improving my swimming...
ILMAKR
Posts: 20
in General Chat
Afternoon all,
I've decided in my "wisdom" that 2007 is the year for me to do a triathlon. The biggest problem I have with this is I've never been much of a swimmer, so shortly after New Year I started having lessons, and I've improved considerably since... but I'm still rubbish! Now I think part of my problem is a lack of fitness, I do a lap and have to stop for a breather (33m pool), so going more would be beneficial, but then I'm concerned that my technique isn't what it should be either.
So, should I go swimming for fitness, and rely on Wednesday night lessons to beat my rubbish technique out of me, or just leave it for Wednesdays not wanting to reinforce bad habits.
I'm also not doing any bike training yet, since I don't have a bike at the moment (working on that!) and very little running training since I don't really like running, and I'm a bit lazy. I've been thinking a schedule would help and looking at "12 week triathlete"; comments anyone?
I also don't know when I could realistically expect to enter an event? Wondering about the thames turbo tris and maybe blenheim? Would like to do olympic distance before the year's out, but don't know where. I'm based in SW London.
This post ended up being alot longer than I expected...
I've decided in my "wisdom" that 2007 is the year for me to do a triathlon. The biggest problem I have with this is I've never been much of a swimmer, so shortly after New Year I started having lessons, and I've improved considerably since... but I'm still rubbish! Now I think part of my problem is a lack of fitness, I do a lap and have to stop for a breather (33m pool), so going more would be beneficial, but then I'm concerned that my technique isn't what it should be either.
So, should I go swimming for fitness, and rely on Wednesday night lessons to beat my rubbish technique out of me, or just leave it for Wednesdays not wanting to reinforce bad habits.
I'm also not doing any bike training yet, since I don't have a bike at the moment (working on that!) and very little running training since I don't really like running, and I'm a bit lazy. I've been thinking a schedule would help and looking at "12 week triathlete"; comments anyone?
I also don't know when I could realistically expect to enter an event? Wondering about the thames turbo tris and maybe blenheim? Would like to do olympic distance before the year's out, but don't know where. I'm based in SW London.
This post ended up being alot longer than I expected...
0
Comments
Firstly are you happy in the water? or do you start to worry when you get tired if so go for long slow swims to build up your confidence,once you are happy with yourself look to build up a bit of speed,alternate one length front crawl one length breaststroke(swim the crawl as fast as you can and relax with the breaststroke).then start to eliminate the breaststroke adding more frontcrawl lengths between your recovery length.I appreciate that to some of the more expert swimmers that a more structured approach would be better but this is how I taught myself to swim and gain confidence and can now happily swim 3miles+ and compete inmost races upto Ironman with a reasonable swim time and then make a total botch on the swim and cycle.Remember practice makes permanent so a class lesson should give you a good quality base from which to work from.Hope this helps .
Not wanting to start a North South divide there is no shortage of races around London.
You will then have no option but to train to the best of your ability.
I guarantee once you have finished that, you will be addicted and also have a better idea of what to expect from an olympic.that was my theory anyway.
Surely there must be a tri club in your part of the country?
Good luck.