Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle

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2010-02-03 4:07 PM


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Subject: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
Am training for my first Half IronMan, and am having trouble getting the freestyle stoke down.  I have switched training to breaststroke as it is much easier.  The problem is the I am experiencing some knee pain due to the kick....any suggestions or help?  

2010-02-04 2:43 PM
in reply to: #2653254

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Master
2010
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Falls Church, VA
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle

I really suggest you take the time to learn freestyle now. Breaststroke will wear you out in a half iron especially if your kick is causing pain.

But to answer your question i'm gonna guess your technique is poor. Make sure you toes are pointed out when you kick, not down. 

2010-02-04 3:33 PM
in reply to: #2653254

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
It might be that your knee is going out to the side when you kick.

I found that if I kick "back" more than "out to the side," my knee doesn't hurt as much. (It still hurts, but not as much.)



2010-02-04 3:38 PM
in reply to: #2653254

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Master
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Rochester, NY
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle

Side stroke

2010-02-05 12:15 PM
in reply to: #2653254

Regular
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WI
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
Besides freestyle being a lot faster than breast stroke, the other HIM participants will appreciate your doing freestyle (or sidestroke). Breast strokers tend to kick quite a few other swimmers because your kick goes out to the side, not just up and down.
2010-02-06 1:34 AM
in reply to: #2653254

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Veteran
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Huntington Beach
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
swim freestyle. its like i am having a hard time running so i decide to crawl on the run course or get a beach cruiser for the bike. if you are going to do it, do it right

2010-02-06 3:00 PM
in reply to: #2653254

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Modesto, California
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
I can swim breastroke fairly fast and used it when I first started doing triathlons, mainly to sight and breath. With Breastroke all of propulsion is from your legs causing fatigue and when when it comes to biking and running you will be that much more tired, with freestyle your propulsion is mainly from your pull allowing to conserve your leg strength with a minimal kick, its such an advantage using freestyle. Freestyle will allow you to swim faster at a more relaxed and efficient effort ,so keep working at it. One of the downsides of breastroke is that its easy to pull a groin muscle or injure a knee from extended kicking, when I train for short course breastoke events I will do very structured and short kicking sets, nothing over 100 yards at a time, to me the risk of injury is too great.
2010-02-06 5:15 PM
in reply to: #2657223

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle

GBarrett - 2010-02-05 12:15 PM Besides freestyle being a lot faster than breast stroke, the other HIM participants will appreciate your doing freestyle (or sidestroke). Breast strokers tend to kick quite a few other swimmers because your kick goes out to the side, not just up and down.

ditto

2010-02-09 8:42 AM
in reply to: #2653254

Extreme Veteran
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Washington
Subject: RE: Breast Stroke VS. Freestyle
Also make sure you aren't kicking from the knee when you are doing freestyle kick.

The power from your kick should come from your hips.  Your knees should do little bending during your kick.
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