Starting immediately, all new users must be approved by a moderator (due to spam issues). #sworry
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If you are a pro triathlete, please click here to DM AaronWebstey for access to the 'Pros-only' private forum. Don't forget to include your real name, and a link to pro race result would be great if you're a 1st-year pro.
@Aaron Webstey, the hummer goes to the person who actually does it. Let's up the ante and say that if I go at least 5500SCY, you return the favor.
So many of you wonder why you suck at swimming. If you come from a running background at all, there is a huge likelihood that your kick-timing is such that you are creating hip torque that OPPOSES your hip rotation. This is bad because the stronger your hips rotate (in the same direction as your shoulders), the more power you can apply during the catch.
Look at a video of Sun Yang (doper, but current 1500m WR-holder) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvM3JYC--hM#t=326. Look especially at his left side. At the moment his LEFT hand begins pressing backwards (after he's set up his catch) he DOWN-kicks with his LEFT foot. This down-kick adds torque to the hips, rotating the left hip up (and right hip down). Obviously, you want to roll from your left side to your right while pulling with your left arm.
Now consider the opposite, down-kicking with the right foot while pulling with your left arm. Your body is trying to rotate your LEFT hip UP to support the pulling of the left arm, but the downkick with the right foot is adding torque in the opposite direction (RIGHT hip UP, left hip down). This kick destructively interferes with your hip rotation, weakening net hip torque and results is a loss of power transferred from the hand/arm into the water.
Many runners struggle with this because the mistimed kick is more similar to running. Running is a cross-body movement (R arm/L leg swing forward, then L arm/R leg swing forward), whereas a properly timed stroke is a same-sided movement (R arm pulls as R leg kicks, L arm pulls as L leg kicks). Most runners subconsciously replicate their cross-body movement in the water because that is the most natural way for them to move.
The best drill I've found to teach this is to wear one fin and one paddle (on the same side) while trying to 2-beat kick (one kick per stroke). If you feel a single huge acceleration at the moment you're pressing backward on the catch, you're likely doing it right.
The next question you might have is "Who the hell is this guy and why does he think he knows it all?" My name is Kevin Ryan. I swam at the University of Kentucky from 2006-2010. My PR in the 1000FR is 9:37. I've been racing professionally for two years and I'm in the lead pack or lead out of the water at races. Period. Send me your swim videos and I'll tell you if you're doing it right. kevinmichaelryan@gmail.com
If there is an interest in me putting together a few videos and stills explaining this further and showing a couple drills, I will do that. Just let me know.
@Matt I have a vizsla. They are a pretty incredible breed. Incredibly affectionate, highly trainable, and have more endurance than you or I could ever hope to have.
Mine's name is Copper. His father was a field trial (hunting) national champion and his mother has papers that go back to the mid-1800s, but those beautiful genetics weren't enough to make him any good at actually hunting birds!
He and I run 30-40mpw week together and that's not a problem for him at all. 7:00 is probably a bit too slow for him, as he doesn't even have to shift out of a canter until about 6:45's!! We still run with a leash/waist belt, but we've got some commands down that make me think we can do off-leash here soon.
He's a big cuddle-bug. You will never be on a couch or in bed alone again with a vizsla. He always wants to bury his head and body into me and the blankets. With that being said, like all high-energy dogs, if you don't give him enough exercise, he can be destructive. He's my best buddy. If you want the contact info of the breeder we got him from, let me know.
@AaronWebstey can we get a "butt hurt" button to put next to the "like" and "dark mark" buttons for @triathlonusa?
Seriously, if you're getting so personally worked up over a bullshit satirical article that insults no one particular person and was posted by a person you've never heard of on a website that is piggy-backing on the fame of a parody twitter account for a sport that Americans don't care about...well, you're going to have a hard time in this forum.