Newbie Swimming journal...week 3

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish out of
water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is slowly
coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my swimming
training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely no swimming
experience whatsoever. I did the masters program in twice
in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke clinic in week 2, and
then took a private lesson today, and then went out and
swam laps for 45 minutes later in the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my legs
and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through using
my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying to
focus on all of these things at once and not getting a
good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to do a masters
program (that will be tomorrow), but figured my form and
technique needed to be a focus earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head. And then I hit the pool later and its made
SUCH a difference. By focusing on pressing the T, keeping
my head down, slowing my kicking, the breathing tends to
take care of itself. I was able to swim 4-6 lengths and
not only not feel like I was going to have a heart attack,
but could continue on. At some point, I still need to rest
or my form goes out the window BUT at least I am now
cognizant of what I am doing wrong. Lifting my head seems
to be the start of many of my problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to build
up longevity. I've got my masters program tomorrow, and
then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16 lengths without
stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm going
to do laps afterwards and then my masters program on
tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my swimming base up to 16
lengths, I can start timing myself and counting my
strokes/kicks. I'm going to try and run 3 days a week and
bike 2x a week after next week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3 small
children...but the training aspect does have an addictive
quality about it. I'm also playing volleyball and tennis
outside of the tri stuff...so trying to make sure I
balance everything with work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from people
in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total Immersion and
that should be arriving this week as well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

Sounds like great progress. You're doing all the right
things, just be patient with yourself and stick to the
drills and coach's advice.

Happy training!

Tom

I was in a very similar boat to yours. I was 28 and
attempting to teach myself how to swim (I didn't figure the
doggie paddle would work well over a
2.4 mile course).

I found the Total Immersion book invaluable. "Tom Henderson"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish out
of water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is slowly
coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my
swimming training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely no
swimming experience whatsoever. I did the masters
program in twice in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke
clinic in week 2, and then took a private lesson today,
and then went out and swam laps for 45 minutes later in
the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my legs
and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through
using my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying to
focus on all of these things at once and not getting a
good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to do a masters
program (that will be tomorrow), but figured my form and
technique needed to be a focus earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head. And then I hit the pool later and its made
SUCH a difference. By focusing on pressing the T,
keeping my head down, slowing my kicking, the breathing
tends to take care of itself. I was able to swim 4-6
lengths and not only not feel like I was going to have a
heart attack, but could continue on. At some point, I
still need to rest or my form goes out the window BUT at
least I am now cognizant of what I am doing wrong.
Lifting my head seems to be the start of many of my
problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to
build up longevity. I've got my masters program
tomorrow, and then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16
lengths without stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm
going to do laps afterwards and then my masters program
on tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my swimming base up
to 16 lengths, I can start timing myself and counting my
strokes/kicks. I'm going to try and run 3 days a week
and bike 2x a week after next week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3 small
children...but the training aspect does have an
addictive quality about it. I'm also playing volleyball
and tennis outside of the tri stuff...so trying to make
sure I balance everything with work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from
people in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total
Immersion and that should be arriving this week as
well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

Sounds like great progress. You're doing all the right
things, just be patient with yourself and stick to the
drills and coach's advice.

Happy training!

Tom

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)

Quoted message said:

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head.

I love that moment when swimmers get that it's much easier
to pull yourself with your delts, lats, obliques and rest of
your trunk then with the small bicep muscles. Sounds like
your coaches/teachers are getting to the most important
matters first.

And then I

Quoted message said:

hit the pool later and its made SUCH a difference. By
focusing on pressing the T, keeping my head down, slowing
my kicking, the breathing tends to take care of itself.

Water line between your goggles and the middle of your
forehead for speed and between the middle of your forehead
and your cap line for distance. Distance should be a nice
soft neck position without too much strain. No higher - no
lower. Sounds like more really solid advice and focus from
your coaches/teachers. As your upper body becomes stronger
(especially the traps & delts) you'll be able to hold your
head at the "speed" position for longer and longer. That's
why many swimmers are built like football players...

I was able to swim 4-6

Quoted message said:

lengths and not only not feel like I was going to have a
heart attack, but could continue on. At some point, I
still need to rest or my form goes out the window BUT at
least I am now cognizant of what I am doing wrong.

Quoted message said:

Lifting my head seems to be the start of many of my
problems.

Yep...if people tried to run in the positions they yank
their necks into to swim...

Bad head position is the swimming equivalent to landing on
your heels. It takes some conscious effort to correct it and
most folks don't until they have other problems. It also
sets your alignment off for everything else and makes you
far more inefficient.

