FEATURES
How to Suck Less...
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Saturday, 16 February 2013 00:10
By Tim Walton
Something to think about!
Certain patterns and trends seem play out with most swimmers, regardless of their natural swimming ability. Over the course of several hours of lessons/assessments I may see a national caliber athlete, a relative beginner, triathlete or an aspiring age group swimmer. During a lesson, regardless of the swimmers ability it is a near guarantee that I will be able to show a swimmer how to swim significantly faster. Why? The concept is not to show them any magical set, or additional effort, rather pointing out and showing the athlete areas of "how to slow down less" through improved technique. Incredible energy loss from a miss timed kick, indirect hand entry, deceleration in and out of walls, poor alignment, loss of momentum etc, are the key focal points to address. Keeping on track, online, engaged, directed, using basic principles of Balance, Streamline and propulsion are akin to the expression of firing on all cylinders. When you see athletes...
Cold Water Swimming Stuff...
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Friday, 15 February 2013 00:10
8 Ways to Handle Swimming in Cold Water
By Kevin Koskella
For Active.com
I'll be the first to say that I hate the cold. Cold air and especially cold water. During my 14 years of competitive swimming, I never once got used to or enjoyed jumping into a cold pool.
These days, I prefer open water swimming to pool swimming, but refuse to get in our local Pacific Ocean until it gets up around 66 degrees or so. Anything below that and I'm known to turn various shades of purple.
Cold water can not only be unpleasant and draining, it can also be dangerous. Even here in southern California, swimmers have had to be rescued because they couldn't cope with the frigid conditions. It's always best to do your open water swim training with a partner, just in case....
Stuff About Active Recovery...
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Thursday, 14 February 2013 00:10
By Mary Eggers (for Xtri.com)
Often we talk about the training. The getting up early. The pushing through, the fatigue, the soreness. What we don't talk enough about is what brings it all together. The recovery. REST is a four letter word in this society of type triple A athletes, and trust me I am the captain of the club. At the same time REST is critical if we want to build fitness, and get stronger and faster.
There are different kinds of rest. These days the keyword is recovery
