Hey Guys
Your new swim coaches had a preliminary meeting today to discuss some directions we would like to take the team in this year, but we would also really like to hear from you all. Post here or let us know of anything Kosuke or other coaches have done in the past that you really liked (specific sets, drills or general ways of coaching). You can also let us know of anything you disliked or things you want to change.
Thanks!
I'll begin by saying you all did a good job tonight. I am tired and probably will be sore tomorrow. But it was encouraging to make it through. Here are some scattered thoughts.
As an extremely novice swimmer I think there needs to be a focus (for those who need it) on drastically improving swim stroke mechanics. From the limited stuff I've read, this seems the best way to become faster without having to expend a ton more energy. Last semester with Kosuke we did work on stroke, but Kosuke was only one person. With more people willing to help out I think its possible to make stroke a real focus at the beginning of each practice (again, for those who need it). Also, I personally suck at kicking and really don't use my legs...I think using them some might help...so i'd like to learn that.
I think we way practices were divided up into distance tempo, strength, and recovery/drill seemed fine. However, any way you all feel like dividing up the week would be ok i'd imagine since you all have lots of swimming experience.
In general i'd like to learn to become a SWIMMER rather than a triathlete who just manages to complete the swim and then tries to catch up during the other legs. in other words, remove swimming as a liability. Along these lines I'd also be up for learning some other strokes maybe as part of cool down like we did today or perhaps occasionally just for fun (learning a dolphin kick would be nice). It just keeps things interesting. That's all i can think of for now.
I would like to learn more about triathlon-specific swimming, and what methods there are for swimming in a triathlon that differ from standard competitive swimming. I know that I just kind of go all out in a triathlon, but I'm sure the pros and coaches have in mind a more tri-geared swimming technique.
Also, open water swim practices at a lake somewhere for the practice would be nice...
thanks
-Neil
(505) 385-3901
i didn't make it to tonight's practice (physics bites!) but tuesday's practice was awesome! just the right difficulty, enough to challenge me but not too hard to discourage.. and man was i exaughsted!
stroke work is important for everyone and i think that we should do some sort of drill set (however short) at each practice.
i'm also a fan of sets of 100-200 on time intervals, it's a good way to keep pushing yourself and to see how consistant you are.
we need the team to get just as excited about swim practice as they seem to be about the bike and run.
I agree with Matt. It would be great to have part of each workout (or one entire workout per week) to focus on mechanics and not just endurance!
Also, last semester it was great when Kosuke hung out after the meeting (and core workouts, which I would like to have more of!) to help those who wanted to get extra swim coaching. I might be alone in this...but it's hard for me to get to the rec in the evenings. When we're already there for the meeting, it is a little easier to stay after. Also, I would suggest Monday for stroke mechanics work because it is supposed to be a recovery day.
Along those lines, I would also like a morning swim workout...but I am probably in the minority there. BUT swimming at 6 am means no crowd, no sunburn, and still easy to get to class at 8. Plus swimming in the steam in the winter is pretty cool :)
You aren't alone Matt. I think us old fogies have a lot of trouble making it to campus at 7 pm (or staying around campus until 7 pm which is what I would have to do...). That is pretty much why I have never come to swim practice in the last 3 years.
The swim practice on Sunday with Kyle and on Wednesday was good, except that I am out of shape. I am excited to have so many good swim coaches.
From my past experience of being a two-year Blue grouper (hurray I finally moved up to white), I think that the range of beginning swimmers is really hard to address. There are the "I never swam before group" and the "I'm just slow but know what I'm doing group."
When Jimmy was coach, the blue group workouts were so difficult I could not finish them. Then last year before Kosuke, I was still swimming within the blue group speed (over 2 min. per 100 was the cut-off), but the workouts were way too easy. There is almost a light blue-group that forms between blue and white. Last year, most of us who were still slow just did the White work-out, but it took us longer.
Kosuke was really good about picking out those people that didn't quite fit into any of the workouts and tailoring things to each swimmer. He had me do drills like having someone swim behind me holding onto my legs so I could feel my pull. I hope flexible and personalized workouts, especially for the people not quite in a category (White is a very vague group) will stay in the workouts. I think it will because now there will be four coaches.
Thanks for being our new coaches!
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