core engaged on left track in particular.

4. A little more work on keeping neck long.


I think this is quite enough for the year.


I'm so glad I found TI and took up freestyle after a 20 year gap in swimming. I'm not the fastest learner, but I now swim my 100m and 200m repeats with a great deal of control, maybe even a little elegance, and a great deal of enjoyment. I came close to quitting 3 times. Glad I didn't. Thanks to Terry, Stuart, Suzanne, D. Shen and the other forum contributors who have all helped solve the freestyle puzzle!

PS
My "aquatic signature" is vertical. There is hope for us all :)

[WFEGb]

Hello bx,

seems you're a patient learner planning long periods. GREAT!

Just a thought: How about putting your rest-times into your plans too? And shave some seconds off every week. Start with every other rest; next week first, third... and so on...

And sometimes you should swim a pooltime "for yourself". Let the actual lap tell you the focus for the next lap. No more no less. No pace clock no TT no look to other swimmers. Stop, if the joy of it sneaks away.

Keep on with your good work!

Best regards,
Werner

[bx]

Suggestion noted, Werner. But I'm a very poor pupil, so I won't do that :)
Rather, as with the 100m repeats, I'll stick at 200m until it becomes trivial, and then double the distance again.

I would like to do something about my stroke rate. I know it's too slow. But for now, it's not the priority. Next year I will start using a TT. And then I'll have to wear a swim cap too, and look like a proper swimmer!

Ant