Apologies to Samwise Gamgee for stealing/amending his quote about leaving the Shire with Frodo in "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring".
Six of us ventured to Lake Placid for three days of half-ironman triathlon training June 30-July 2. The weather was always on our minds as rain and thunder were forecast on and off throughout the weekend. We arrived Friday afternoon and before checking into our motel (The Hungry Trout - Wilmington) immediately began swimming in Mirror Lake. Jan was kind enough to kayak while four swam and one went shopping (she is "only" running the 13.1 mile leg as part of a relay team).
It's nice that the town sets up buoys for the IM swim course knowing that hundreds of people come there to train for the full IM or 1/2 IM. It's amazing how far away 800 yards looks across a lake. Many thoughts ran through my head while swimming;
1. I'm glad I have a wetsuit on. (bouyancy)
2. I'm glad Jan is nearby with the kayak.
3. This isn't Canandaigua Lake where I can stand up when swimming the buoys. Mirror Lake is up to 65 feet in depth, though its' average depth is much less. Still, if you get tired, there is no standing.
4. There are fish in this lake. Bass, trout, perch and more. I don't want to see fish, unless it's deep fried and surrounded by cole slaw, fries and buried in tartar sauce with an ubu beer nearby. Hopefully the noise of me swimming is scaring them away.
5. My sighting of buoys is poor. In part this is due to my goggles always fogging over, the buoys being small and me being scared of hitting another swimmer. This causes me to swim further than necessary.
6. Lake Placid, the movie, wasn't based on fact, right? No crocodiles in this lake. Then why do I keep thinking about this possibility while swimming?
7. I hope Joanne, who is holding my wallet, cash and credit cards, isn't going on a major shopping spree while I'm in the water.
8. I'm swimming great! Fifty yards later.. I'm so slow, and back again. But I did get out of the water feeling pretty good, not overly tired. Something about training, maybe it does work?
9. I'm sorry Jan didn't get to swim (threatening clouds/rain moved in just after we finished). But at least she swam the course before (two loops) for her Ironman race a few years ago.
10. I'm really glad the rest of us had the chance to swim the course. My confidence has increased regarding the swim. I won't be fast, but hopefully will be steady and keep my breathing in check.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Showing posts with label Open Water Swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Water Swimming. Show all posts
Monday, July 10, 2017
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Open Water Swimming - Sighting Techniques
This is a short video that explains the concept of sighting during open water swimming.
Jan and I have done a few drills this spring in the pool to work on our sighting. In the past I have been pitiful at sighting and went off course consistently. Professional triathlete Luke Bell explains and demonstrates the correct way to sight in this video.
Jan and I have done a few drills this spring in the pool to work on our sighting. In the past I have been pitiful at sighting and went off course consistently. Professional triathlete Luke Bell explains and demonstrates the correct way to sight in this video.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Glasses
With apologies to those who have had to wear contact lenses or glasses for the majority of their lives, here are the top ten things I hate about the eye doctor.
10. Those drops to dilate my eyes. I don't like things put into my eyes and I don't like not being able to see clearly for the next two hours.
9. The cost. New lenses and/or glasses are ridiculously expensive.
8. My eye doctor is a great guy, he even runs. But you leave his examining room and are led directly to a person who wants to sell lenses and frames. It's like being at Disney World, getting off a ride and having to go through a gift shop before you can leave.
7. Jan driving me home. I'm blinded by the sun and the eye drops and keep thinking she is going to hit other cars. Jan does not appreciate my helpful safe driving tips (slow down, speed up, watch out you're going to hit him!).
6. Picking out frames. No matter what style I choose I'm not going to look as hot as the people in the ads.
5. Contact lenses. I don't wear them and won't. Icky.
4. Corrective eye surgery. My vision problems can't be fixed by this, plus having someone cut or laser my corneas? Not likely.
3. Swimming in a lake. Is it hard to see the buoys because they are small, or because my vision is worse? I'm sure this is why I can't swim in a straight line.
2. I break glasses, a lot. My current reading glasses have bent frames, lenses that are scratched and kind of foggy. Jan thinks I'm worse than a kid, but I can't help it.
1. A visit to the eye doctor is a depressing reminder I am getting old. I grew up with great vision. Until the age of 40+ I could read tiny print, see street signs from a mile away and recognize people hundreds of yards away. Now I wear glasses when I have to drive and see signs, especially at night, wear glasses while watching television and when reading. I don't like it.
10. Those drops to dilate my eyes. I don't like things put into my eyes and I don't like not being able to see clearly for the next two hours.
