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Getting in Shape
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Swimming Advice

lcsnowflakelcsnowflake member
Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
in Getting in Shape
Hello!  I'm getting married in May and working on really focusing on getting in shape.  I'm training for a triathlon in June so my training overlaps with the wedding.  I'm a runner and therefore a really weak swimmer.  Does anyone have advice on good swimming form?  Especially and kicking advice- I feel like I'm not getting enough out of my leg muscles.

TIA!
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Re: Swimming Advice

  • J&K10910J&K10910 member
    10000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    It's pretty hard to give form advice on the internet.  But if you want a better leg workout you can do just some kicking without your arms.  Either with a kickboard or floating on your back with your arms up in the streamline position (arms above your head hands together one on top of the other).

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  • ekelly83ekelly83 member
    Third Anniversary 10 Comments
    Google swim workouts, a lot of times you have to be a member of the USA swimm association, but people do put workouts out there. That is where I find all of my swim practice workouts.
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  • missfararmissfarar
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2010
    If you want a leg workout, definitely use the kickboard or streamline. Another thing you can do is tread water (you can do a bicycle motion with your legs and hold a buoy in the air, you can also practice your kick for breaststroke this way), about 15 minutes of this and you'll definitely be feeling it.

    I haven't swam competitively in about 6 years, but I do remember our warm-up routine was to swim  with fins:10 50's on a 1 minute interval (holding breath at least half-way through the first 25m), then 10 more 50's on a minute interval holding your breath until after the flip-turn. This really gets you warmed up and ready for a great workout.

    As far as working on your form, check out this link for freestyle drills: http://swimming.about.com/cs/techniquetips/a/Freestyl_Drills_2.htm

    Good luck!
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  • AllyR75AllyR75
    100 Comments
    i think the best way would just be to not use your arms...use kickboards or hold onto the wall and kick.
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  • LisaChris2011LisaChris2011 member
    100 Comments
    I also do triathlons and I took your post as a means of what to do to prepare for the tri.  I am not a good swimmer either, and really, a Masters swimming class is the best way to go.  It'll teach you crucial fundamentals for swim technique.  Before, I thought "I knew" how to swim, but really, not the kind where I needed to swim without stopping for a half mile!  My arms got super toned that way too.  And as far as your legs are concerned, when you kick in swimming you are moving from your hips, not your feet or legs actually.  Go to a Masters swimming class.  You will NOT regret it!  Good luck fellow triathlete!
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