turnin' in da pool
didds
Posts: 655
in General Chat
Hopefully not too dumb couple of questions here... (but very numpty nonetheless!)
Pool based triathlon swimming legs...
1) are tumble turns accepted in pool based triathlon swim legs? I seem to recall reading that they weren't.. but am not sure now!
2) If the pool at the shallow end is only 0.9 metres/2'11.5" deep what strategy/tactic/whatever do people take when turning around ... tumble turn (see above); touch the end, squidge around, push off; touch, stand, turn and push off?
I train sometimes in a pool with a 0.9m shallow end and that pool happens to be my first A race for next year. I find it really difficult in training to turn around at the shallow end so typically end up standing and moving off from there, but it doesn't strike me as being very efficient, and potentially difficult if of course sharing the lane with up to 3 others.!
cheers for any help/thoughts.
didds
Pool based triathlon swimming legs...
1) are tumble turns accepted in pool based triathlon swim legs? I seem to recall reading that they weren't.. but am not sure now!
2) If the pool at the shallow end is only 0.9 metres/2'11.5" deep what strategy/tactic/whatever do people take when turning around ... tumble turn (see above); touch the end, squidge around, push off; touch, stand, turn and push off?
I train sometimes in a pool with a 0.9m shallow end and that pool happens to be my first A race for next year. I find it really difficult in training to turn around at the shallow end so typically end up standing and moving off from there, but it doesn't strike me as being very efficient, and potentially difficult if of course sharing the lane with up to 3 others.!
cheers for any help/thoughts.
didds
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Comments
2) in regards to the shallow end, i think you can do down to about 1m shallow, I am rubbish at TTs though, so I wouldn't attempt it in 0.9!
3) In competition I tend to do open turns, youtube it and it comes up with some nice videos, they are fairly simple, put you lead arm on the edge of the pool, tuck in your legs and fire them under your body to the wall, as the arm thats not holding the edge goes underwater, pointing back along the direction you are going to be going. As your legs get to the wall, let go of the edge and take put that hand on top of the one underwater. At this point you should be horizontal, with legs bent, feet on the wall, arms overhead, then just push off hard.
If you practice it a bit they can actually end up quite fast. Not as fast as tumble turns but not bad!
One of the things I intend to master this winter are tumble turns, I'm sick of been left for dead by people who swim the same speed as me, but seem to gain about 4secs a length on the turn.
I'm not sure i could TT in less than 1m, (i'm about 6'4''), but when i turn in that depth, i tri to keep as much in the swim stoke as possible. No standing or stopping. I kind of touch the end and bring my legs up from underneath / the side, turn and push... mind you it's rubbish compared to all those TTers.
There used to be a thread about it, can't find it though,...
que?
didds
It would never have occurred to me to ask whether a tumble turn was permissible in a tri!
I have done two pool tris in the last month - Southwell and Brigg, and tumbled in both. Though as I get more tired I tend not to, or if my stroke length doesn't work out right.
Why would an event object to it? You're still covering the same distance.
The next day??
Have you tried not breathing in while you're underwater? [:D]
The trick to avoiding water in the sinuses for days is that last breath - you need it so you can breathe out through the turn. Other tips keep one hand (the hand on the catch at the turn) by your side and stabilise the turn with it (this takes some practise), thus avoiding the 90 degree push off!
Hope these help
Iain.
I found a good technique to help with training for TT is to wait until the end of a session and the lane ropes are taken out, or find a portion of the pool where the walls are close together (Like a joining piece of pool between the diving pit and the main pool). Push off the wall and just glide between the two walls, taking a stroke to breathe if you need to. Do say 3/4/5 turns or whatever you are happy with then take a break and repeat.
By repeating the action in quick succession you can develop your technique by making small changes each time.
Incidentally, my old swimming coach said to try to touch your knees with your forehead TT'ing - that way your head ends up pointing in the direction your legs are coming from.
Current thinking is it is more efficient to hit the wall square with you feet and spin onto your front in the glide out from the wall. So perhaps doing some 50m crawl to backstroke so not worrying about the twist is a good place to start with TTs.
It is an advertising vid so here are some guide times:
Strokes start at about 3 mins
Turns start at about 4 mins 45s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOSagnhDA9c
Like anything it comes with practice, so stick at it and u'll soon be turning like a pro!