9. The cost. New lenses and/or glasses are ridiculously expensive.
8. My eye doctor is a great guy, he even runs. But you leave his examining room and are led directly to a person who wants to sell lenses and frames. It's like being at Disney World, getting off a ride and having to go through a gift shop before you can leave.
7. Jan driving me home. I'm blinded by the sun and the eye drops and keep thinking she is going to hit other cars. Jan does not appreciate my helpful safe driving tips (slow down, speed up, watch out you're going to hit him!).
6. Picking out frames. No matter what style I choose I'm not going to look as hot as the people in the ads.
5. Contact lenses. I don't wear them and won't. Icky.
4. Corrective eye surgery. My vision problems can't be fixed by this, plus having someone cut or laser my corneas? Not likely.
3. Swimming in a lake. Is it hard to see the buoys because they are small, or because my vision is worse? I'm sure this is why I can't swim in a straight line.
2. I break glasses, a lot. My current reading glasses have bent frames, lenses that are scratched and kind of foggy. Jan thinks I'm worse than a kid, but I can't help it.
1. A visit to the eye doctor is a depressing reminder I am getting old. I grew up with great vision. Until the age of 40+ I could read tiny print, see street signs from a mile away and recognize people hundreds of yards away. Now I wear glasses when I have to drive and see signs, especially at night, wear glasses while watching television and when reading. I don't like it.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Swimming
A swim club, all teenaged boys and girls, was working out in the three lanes next to Jan and I last night at SUNY Brockport. They seemed to float through the water with smooth strokes, body up, while I beat on it, dragging my legs along.
Since I'm having thoughts of competing in the Shoreline Triathlon in two weeks, seeing if I could swim 1/2 mile, without my buoy for support, seemed like a good idea. Also the 50 meter lanes, instead of the usual 25 yards, was a mental block that I needed to overcome to build some confidence towards swimming in open water.
Of course I timed myself. After three laps I didn't know if I would finish and was worried about how pathetic I looked compared to the kids flying by me. By lap five I decided it didn't matter how I looked and started to relax a bit. After lap six I knew I would finish, but my time would probably be slow. My first lap, as usual, was the "fastest", a 2:28 for 100 meters, overall I averaged 2:42, for a 21 minute 800meter (about 880 yards) total. The kids were doing 100 meters in 1:25! Even with a wetsuit I couldn't come close to that. Last year at Shoreline I raced the 1/2 mile in 16:40, with a wetsuit, or about 2:05 per 100.
Friday - Canandaigua Lake swim, with Jan, Eileen, Lou, Mike and Joanne for support. I can't wait, especially with a stop at McGregor's afterwards.
Since I'm having thoughts of competing in the Shoreline Triathlon in two weeks, seeing if I could swim 1/2 mile, without my buoy for support, seemed like a good idea. Also the 50 meter lanes, instead of the usual 25 yards, was a mental block that I needed to overcome to build some confidence towards swimming in open water.
Of course I timed myself. After three laps I didn't know if I would finish and was worried about how pathetic I looked compared to the kids flying by me. By lap five I decided it didn't matter how I looked and started to relax a bit. After lap six I knew I would finish, but my time would probably be slow. My first lap, as usual, was the "fastest", a 2:28 for 100 meters, overall I averaged 2:42, for a 21 minute 800meter (about 880 yards) total. The kids were doing 100 meters in 1:25! Even with a wetsuit I couldn't come close to that. Last year at Shoreline I raced the 1/2 mile in 16:40, with a wetsuit, or about 2:05 per 100.
Friday - Canandaigua Lake swim, with Jan, Eileen, Lou, Mike and Joanne for support. I can't wait, especially with a stop at McGregor's afterwards.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Open Water Drafting
Several of us will be doing triathlons with open water swimming this summer and can use all the help possible to save energy and swim faster. The following technique is from :Steven Munatones The Daily News of Open Water Swimming
Cyclists, race car drivers and open water swimmers all know the benefits of drafting and positioning.
As swimmers take off in an open water race or triathlon and go from buoy to buoy, they create a conga line with seemingly everyone chasing after the person in front of them. Where ideally should you position yourself?
It helps to know a bit about water movement.
The Ideal Draft
A swimmer in the open water is essentially a displacement vessel. The bow wave created by a swimmer has forward and lateral movement. These waves move at an angle relative to the direction of the swimmer and are based on the swimmer's speed and size.
There are three key facts to keep in mind:
1. The faster the lead swimmer, the better your draft will be with all other things equal.
2. The physically larger the lead swimmer, the more beneficial the draft is for those behind.
3. The closer you are to the lead swimmer, the better your draft.
The Perfect Position
In a fact known by world-class swimmers, drafting between the ankles and hips is more beneficial that drafting directly behind the lead swimmer's feet for various reasons:
1. When the drafting swimmer reaches near mid-body of the lead swimmer, the lead swimmer's wake (i.e., spreading of the bow wave) has moved laterally, so the drafting swimmer can take maximum advantage of the bow wave. That is, the drafting swimmer has reached the center of the complete wave created by the lead swimmer. Basically, the drafting swimmer is surfing a bow wave.