Quoted message said:

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to build
up longevity. I've got my masters program tomorrow, and
then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16 lengths without
stopping and time myself.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

Keep on rocking it. Your plan sounds great and you seem to
really be progressing!

Patience does seem like the key word here. I felt REALLY
good in the pool when I was doing laps on Thursday - felt
like I could put 4-5 laps together - could feel the
difference when I kept my head down (began to get the hint
of what I read about when someone feels like they're
swimming downhill...) but when I went out to swim in the
masters program this morning, I felt like I took a step
backwards.

My left stroke is clearly weaker and its causing me to drop
my arms, which causes me to lift my head, which causes my
legs to drop. But at least I can sense what i'm doing when
everything is going to pot.

When I first jump in, my first 3-4 lengths feel strong, good
timing, breathing every 3 strokes, pressing the t as they
say. And then i start swallowing water, which causes me to
rush my strokes, drop my head, etc...

lol, maybe i'll just use the breaststroke for the 400 yard
swim! I'll head back into the pool tomorrow and see if I
can't tweak my stroke some more. I watch some of the
guys/gals swimming at masters in the fast lane and it
looks like they're gliding across the water, keeping their
hips high in the water...I'm sure it must be painful to
watch me swim! 😉

Always the optimist...better days ahead i'm sure.

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish out
of water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is slowly
coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my
swimming training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely no
swimming experience whatsoever. I did the masters
program in twice in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke
clinic in week 2, and then took a private lesson today,
and then went out and swam laps for 45 minutes later in
the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my legs
and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through
using my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying to
focus on all of these things at once and not getting a
good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to do a masters
program (that will be tomorrow), but figured my form and
technique needed to be a focus earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head. And then I hit the pool later and its made
SUCH a difference. By focusing on pressing the T,
keeping my head down, slowing my kicking, the breathing
tends to take care of itself. I was able to swim 4-6
lengths and not only not feel like I was going to have a
heart attack, but could continue on. At some point, I
still need to rest or my form goes out the window BUT at
least I am now cognizant of what I am doing wrong.
Lifting my head seems to be the start of many of my
problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to
build up longevity. I've got my masters program
tomorrow, and then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16
lengths without stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm
going to do laps afterwards and then my masters program
on tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my swimming base up
to 16 lengths, I can start timing myself and counting my
strokes/kicks. I'm going to try and run 3 days a week
and bike 2x a week after next week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3 small
children...but the training aspect does have an
addictive quality about it. I'm also playing volleyball
and tennis outside of the tri stuff...so trying to make
sure I balance everything with work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from
people in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total
Immersion and that should be arriving this week as
well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

Sounds like great progress. You're doing all the right
things, just be patient with yourself and stick to the
drills and coach's advice.

Happy training!

Tom

thanks for the journal! i'm getting back in the water too-
after not much swimming my whole life. just swan last night
for the first time in about 10 years-could do 100m but then
was breathing pretty hard. i'll try using the advice u got
next time. i'll be doing the tri for fun in pleasanton in
august. i need to start swimming a lot though. i've been
biking for the past couple of years so that shouldn't be as
bad. running-well, i need a little work there too but
swimming is the first thing on the list. have fun training!

"FFBSensei" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish out of
water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is slowly
coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my swimming
training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely no swimming
experience whatsoever. I did the masters program in twice
in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke clinic in week 2, and
then took a private lesson today, and then went out and
swam laps for 45 minutes later in the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my legs
and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through using
my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying to
focus on all of these things at once and not getting a
good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to do a masters
program (that will be tomorrow), but figured my form and
technique needed to be a focus earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head. And then I hit the pool later and its made
SUCH a difference. By focusing on pressing the T, keeping
my head down, slowing my kicking, the breathing tends to
take care of itself. I was able to swim 4-6 lengths and
not only not feel like I was going to have a heart attack,
but could continue on. At some point, I still need to rest
or my form goes out the window BUT at least I am now
cognizant of what I am doing wrong. Lifting my head seems
to be the start of many of my problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to build
up longevity. I've got my masters program tomorrow, and
then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16 lengths without
stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm going
to do laps afterwards and then my masters program on
tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my swimming base up to 16
lengths, I can start timing myself and counting my
strokes/kicks. I'm going to try and run 3 days a week and
bike 2x a week after next week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3 small
children...but the training aspect does have an addictive
quality about it. I'm also playing volleyball and tennis
outside of the tri stuff...so trying to make sure I
balance everything with work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from people
in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total Immersion and
that should be arriving this week as well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Patience does seem like the key word here. I felt REALLY
good in the

<snip>

Quoted message said:

some more. I watch some of the guys/gals swimming at
masters in the fast lane and it looks like they're gliding
across the water, keeping their hips high in the
water...I'm sure it must be painful to watch me swim! 😉

Always the optimist...better days ahead i'm sure.

