Hello again Fitness for Mommies readers! This is my third guest blogging installment about training for my first Triathlon in September. I’m going to ask for some help in this one – so please read to the end!
Things are going OK. With the blessing of my orthopedist I am training through my Achilles issue. I’m continuing with physical therapy twice a week and doing a lot of stretching work at home. My doctor actually said that being sedentary is worse than continuing to exercise because it’s tightness that causes the pain and soreness. The thing that really makes it feel good is massage (especially calf massage). My husband isn’t big on foot massages, so in addition to PT, I go to the local nail salon every once and awhile and ask for this one Korean guy with huge biceps and pay for ‘extra massage”. The fact that he looks at my toes like he wants to eat them only freaks me out a little bit. He knows his way around the trotters.
Cycling is going great. I’m feeling more and more comfortable on the bike outside. I’m going to Oregon in a few days for a long visit and I’m having my bike shipped as I type. I can’t wait to ride where there are bike lanes! Not to mention motorists who for most part share the road and respect cyclists. What a concept. I have lots of friends who ride, and my dad (who ironically tried to get me on a bike for YEARS to no avail) as potential ride buddies. As far as the cycling part of the tri goes, I feel like I could do it in my sleep.
Running is fine. Not great, not horrible. I’m being very conservative with the running because it seems to be the biggest aggravator of the Achilles soreness. I have been doing a BRICK a week where I cycle for 45 minutes to an hour and then run and it actually feels pretty good. Running doesn’t freak me out because I’ve run team relays (slow as molasses) before and I know that I can dig in and do it. Not to mention the fact there’s no water involved.
Swimming. Oy vey. I just don’t know what to say here. I’m still taking lessons and do feel like I’m learning a lot. Coach Ivan has called me “pathetic” and “lazy” and asks me things like “why do you want to be like an old person?” This all stems from my apparent inability to maintain a streamline in the water. I’m working on it, but the bottom line is I still can’t put more than two lengths of freestyle together without stopping. I have to do 18. I’m going to swim at least every other day on my trip, but by the end of August, I need to know what my plan is to get through the swim, whatever that may look like. I told my husband this and he quoted Mike Tyson: “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.” Thanks honey.
So here are my questions for you sage FFM readers:
1. Have you done multiple strokes in a triathlon and what seemed to work best for you?
2. Was there anything that caused you to have a swimming breakthrough?
3. What’s your number one tip for swimming freestyle?
4. Do you have any tips for improving breathing in freestyle? (I never feel like I have enough air and I panic.)
5. Any tips on just plain “getting through” the swim?
I appreciate any and all feedback! I am still determined to improve my freestyle!
NEVER SURRENDER!
MamaLikes other triathlon posts:
7 responses so far ↓
1 christy // Aug 3, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I’m so proud of you! And still so thankful I saw your first guest post – as you know, it inspired me to sign up for my first tri this sept too.
Swimming is my strong suit, so here goes:
Remember to breathe out as soon as you go under during freestyle.
Remember to use your legs – they’re stronger than your arms and can really help propel you forward.
I think it’s easiest to switch from free to backstroke — AND you get to breathe nonstop during back – so try working on that.
You CAN stop and doggie paddle if you need to.
GOOD LUCK!!!
.-= christy´s last blog ..Birthday girl =-.
2 feener // Aug 3, 2009 at 6:55 pm
i am currently training for the danskin sprint tri, i have done several ocean swims as well as teh pool. the biggest tip i got when i started swimming in pool was to NOT rush. to concentrate and relax, almost like yoga breathing. that totally helped me, after i got the breathing i moved to working on my stroke. i was gasping as well, and instead i now take a breath and simply breath out while head is in the water, it reminded me of scuba diving when i had to learn to take the regulator out of my mouth i would blow a huge amount of air out and feel like i was out of breath someone said, don’t blow out, make the ssssssss sound and that made it click for me. during my ocean swims i do freestyle but i always have to stop and check where iam and relax, i do the breast at that point. good luck
.-= feener´s last blog ..Fits =-.
3 ttfn300 // Aug 3, 2009 at 9:06 pm
sounds like you’re doing well with your training! the swim isn’t my strong suit, but christy seems to know what she’s talking about
i agree about the breathing, when I started doing that it helped!
.-= ttfn300´s last blog ..SheROX Danskin NE 2009 =-.
4 Amy // Aug 3, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Just want to say “way to go!” and you are brave and awesome to do the tri. I feel exactly the same way about swimming…for me, the anxiety about all those things you mentioned was pretty bad too, so I booked a few 30 min. private sessions with an instructor. Good for the confidence, but like anything, you have to practice the skills you learn (sigh.) : )
But you are an inspiration! Please keep us posted.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Week 4: Rosey’s Fitness Journey =-.
5 Sheila // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:43 pm
This my be a long reply, but you asked specific questions, so…
As a preface, I have found swimming to be the hardest of the 3 triathlon disciplines to conquer and feel comfortable with. I do not profess to be good at swimming. But I am learning to feel comfortable with it and in control.
1. Yes, I did multiple strokes in my 1 triathlon so far. I’m doing my next one this weekend. Because I was NOT comfortable in my first triathlon swim (quite the opposite) I did a lot of backstroke, elementary backstroke, and just plain floating on my back. I was mad at myself for this and for not doing freestyle, but frankly I was in a panic and it was the best I could do at the time. In the meantime, I’ve been doing lots of open water swims with a triathlon club that I have joined and I am going into this weekend’s triathlon feeling much more confident. (My tri was a lake swim.) It sounds like you will be doing a pool swim for your tri? So you won’t have to deal with overcoming the differences of an OWS (Open Water Swim).
2. My breakthroughs have probably come from a few things. (a) this website:
http://ruthkazez.com/swimming.html
I used here “Swimming a mile in 6 weeks” plan on my own before I took a swimming class at the local CC. (b) Swim class at local CC. (c) practice, practice, practice. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
3. Read something about the “Total Immersion Swimming” and learn to put your head into a straight line with the rest of your body and then roll side to side. I got one of his books from the library and read it. It helped me.
4. Make sure to blow out under water, keep face down in the water in straight line and roll to the side to breath. When your face rolls to the side take a big breath. Try to breathe on both sides. That way, if you want to, you can take a breath every stroke. I usually try to do every 3 strokes.
5. To just “get through” the swim, give yourself permission to not be perfect, to float on your back and rest and take some calming breaths if you need to. If you don’t do it all freestyle, so what!
Good luck!
6 Karyna // Jul 19, 2012 at 7:35 am
I have been swimming for 20
7 Karyna // Jul 19, 2012 at 7:39 am
I have swimming for 20 years now. You can try to alternate with frog style after you get tired. Also, practice your turns as you can gain precios seconds by making an effective turn and keeping a little longer under water after kicking the wall to propel yourself.
You are amazing for tainning so much and an inspiration. Best of luck!,,
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