2. The bow wave cannot extend beyond the length of the swimmer who creates it. The bow wave lifts up at the end of the swimmer's body. The most efficient swimming is when a drafting swimmer cruises in that wave. The most efficient drafting is achieved if you cruise at the same speed in the wake of the lead swimmer off to the side—but away from the eddies caused by their kick.
3. In the middle of a race, when the kick of most swimmers is less than the end of the race when they are sprinting, the optimal drafting position is slightly different. At the end of the race when the kick increases, swimmers create swirls by their kick. The more swirls, the more drag. So if your opponent's kick increases, move up higher alongside their body to utilize their bow wave, but far enough away from the swirls and eddies caused by their kick.
4. Combine your speed with the speed of the lead swimmer. If they speed up, you speed up. If they slow down, you slow down. If you are directly behind them, lead swimmers make the water smoother, but you are not efficiently utilizing their bow wave.
5. If you swim alongside a lead swimmer, you do not have to lift your head so often to navigate. This saves energy that can be utilized at the end of the race. If you swim directly behind a swimmer, you must often lift your head to confirm your direction and position behind the lead swimmer.
6. Even if the water is clear and you can easily see the lead swimmer under the surface of the water, your head is in a sub-optimal position. The most optimal head position is when you are looking straight down. This creates a more streamlined and efficient body position, saving you energy and creating less drag.
7. When you swim parallel to the lead swimmer, you can effectively navigate off them when you breathe. The need to lift up your head to sight is significantly reduced and your head is positioned in the most streamlined position.
Cyclists, race car drivers and open water swimmers all know the benefits of drafting and positioning.
As swimmers take off in an open water race or triathlon and go from buoy to buoy, they create a conga line with seemingly everyone chasing after the person in front of them. Where ideally should you position yourself?
It helps to know a bit about water movement.
The Ideal Draft
A swimmer in the open water is essentially a displacement vessel. The bow wave created by a swimmer has forward and lateral movement. These waves move at an angle relative to the direction of the swimmer and are based on the swimmer's speed and size.
There are three key facts to keep in mind:
1. The faster the lead swimmer, the better your draft will be with all other things equal.
2. The physically larger the lead swimmer, the more beneficial the draft is for those behind.
3. The closer you are to the lead swimmer, the better your draft.
The Perfect Position
In a fact known by world-class swimmers, drafting between the ankles and hips is more beneficial that drafting directly behind the lead swimmer's feet for various reasons:
1. When the drafting swimmer reaches near mid-body of the lead swimmer, the lead swimmer's wake (i.e., spreading of the bow wave) has moved laterally, so the drafting swimmer can take maximum advantage of the bow wave. That is, the drafting swimmer has reached the center of the complete wave created by the lead swimmer. Basically, the drafting swimmer is surfing a bow wave.
2. The bow wave cannot extend beyond the length of the swimmer who creates it. The bow wave lifts up at the end of the swimmer's body. The most efficient swimming is when a drafting swimmer cruises in that wave. The most efficient drafting is achieved if you cruise at the same speed in the wake of the lead swimmer off to the side—but away from the eddies caused by their kick.
3. In the middle of a race, when the kick of most swimmers is less than the end of the race when they are sprinting, the optimal drafting position is slightly different. At the end of the race when the kick increases, swimmers create swirls by their kick. The more swirls, the more drag. So if your opponent's kick increases, move up higher alongside their body to utilize their bow wave, but far enough away from the swirls and eddies caused by their kick.
4. Combine your speed with the speed of the lead swimmer. If they speed up, you speed up. If they slow down, you slow down. If you are directly behind them, lead swimmers make the water smoother, but you are not efficiently utilizing their bow wave.
5. If you swim alongside a lead swimmer, you do not have to lift your head so often to navigate. This saves energy that can be utilized at the end of the race. If you swim directly behind a swimmer, you must often lift your head to confirm your direction and position behind the lead swimmer.
6. Even if the water is clear and you can easily see the lead swimmer under the surface of the water, your head is in a sub-optimal position. The most optimal head position is when you are looking straight down. This creates a more streamlined and efficient body position, saving you energy and creating less drag.
7. When you swim parallel to the lead swimmer, you can effectively navigate off them when you breathe. The need to lift up your head to sight is significantly reduced and your head is positioned in the most streamlined position.
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