I had a set of headphones that were waterproof, then a waterproof bag I could put my mp3 player in (the cord went between two pieces of foamish material that closed around it when the bag shut). This is back when I swam about 2 miles per swim.
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Posted on: Dec. 02 2015,16:28
I just ordered a self-contained swimming mp3 player/radio, that had good reviews. I was also clever and bought the 2-year warranty for $3 in case they do die within weeks.
I'm currently doing 30 minutes of laps, 3 days a week... I want to get up to 45 minutes, possibly an hour with some music to keep from getting super bored.
Also swimming is really hard because you can't breath most of the time, but I bet it's good for me.
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Posted on: Dec. 02 2015,17:16
Swimming is kinda awesome, as long as you don't have shoulder issues. One of my shoulders has issues, so I have to ease into it, and limit my swims to a mile or 1.5 miles these days.
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Posted on: Dec. 02 2015,18:30
(GORDON @ Dec. 02 2015,20:31)
QUOTE
Can you do the fancy flip turns?
My shoulder issue is that I am usually stubbly-faced and I am getting stubble burn inside of my right shoulder when I turn to breathe.
Yes, I swam competitively in high school, was exceptionally lightly recruited by Division 3 colleges ("We'd love for you to swim for us! Uh, we really don't do scholarships for people like you.")
If your chin is near your shoulder when breathing, you may not be doing it right. Your shoulders should stretch with your stroke (so your "breathing" shoulder should be behind your reaching shoulder)
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,04:53
Shitloads of practice.
I haven't done any formal swimming since I was about 10, but I *did* have lessons, and they taught me proper styles and how to breath and shit. I'd bet like two dollars that I didn't suddenly start breathing at the wrong time in freestyle.
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,05:42
(GORDON @ Dec. 03 2015,07:53)
QUOTE
Shitloads of practice.
I haven't done any formal swimming since I was about 10, but I *did* have lessons, and they taught me proper styles and how to breath and shit. Â I'd bet like two dollars that I didn't suddenly start breathing at the wrong time in freestyle.
I had to relearn somewhat when I started swimming again 15 years ago. I was a sprinter in high school, and it's a fairly different stroke than distance swimming, which is what I do now. (more breathing, slower strokes, different muscle engagement, much different/slower kick)
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,08:21
I practiced my flip turns this morning. I did about 10 of them, and maybe 2 of them felt good. The first one I was choking. Like when I was a hurdler in high school, I will have to just keep doing it over and over until I don't have to think about the last 5 strokes to make sure I am spaced correctly for the flip turn.... no stutter-steps. By the last one I was feeling brave enough to do it in the shallow end. All the stretching of the last few months has given me a good leg-tuck, I think.
And I think I have discovered a problem with my breathing... my standard stroke... at the moment... is a 4-stroke, then breathe. If I am pushing hard and out of breath I may do a 4-stroke/breathe, followed by a 2-stroke/breathe just to dump some extra CO2. I admit, my cardio-vascular sauce is weak, but I am working on it. ANYWAY.... I think I was expelling ALL my air on my 4-stroke, and I had nothing left for the flip turn and I was coming up gasping with possibly water in my sinuses because I had no more air to push out while inverted. So now I am expelling my air slightly slower when on my 4-stroke, and it feels better, overall.
Does any of this make sense? As an experienced swimmer, do my self-observations seem like I am on the right track? I'd pay $20 for a pro to watch me swim for 20 minutes and correct my shit.
As for the stubble burn on my breathing shoulder, I started making sure my shoulder was farther back. Seems to have fixed it. Like when lifting, I think I have been swimming with my shoulders squared off.... that's probably wrong? I should be stretching forward and pushing back with shoulders, right?
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,09:13
(GORDON @ Dec. 03 2015,11:21)
QUOTE
And I think I have discovered a problem with my breathing... my standard stroke... at the moment... is a 4-stroke, then breathe. Â If I am pushing hard and out of breath I may do a 4-stroke/breathe, followed by a 2-stroke/breathe just to dump some extra CO2. Â I admit, my cardio-vascular sauce is weak, but I am working on it. Â ANYWAY.... I think I was expelling ALL my air on my 4-stroke, and I had nothing left for the flip turn and I was coming up gasping with possibly water in my sinuses because I had no more air to push out while inverted. Â So now I am expelling my air slightly slower when on my 4-stroke, and it feels better, overall.
You should breathe on a 2-stroke. Left arm, right arm, breathe. Repeat. (or right then left, whatever). Be sure to switch it up on occasion by breathing on your other side to even things up. (like down the pool breathing right, come back breathing left). Your body should roll to each side as you stroke as well to minimize resistance. If you ever plan on racing or open-water swimming, learn a 3-stroke.
When doing the kick turn, I typically take a breath shortly before (or simply make sure i didnt expel it all), as I have breathe out to avoid water up my nose. I also use earplugs cuz otherwise I get water in my ears.
QUOTE
As for the stubble burn on my breathing shoulder, I started making sure my shoulder was farther back. Â Seems to have fixed it. Â Like when lifting, I think I have been swimming with my shoulders squared off.... that's probably wrong? Â I should be stretching forward and pushing back with shoulders, right?
Your shoulder should not be square. The arm that is stroking should be reaching as far as possible, which should cause your shoulders to be asymmetrical. This picture may help
I've found that using pull floats (between your legs) helps focus on your stroke and body feel.
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,15:21
I typically do about 20 minutes of slow-and-steady (not really that slow... half power) to "warm up," and 10 minutes of sprints, which is what I call doing a full length as hard as I can, and breathing hard for 30 seconds before repeating.
But as I said, I plan on adding time as I get in better shape. Â As of now my swim workout kicks my ass. Â I never have enough breath.
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,16:42
(GORDON @ Dec. 03 2015,19:31)
QUOTE
2. Â Holy shit... that'll be hard. Â I will work on it. Â Pool is 75 feet long, btw.
Honestly, for non-competition, it doesn't matter. Â But the fewer breaths you take, the faster you will go. Â Breathing slows you down.
And yes, pools are typically 25yards. I generally do my sprints with 0 or 1 breath for 25 yards. 50s I can do with 2 breaths, but that increases to 3-4 the more I do.
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2015,17:32
My wife and I both swam for our high schools. Â I still swim, but it's been off/on since college. Â She's "too busy" to get back in the pool more than once a month or so. Â She was the better swimmer of us in our primes.
If I were to make a suggestion for your plan, I'd separate the sprints from the slower swims, something like this:
1) Pace swims. Â 20-30 minutes, not quite as fast as you can, but a solid pace. Â You could work in some stroke technique swims if you wanted (finger-tip drills, side swimming, closed fist, catch-up drils)
2) Slow warm-up and cool-down, with Sprints: either 25s, 50s, or ladders (25-50-75-100-75-50-25 type of drills). Â I really like 25fast-25slow drills.
3) long slow distance. Â Try to increase time/distance each week, but at a more comfortable pace.