Doing butterfly kick with a kickboard is a great way to
learn hip position. When doing fly kick, your hips should
be the motion (not your legs). You should feel a breeze on
your behind because your hips are completely out of the
water on the upward motion/beginning of each kick. Do a
length w/ a kickboard on your stomach and then work those
abs by doing a length on your back (no kickboard - arms
superman style/streamline position ahead of you). Do a
couple of 50s this way.

Are you working on bilateral (both side) breathing? This may
help with some of the weak side breathing.

Or even better, when you first start swimming swim on your
weak side. Swim your first 25 with the slowest, limp armed,
no kick stroke you can put together. With each 25 improve
something about your swim (head position, arm power, body
rotation) as your muscles warm up. After 3 or 4 lengths go
to breathing on both sides (which will allow you to
incorporate your strong side as well). By the end of 6
lengths, you should feel like your form is the best, instead
of falling apart.

It's kind of like that really dumb bouncy running feeling I
get for the first 10 minutes of a run until I'm warmed up.
Once I'm warm I settle down into a good, smooth position but
that warm up is a time to focus on what I need to do to have
good form for my run.

Keep us updated! ~b

Quoted message said:

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:<Xns9504DA72C2466TomH4thBellSouthnet@216-
.77.188.18>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish
out of water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is
slowly coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my
swimming training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely
no swimming experience whatsoever. I did the masters
program in twice in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke
clinic in week 2, and then took a private lesson
today, and then went out and swam laps for 45 minutes
later in the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my
legs and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through
using my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying
to focus on all of these things at once and not
getting a good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to
do a masters program (that will be tomorrow), but
figured my form and technique needed to be a focus
earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk
rotation and my head. And then I hit the pool later
and its made SUCH a difference. By focusing on
pressing the T, keeping my head down, slowing my
kicking, the breathing tends to take care of itself. I
was able to swim 4-6 lengths and not only not feel
like I was going to have a heart attack, but could
continue on. At some point, I still need to rest or my
form goes out the window BUT at least I am now
cognizant of what I am doing wrong. Lifting my head
seems to be the start of many of my problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths
in 1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue
to build up longevity. I've got my masters program
tomorrow, and then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16
lengths without stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm
going to do laps afterwards and then my masters
program on tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my
swimming base up to 16 lengths, I can start timing
myself and counting my strokes/kicks. I'm going to try
and run 3 days a week and bike 2x a week after next
week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3
small children...but the training aspect does have an
addictive quality about it. I'm also playing
volleyball and tennis outside of the tri stuff...so
trying to make sure I balance everything with
work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from
people in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total
Immersion and that should be arriving this week as
well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

Sounds like great progress. You're doing all the right
things, just be patient with yourself and stick to the
drills and coach's advice.

Happy training!

Tom

"serg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

thanks for the journal! i'm getting back in the water too-
after not much swimming my whole life. just swan last
night for the first time in about 10 years-could do 100m
but then was breathing pretty hard. i'll try using the
advice u got next time. i'll be doing the tri for fun in
pleasanton in august. i need to start swimming a lot
though. i've been biking for the past couple of years so
that shouldn't be as bad. running-well, i need a little
work there too but swimming is the first thing on the
list. have fun training!

"FFBSensei" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish out
of water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is slowly
coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my
swimming training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely no
swimming experience whatsoever. I did the masters
program in twice in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke
clinic in week 2, and then took a private lesson today,
and then went out and swam laps for 45 minutes later in
the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my legs
and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through
using my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying to
focus on all of these things at once and not getting a
good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to do a masters
program (that will be tomorrow), but figured my form and
technique needed to be a focus earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk rotation
and my head. And then I hit the pool later and its made
SUCH a difference. By focusing on pressing the T,
keeping my head down, slowing my kicking, the breathing
tends to take care of itself. I was able to swim 4-6
lengths and not only not feel like I was going to have a
heart attack, but could continue on. At some point, I
still need to rest or my form goes out the window BUT at
least I am now cognizant of what I am doing wrong.
Lifting my head seems to be the start of many of my
problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths in
1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue to
build up longevity. I've got my masters program
tomorrow, and then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16
lengths without stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm
going to do laps afterwards and then my masters program
on tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my swimming base up
to 16 lengths, I can start timing myself and counting my
strokes/kicks. I'm going to try and run 3 days a week
and bike 2x a week after next week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3 small
children...but the training aspect does have an
addictive quality about it. I'm also playing volleyball
and tennis outside of the tri stuff...so trying to make
sure I balance everything with work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from
people in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total
Immersion and that should be arriving this week as
well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

\

What is "pressing the T"?

