Dear Coach: You
can also buy Ultra Swim shampoo at the Plant Recreation Complex. Another
Swimmer
Dear A. Swimmer: Thanks for the
information!
Dear Coach: Can anyone
recommend a good massage therapist? Swimmer with Back Spasms
Dear S.w.B.Spasms: If anyone has suggestions,
please pass them along!
Dear Coach: I like the
Carleton polyester training suits (new style from last year) as they last a long
time, but I find the neckline quite low. Doesn't that cause extra
drag? Curious Swimmer
Dear C. Swimmer: You are correct that there
will be less drag if the neckline is higher. Note that the new style
Carleton women's suits fit larger than the old style, so you may want to try a
size smaller next time to see if you get a more stream-lined fit.
Dear Coach: Can you please
remind everyone about lane etiquette once again? Frustrated
Swimmer
Dear F. Swimmer: Certainly! When you
train with Masters, it is very important that everyone in the lane swim together
and co-operate so that everyone can enjoy their swim. First, ensure that
your lane follows the correct pace times. Secondly, when you are not
swimming, keep well out of the way of those who are. If you take an
(unauthorized!) break for any reason, join back in with the group without
causing any disruption (i.e. do not start right behind or right in front of
someone). If you get lapped, skip a 50 and join back in. Do not do
your workout independently. If you have any questions about etiquette,
please ask!
Dear Coach: I have trouble
with my breathing when swimming. It never feels like my lungs are fully
inflated. What am I doing wrong? Troubled Breather
Dear T. Breather: Many athletes find
breathing troublesome in swimming. You can only breathe properly and well
if you are relaxed and it's difficult to relax in water. Often when you
feel like breathing in is the problem, it is actually the breathing out that
isn't happening properly. Ensure that you breathe out all the way while
your head is still under the water. That way when you turn your head to
breathe, you can concentrate on breathing in (if you are still breathing out,
you won't be able to spend long enough breathing in). Freestyle pull
drills with a breathing pattern often help with your breathing as they force you
to relax to reach the higher numbers. You may normally try to breathe to
often or not often enough (everyone is different), so experiment with how often
you breathe while swimming and see if that helps. Also, ask your coach to
take a close look at your stroke as there could be technique issues contributing
to the breathing problems.
Dear Coach: Is there some
trick to breathing every 7 (or 9)? I just can't do it! Panting
Swimmer
Dear P. Swimmer: First you need to relax as
much as possible (as that burns less oxygen). Secondly, don't breathe out
until you have only about 3 more strokes until your next breath. For most
breathing out for 3 strokes is the normal exhalation rate. If you tend to
breath out more quickly or slowly, you may need to adjust when you start your
exhalation. And, just a caution on hypoxic breathing. While
breathing patterns up to 9 are reasonable, as is doing short sprints (up to 25m)
with few breaths, it is dangerous to hold your breath for long periods of time
while swimming.
Dear Coach: Have the pool
chemicals changed lately? My skin is suddenly very dry! Itchy
Swimmer
Dear I. Swimmer: The pool chemicals haven't
changed, but the weather has. Now that Fall is definitely here, the air is
very dry. Furnaces also tend to make the air even more dry. Ensure
that you put lots of moisturizer on right after swimming and you might want to
try a humidifier at home to put some moisture back in the air.
Dear Coach: I'm sure you've
covered this before, but I still get confused between descend, negative split
and build. Forgetful Swimmer
Dear F. Swimmer: Descend means each
repeat is swum faster than the one before, e.g. 3x100 d 1->3 means the
first 100 is slowest, the second a bit faster, and the third the fastest.
Build means increase the speed within the repeat, e.g. 3x100 build
means you start out slowly on each 100 and gradually increase your
speed so that you finish each 100 swimming fast (your time for
all three 100s should be about the same). Negative split means
the second half of each repeat is faster than the first, e.g. 3x100
neg sp means that for each 100, the second 50 is faster than the first
one (again your time for all three 100s
should be about the same).
Dear Coach: If I'm swimming
1-arm fly, how many strokes should I do on each side before switching to the
other? A Flyer
Dear A. Flyer: Somewhere between 3 strokes
and 25m on one side and then switch to the
other. (Vary it each time you swim to make it more
interesting.)
Dear Coach: What is a
"bucket turn" and what is a "suicide turn"? Someone mentioned these terms
to me while we were discussing the back to breast turn in an IM. An
IM-er
Dear A. IM-er: Many years ago (pre-1991) it
was required that you touch the wall with your hand on all backstroke
turns. The hand touch had to be done while you were still on your
back. The bucket turn was the first fast backstroke turn developed.
In the bucket turn, you touch the wall with your hand a foot or so below the
water, bring your knees to your chest and spin around on your back
with your feet above the water until your feet hit the wall.
Later the well-named suicide turn (instrumental in the 1991 rule change, as it
is very difficult to judge) was developed. In the suicide turn, you do a
flip turn, but touch your hand to the wall while still on your back (just before
you pass 90 degrees). It is well-named as you have to be very close to the
wall to do it (which is a big dangerous) and the even bigger danger is that of
disqualification due to touching the wall too late. Now these turns are only used in backstroke by old-fashioned
purists. However, as it is still required to touch the wall with your hand
(on your back) on the back to breast turn, these turns are still used in that
context, except that you push off on your front instead of your back. Ask
your coach for a demo! (I recommend the bucket turn over the suicide
turn!)
Private and Semi-Private
Masters Swim Lessons
