I started swimming about 6 months ago and have made alot of improvements but i still need to do more currently i swim 70 lengths in an hour in a 25 metre pool i break it down to 4 sets of 10 lengths with a minutes rest then 5 sets of 6 lengths with a minutes rest but my technique still needs working on i only do front crawl in all the sets and my breathing is out of sync any tips?
OK I was on the swim team when I was younger. For the Freestyle, if you put your right handunder the water, and your head too, take a breath when you bring your left hand out of the water, then switch.
Recent research has shown that about a third of those who lift weights don't even box (see link below) Perhaps Nigel_Benn's swimming is cross training related, perhaps not. The point is we allow a great deal of non-boxing lifting, and it's kinda hard to judge when something is not boxing related. I just gave up on it, if it can be used for cross training purposes, it's allowed. As long as it's about serious sports, I won't allow backyard boxing video's and such as it degrades the board (Amy's Law). [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124082[/url]
The sort where your bodyweight moves through water. Seriously don't you people believe in specificity at all? :blood
Just to get my numbers straight. 70 total lengths x 25m = 1500m 4 sets of 10 lengths of 25m (or 4 sets of 250m). followed by 5 sets of 6 lengths of 25m (ie 5 sets of 150m). For swimming I'd recommend a 500m warm up (20 lengths). Swim this slow as you like, try to relax, focus on the breathing. You should be breathing every other stroke (not every single stroke) and you should work up to breathing every third stroke. Next I would do a skill drill; in this case start with the basics - kicking & pulling. You should do 2 sets of 4 lengths kicking: use a board or just stretch your arms out ahead. - 2 x 100m After that do 2 sets of 4 lengths pulling: use your arms only, no kicking. - 2 x 100m For the main body of your workout, I recommend 4 sets of 8 lengths of normal front crawl - 4 x 200m This will increase your total distance by 200m in the short term, which shouldn't be too much. Later on you'll want to add a little more distance; even doubling the length of each set. I'll try to describe technique as best as I can: Remember to roll your body as you swim. When your right arm is cutting through the water, your right shoulder should be down, left shoulder up - even your hips will rotate some. Don't let your pulling arm cross over the centerline of your body when it's dragging you through the water - they should extend relatively straight down, not across your body. Your bent elbows need to come up high when they are out of the water. Pick a side and breathe when that arm is out of the water - if your whole body is rolling properly, it will be easier to breathe.
I agree as far as strength and conditioning is concerned, but it does keep the body (including the core) very flexible and that's worth something as well IMO.
I wouldn't say "advanced" but unless it comes naturally, you'll need some education on how to do it. I don't think breaststroke will do as much for your cardiovascular as freestyle or butterfly. If you can do butterfly, I recommend it - single lengths can take a lot out of you.
Because im doing triathlon the Triathlon coach said that as a beginner swimmer i should only concentrate on front crawl because its the fastest stroke,However doing the same stroke over 70 lengths isnt good for u is it?
It's not that big a deal. On my competitive swim team we'd have at least 1 or 2 workout days a week doing nothing but front crawl & drills for the front crawl. Our workouts usually averaged 3300m, which is 132 lengths. You don't have anything to worry about. Just make sure you rest when your shoulders are sore & increase distances gradually.