Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Please help if you know anything about swimming

I tried online at youtube, I tried the swimming pool and still I am stressing for Sunday for the swimming leg.

I went to Ultra today and I must say, I can at least swim now one length without stopping which is better than the last time. The problem is I will most probably only go once more for swimming.

What am I doing wrong?

  • I try go slow but still get tired
  • Water keeps going into my nose
  • After how many arm strokes must you breath
  • Every now and then I gulge water while breathing

Will it be possible to take breaks during the swim leg? Can you also change from "freestyle" to another style as long as you go forward?

Please HELP, I cant wait for the swim leg to be done so I can try and catch up on the bike and run.... ANY ADVICE?!?

This foreignrunner really feels foreign in the pool. What is some of the slowest times in the swim for I think 950m? Maybe I will feel better as I think it took me 30 minutes to do about 500m. I know you say OOPS but I hope there is advice after the OOPS and if there is, please share it with me or I will look like the crazy white guy in a funny outfit in a swimming pool which looks like he is drowning. If you know the life savers, please tell them if it is a crazy white funny looking guy, he is not drowning, just trying to finnish the swim leg in a funny way.

Either help me or pray for me coming Sunday. If you are joining the tri, meet up with me at the meal so we can laugh together. Untill then, keep fit.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

hi philip!

i'm no expert but i will attempt to answer your concerns:

I try go slow but still get tired
your stroke is inefficient. plus. the first few laps are always the most tiring. once you get the rhythm, plus after those few laps, you should be good to go. you know you're swimming right if you feel tired at first then not at all after

Water keeps going into my nose
wrong head movement is the culprit here. your face shouldn't trod against the water

After how many arm strokes must you breath
Depends on you. i breathe after every two strokes. i breathe on my right so left, breathe, right, left, breathe, right

Every now and then I gulge water while breathing
it happens to the best of us. :) best to avoid this by following a rhythm when you breathe. tilt your face to the side where you're more comfortable breathing, but not too upright

it's hard to explain through text but i hope i made sense!

see you on sunday!

Unknown said...

Hi Marga, thank you for the comment. It will indeed help, I will go and try it tomorrow at Ultra, who knows, maybe we will meet one day at a pool and you can give me a few ropes. I see you are part of happy feet, what is the chances of running the New Balance race as a happy feet runner. I already registered online and I read all your comments there.

Unknown said...

Hmmm I'll register the moment I feel like running. I'm still undecided and my schedule is insanely unpredictable so I'll probably register the week before.

Bro J said...

Hi Philip, I guess i will be on the praying side for you bro! God bless on your TRI event!

Marga was right, it's hard to teach through cyberspace, just relax and try to get a rythm for your strokes and breathing.

Bro J said...

i guess i will be on the praying side for you bro! God bless on your TRI event!

Marga was right. It's hard to teach swimming through cyberspace. Just relax, get your rythm for strokes and breathing and you'll be on your smooth sailing. Have fun!

Anonymous said...

i am not an expert swimmer but you can try to browse on the following:
1) www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid-181
2) www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid-178
3) if you have the money and want to learn from the professionals, check this out---http://www.aqualogicswimco.com/index.html (ask the bullrunner for the details and check her past posts on this)
good luck!

bald runner
www.baldrunner.com

Unknown said...

j running, thanks for the prayers, it is more important than anything. I also need a lot of prayer for my swimming, laging nakakatakot ang swimming sa akin.

Baldrunner, i really enjoyed the story of the lady with her first tri, thank you for now I feel much better and more motivated. I might order a book from them and I have more techniques to go and try this afternoon at Ultra. See you soon.

run unlimited said...

hi TFR,

Don't worry too much, God will never put a good man down. Just keep on kickin' and you will float, he he. Sayang I can't be there, will be running the mountain run at makiling on sunday, ang sarap sana manood sa inyo.

Best of luck..

Unknown said...

I emailed you the number of my TI coach, Nonoy. Hope he can help. But for this coming race I'm sure you'll do well. Yes we can stop and take breaks. I'll pray for you. Pls pray for me too! hahaha

Yes, we have race belts! My friend Mark will drop them off for us on race day around 6am. We just need to pay him P50.

See you sunday :)

Unknown said...

run unltd, thanks for the good wishes. It is the kicking that makes me sink, I look like a UF boat in a bagyo busy sinking dahil sa kicking.

Jaymie, did not get the number, can you please mail it to me at philip@foreignrunner.com. We can at least laugh together after the event that is to say we survive the great ordeal.

Unknown said...

P50 or P500? It does not seem right, talagang mura para sa race belt?!? Pero masajang masaja ako dahil sa bayad. Hanggang Linggo

Unknown said...

Hi Foreignrunner,

I know what you are going through. I reached for the life vest 3x during my first tri at Clearwater last June. You can visit www.triswimcoach.com and get the Essential Triathlon Swimming DVD and The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming PDF format. It really helped me lot since then.

See you tomorrow.

Ps 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Anonymous said...

* I try go slow but still get tired
That means you are not relaxed in executing the strokes.

* Water keeps going into my nose
While swimming, blow some air out of your nose.

* After how many arm strokes must you breath

It's a misconception to breath by two's. Breath in odd sequence, meaning you should breath every 1, 3, 5 or even 7 strokes. That depends on how long you can hold your breath. 1 or 3 is more like it.


* Every now and then I gulge water while breathing

Gulge? Drinking water? Open your mouth when the only instance you are going to get air, if your not, close it.

Hope that helps!

Unknown said...

Arnel, i think i missed you today at the tri but thanks for the great words. I made it!!! I cant believe it and it went well. Struggled a bit with the swim but made it at least will see with the next one. I decided to take some lessons before then.

galwin, thanks for the tips and I tried to use them today but stil lack technique. I will pick it up soon, no doubt.

Anonymous said...

hi fr!

to help you with your swimming skills, try going out of the water and perform your stroke there.

one more thing, visualize. run into your mind what your body should do while doing the swim.

and.. always remember to relax your body while swimming,

i know you can do it!