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I missed a day yesterday for reasons beyond my control, so back to the grindstone today with that same old Swimfit session, made up to 2.5km with front crawl.

Although I’m not apparently getting any faster, I worked more on my breaststroke and backstroke today, specifically thinking about hip position and high elbows in the breaststroke and trying to get my arm movement continuous (no pausing at the end of the pull) in backstroke which is quite tricky, though doing so does seem to build into the desired body rotation. I think I also need to get my arm deeper before starting the pull on the backstroke. At the moment, particularly with my left arm, there’s a loud “gloop” noise after I start the pull as water falls back into the “hole” I’ve just made at the surface. I don’t think that should be happening really. It’s all going to take some time…

Total distance for the month: 17,600m
Total distance for this year: 165,000m
Distance compared to annual target: 21,000m under

Loads of time today, and a deserted pool for a change from last week. I attempted another repeat of “that Swimfit session” and whilst my swimming actually felt better, I was still no faster.

I spent some time trying to slow my backstroke kick down without compromising speed (or rather, without making myself even slower than I already am). It’s tricky, but I definitely expend far less energy and don’t get so out of breath when I get it right. I probably need more arm speed, but one thing at a time 🙂

In my breaststroke I’m trying to concentrate on getting my hips up to improve my streamline, but today that was possibly at the expense of keeping my elbows high in the pull. I’ll need to think about that next time too. I think I also tend to go at the stroke too fast, not because I’m trying to sprint, but because my body seems to naturally fall into quite a fast stroke rate (compared to my front crawl and backstroke, at least). Trying to spend a little more time in the streamline might be helpful.

With my front crawl I experimented with my breathing. Normally I tend to hold my breath until the first pull after my face goes back into the water. I’ve no idea why I do this. It just sort of happened. I do a similar thing in breaststroke actually, holding my breath until the start of the pull and then exhaling through it. Today on front crawl I tried to begin exhaling immediately my face turned back into the water. I’m not sure how this helps, but it seemed to help something, possibly allowing me to maintain a higher stroke rate.

There are other oddities with my strokes too, some of which need work. Swimming front crawl my eyes often become unfocused beyond being aware of the lane line so it’s almost as if I have no visual input other than that at all and I’ve never really thought of it as a problem. In breaststroke however, it seems I close my eyes completely when my head is under the water which does make a slightly more tricky job of swimming in a straight line. I need to get that sorted.

I have to admit that I’m getting a little bored of this session despite the fact that I know all my strokes have improved since I’ve been doing it. Half of me wants to move on and the other half wants to keep doing it because the practice is clearly a benefit to my swimming and probably my coaching too.

After the session I made up the distance to 2,500m with front crawl.

Total distance for the month: 15,100m
Total distance for this year: 162,500m
Distance compared to annual target: 19,500m under

Once again I was late getting to the pool and it was only a short public session anyhow. And not only that. When I got there the pool was absolutely rammed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so busy before. It was like swimming in open water (or at least, what I imagine swimming in open water to be like as I’ve not done it since childhood holidays), the water was so choppy.

So, just 1,900m of front crawl in the time available.

Total distance for the month: 12,600m
Total distance for this year: 160,000m
Distance compared to annual target: 20,000m under

The force certainly wasn’t with me today. Whole pool to myself for most of the session — I could have swum diagonally had I wished to, but it was a real struggle. I attempted that same Swimfit session again:

12 lengths front crawl
8 lengths breaststroke
4 lengths backstroke
1 minute rest
2 x ( 2 lengths each of front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke ) 15 sec rest after each length
8 x ( 1 length each of front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, 30 sec rest )
10 lengths fast front crawl, 30 seconds rest every 2 lengths
8 lengths easy front crawl

My breaststroke still isn’t quick by any stretch of the imagination, but the backstroke is definitely the real killer. I think I might try it with a pull-buoy to see if that helps. Perhaps some kick work would be beneficial too.

Anyhow, eventually I managed to get through it and brought the total distance up to 2.5km with front crawl.

Total distance for the month: 10,700m
Total distance for this year: 158,100m
Distance compared to annual target: 19,900m under

Another rushed swim, so again just 2,500m front crawl in the time available. I felt very sluggish today and a bit sniffly. Hopefully I’m not getting a cold. I want to keep things moving though. It’s all too easy to let a skipped day turn into three or four and suddenly it’s very hard work getting back into things.

Total distance for the month: 8,200m
Total distance for this year: 155,600m
Distance compared to annual target: 20,400m under