Greg

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"serg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thanks for the journal! i'm getting back in the water
too-after not much swimming my whole life. just swan
last night for the first time in

about 10

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

years-could do 100m but then was breathing pretty hard.
i'll try using

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

advice u got next time. i'll be doing the tri for fun in
pleasanton in august. i need to start swimming a lot
though. i've been biking for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

past couple of years so that shouldn't be as bad. running-
well, i need

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

little work there too but swimming is the first thing on
the list. have

fun

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

training!

"FFBSensei" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, after splashing around like the proverbial fish
out of water...the coaching,reading, and teaching is
slowly coming together.

As a refresher for the uninitiated, I started my
swimming training about 2-3 weeks ago with absolutely
no swimming experience whatsoever. I did the masters
program in twice in week 1, once in week 2, a stroke
clinic in week 2, and then took a private lesson
today, and then went out and swam laps for 45 minutes
later in the afternoon.

I was able to go 2-3 lengths before I felt like I was
going to have a heart attack. Some of my bad habits:

1) no trunk rotation (all arms)
2) swimming like a barge rather than a fish
3) not breathing correctly
4) Keeping my head WAY out of the water (causing my
legs and body to drag)
5) Weak rotation on my left (non-dominant side)
6) And when i was rotating my trunk, my feet were not
rotating
7) Not pressing the T nor snapping the hands through
using my shoulders and the rest of my body.
8) Kicking way too fast

Week two was a bit discouraging because I was trying
to focus on all of these things at once and not
getting a good sense of timing. Week 3 I have yet to
do a masters program (that will be tomorrow), but
figured my form and technique needed to be a focus
earlier.

After my private lesson and doing some drills with the
instructor, helped to remind me about the trunk
rotation and my head. And then I hit the pool later
and its made SUCH a difference. By focusing on
pressing the T, keeping my head down, slowing my
kicking, the breathing tends to take care of itself. I
was able to swim 4-6 lengths and not only not feel
like I was going to have a heart attack, but could
continue on. At some point, I still need to rest or my
form goes out the window BUT at least I am now
cognizant of what I am doing wrong. Lifting my head
seems to be the start of many of my problems.

I did one timed lap and I was able to do two lengths
in 1:29. I'm going to try and slow down and continue
to build up longevity. I've got my masters program
tomorrow, and then Friday, I'm going to try and do 16
lengths without stopping and time myself.

Next week, I'm scheduled for 3 lessons and then, I'm
going to do laps afterwards and then my masters
program on tuesday/thursday. Once I can get my
swimming base up to 16 lengths, I can start timing
myself and counting my strokes/kicks. I'm going to try
and run 3 days a week and bike 2x a week after next
week.

Its hard to try and find time to train with the 3
small children...but the training aspect does have an
addictive quality about it. I'm also playing
volleyball and tennis outside of the tri stuff...so
trying to make sure I balance everything with
work/family life.

I've appreciated all of the support and advice from
people in the newsgroup. I ordered the book Total
Immersion and that should be arriving this week as
well...

Seize the day...onward and upward!

sensei (aka newbie)

\

What is "pressing the T"?

After you let the T-bags steep. You press them to get that
last little bit of T out of them.

a.

Hi Greg,

Well seeing as i have all of 3 weeks of swimming
experience... 😉

One of my biggest (and from what I read, others new to
swimming as well) bad habits is swimming out of "balance".

When I first started to swim, I swam with my head up...which
caused my legs to drop...so I was swimming with my body at
an angle (head bobbing on the surface...feet trailing at an
angle under the water). This is a terribly inefficient way
to position to body since the body is dragging across the
water (vertically through the water if you will).

In reading, Total Immersion, and in listening to my
coaches/swim instructors...the ideal is to be balanced in
the water...with your head down in the water...your legs
can then rise to the top of the water (thus achieving
balance). One of the methods for remembering this is called
"pressing the T".

Think of one axis as going through the top of your head and
through your toes...the other axis is across your shoulder.
These two lines make up a T.

One of the exercises is to have a friend put their elbow on
your sternum and their wrist on your chin. You should then
try to push your sternum and chin against your friend's
forearm/wrist so that there is even pressure. You should get
the sensation of leaning forward with the top half of your
body/head. Try to remember that sensation, which is called
"pressing the T". The goal is to press the T during your
freestyle...which will result in a more efficient stroke,
and less effort. You should be able to lower your stroke
count, glide during the recovery (since you aren't dragging
your body vertically) and achieve a more fish-like shape,
rather than a barge.

