The Top 20 Rules for Faster Triathlon Swimming (Page 2)

What changes would you recommend Suzanne? 

I will say that I think the list of rules implies some degree of proficiency in the water already.  It wouldn't work for someone who lacks basic fundamentals.

bryancd - 2012-01-06 10:07 AM

axteraa - 2012-01-06 8:56 AM

What changes would you recommend Suzanne? 

I will say that I think the list of rules implies some degree of proficiency in the water already.  It wouldn't work for someone who lacks basic fundamentals.

Come now, you know the mystification of swimming is a cottage industry!

^^^ Hahaha! classic! and true. Great rules and for the most part spot on.

This comment gives swim snobs a bad name.  There is absolutely nothing about having a "wicked kick" (whatever that means) that will put you in the front, middle or back.  I have a two beat kick and am always top 10 overall swim.  A training pal has a crazy six beat kick and is always top 10 overall, so there you go.  Any good swim coach or high level swimmer will tell you that working exclusively on a six beat kick or a ferocious kick will not guarantee you much at all.

I'd agree these tips are for the most part people with proficiency.  But I think the rules also apply to everyone - or at least it's a mind set that newer swimmers should adopt - get away from thinking it's all about the swim golf score

Just as an aside, maybe it's because school is out, but we have a couple of collegiate water polo players dropping into our masters workouts the last couple of weeks.  Now, polo players aren't necessarily fast, but for triathletes they are.  I can't really hang with the ex USC swimmers or (anonymous name drop) Canadian olympic team swimmer, but these guys are a hair above my comfort level.  Swimming with them this week has been incredible, I feel faster and stronger in the water, because I am getting my butt kicked but hanging with them (you also can't discount the value of a good draft  )

Hanging on to the fast lane makes me do things I wouldn't necessarily do if I am leading (or just swimming in) the middle lane.  This would also be true if I was usually in the slow lane and had to hang on the middle lane.

Nothing makes me swim faster more than swimming faster.

The French guy gave a lot of credit to Lezak's wake riding skills.

AdventureBear - 2012-01-06 1:46 PM

brigby1 - 2012-01-06 12:11 PM

axteraa - 2012-01-06 12:34 PM This is a total cherry pick of everything you wrote but I would be shocked if Jason Lezak said that he won "Because he practiced taking longer strokes at race paces."

The French guy gave a lot of credit to Lezak's wake riding skills.

no doubt there is stragety involved as well...but there was a massive, massive difference between each swimmers 3rd 25 & 4th 25 meters. If wake drafting was the winning strategy, he should have slowed down and let Lezak do the work.

I'm actually just laughing a the French guy's attempt to discredit Lezak. He tried to imply that the only way Lezak was able to swim so fast was to ride the fast wake that he (French guy) was making.  Heard their really team was acting very cocky towards the US guys, so it was nice to see them go down.

Is it?  Not challenging, just asking.  If someone for example is swimming far left against the lane line, wouldn't the swimmer to the left be able to gain a draft by swimming far right against the lane line, in the swimmer's draft?

Or are you saying smart swimmers stay away from the lane lines to prevent that?

Just curious, thanks

Non turbulent lane lines eat up any potential draft and, at some meets, there are double lane lines between lanes.  I guess theoretically there could be some small draft but I have never seen the "slingshot effect" of a draftee.  And, I've never heard a swimmer state they won a race because they drafted and conserved energy prior to the finish.  The fastest swimmers usually are out front and stay out front, even in OW.

Now, there is a noticeable draft impact in the OW but I have yet to use it effectively as it typically causes me to swim someone else's race, which is pretty much the death sentence for a good race.

In this case you are using a poor example here.  Bernard choked, panicked, and tightened up using strokes much shorter and faster than his typical stroke.  I'm not disagreeing with your assertion (nor agreeing with it), but this isn't the best example.

But it did make me go look at it again on Youtube, so for that you get a solid thumbs up. ;-)

BTW - #4 on his list is just evil.

Yeah, that poor guy only had a, what, 44 second split in that race?  Oh, please don't throw me into that briar patch. ;-)

Lots of people with lots of experience choke for a variety of reasons.  (I have no dog in this fight, but experience is no guarantee against panic and choking.)  The world of sport is rife with examples.  Heck, there are top 10 (top 20, top 25) lists of the all time worst 'chokes'.  Some of them are pretty spectacular -- well beyond tightening up in the latter part of a swim race.

I understand Filliol generally coaches accomplished athletes.  But since this is BT, 'thought I would offer a BOP swimmer perspective (2+min/100M for 1500+M):

Generally the 20 rules seem good, but sometimes confusing &/or contradictory of other coaching advice.

#1 & #2- Which drills are good vs bad???  I've found certain drills very helpful, and in fact I'm consistently faster towards end of a session after I do some drills.  And I still find some drills difficult & prob get conditioning benefit from doing 'em. 

#8 Swimming 5+ days/wk consistently is not possible for many of us (personal schedules, pool access, etc.), and swimming hard 5x/wk (at least with good form) is beyond swim fitness capabilities of many.  When I'm feeling beat I think I still get benefit from swimming easy vs not swimming that day.

#11- Obviously he feels band drills useful, however for some of us leg band presents a slight hazard of drowning

#12-  Paddles can increase risk of shoulder probs if used improperly (as many BOPers no doubt do)

#13- Head low is fine, but in choppy OWS don't you do what you must to reach air?

#14- Skipping warm up & cool down seems ill-advised in any sport, esp for older athletes.

#18 vs 19-  ????  Is he rec using swim tools ONLY after becoming fatigued??  I understand using pull buoy when legs are fatigued, but using paddles with fatigued shoulders would seem to invite strain or injury.

#19 seems only rule to suggest that continuing to swim after fatigue sets in could be bad.  The potential to ingrain bad habits when fatigued would seem to be higher in less skilled &/or conditioned swimmers.