I still forget to do it mind you, or i don't do it when I'm
tired...but at least I know the sensation of what it feels
like and can remind myself when i start to feel myself
dragging through the water and swimming inefficiently.

Quoted message said:

\

What is "pressing the T"?

Greg

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote:

much good stuff omitted...

Try to remember that

Quoted message said:

sensation, which is called "pressing the T". The goal is
to press the T during your freestyle...which will result
in a more efficient stroke, and less effort. You should be
able to lower your stroke count, glide during the recovery
(since you aren't dragging your body vertically) and
achieve a more fish-like shape, rather than a barge.

I still forget to do it mind you, or i don't do it when
I'm tired...but at least I know the sensation of what it
feels like and can remind myself when i start to feel
myself dragging through the water and swimming
inefficiently.

i learned to swim in winter of 2002, and i still sometimes
have to work at remembering about this "pressing the T" or
"pressing the buoy" (the term I had learned. generally i'm
pretty good about it, but if i suddenly find i'm slowing
down and working too hard to get not very far, then i'll
assess my body position. and nearly every time, it's a
matter of the body tilting with the legs dragging
downward... even just a little bit. and this slows ya down.

so i just remember the concept you mentioned, and presto!
i'm back to slipping through the water effortlessly.

best of luck in your swimming,

Cam

[email hidden] (FFBSensei) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi Greg,

Well seeing as i have all of 3 weeks of swimming
experience... 😉

One of my biggest (and from what I read, others new to
swimming as well) bad habits is swimming out of "balance".

When I first started to swim, I swam with my head
up...which caused my legs to drop...so I was swimming with
my body at an angle (head bobbing on the surface...feet
trailing at an angle under the water). This is a terribly
inefficient way to position to body since the body is
dragging across the water (vertically through the water if
you will).

In reading, Total Immersion, and in listening to my
coaches/swim instructors...the ideal is to be balanced in
the water...with your head down in the water...your legs
can then rise to the top of the water (thus achieving
balance). One of the methods for remembering this is
called "pressing the T".

Think of one axis as going through the top of your head
and through your toes...the other axis is across your
shoulder. These two lines make up a T.

One of the exercises is to have a friend put their elbow
on your sternum and their wrist on your chin. You should
then try to push your sternum and chin against your
friend's forearm/wrist so that there is even pressure. You
should get the sensation of leaning forward with the top
half of your body/head. Try to remember that sensation,
which is called "pressing the T". The goal is to press the
T during your freestyle...which will result in a more
efficient stroke, and less effort. You should be able to
lower your stroke count, glide during the recovery (since
you aren't dragging your body vertically) and achieve a
more fish-like shape, rather than a barge.

I still forget to do it mind you, or i don't do it when
I'm tired...but at least I know the sensation of what it
feels like and can remind myself when i start to feel
myself dragging through the water and swimming
inefficiently.

Quoted message said:

\

What is "pressing the T"?

Greg

Thanks and good timing. I did a 1/2 Iron last weekend. The
swim was in a lake, no wetsuit, and, in a battle to not be
almost last in the swim, I noticed the guy I was going
stroke for stroke with had his shoulders out of the water.
Later I asked my training partner if I do the same thing,
and she said "Yes". Obvioulsy this guy and I do not press
the T. In salt water, in a wetsuit, I am much more
horizontal, and faster, but I did not know how to achieve
that in a pool. I think part of it is not wanting to be too
far away from oxygen, since I am not very bouyant in fresh
water. I'll work on it this weekend. Thanks.

Greg

While you should be pressing the T, (my coaches tell me)
that you should never be swimming horizontal in the water,
but rather rotating on the long axis. So, chin/sternum
pressing into the water, but your shoulders/legs should be
rotating on that axis...so that your body is sideways
(lengthwise) in the water (like a fish).

Check out Total Immersion, Terry does a MUCH better job of
explaining it and illustrating that point.

Quoted message said:

Thanks and good timing. I did a 1/2 Iron last weekend. The
swim was in a lake, no wetsuit, and, in a battle to not be
almost last in the swim, I noticed the guy I was going
stroke for stroke with had his shoulders out of the water.
Later I asked my training partner if I do the same thing,
and she said "Yes". Obvioulsy this guy and I do not press
the T. In salt water, in a wetsuit, I am much more
horizontal, and faster, but I did not know how to achieve
that in a pool. I think part of it is not wanting to be
too far away from oxygen, since I am not very bouyant in
fresh water. I'll work on it this weekend. Thanks.

Greg