Triathletes are always looking for that extra edge when it
comes to swimming. They are willing to pay for private lessons, stroke
analysis, and underwater videotaping. All of these things are indeed helpful
but I have come to realize triathletes are simply overlooking one of the fundamental
aspects of swimming: the concept of streamlining.
Triathletes can wrap their heads around and open their
wallets to the concept of being aero. The more aero you are on your bike the
faster you are, even without a lick of additional training. For whatever reason
that concept goes out the window when triathletes step onto the pool deck even
though water is 1000 times more resistant than air (http://www.unc.edu/~tarak/)*.
When I mention the word
“STREAMLINE” most people envision that moment after they push off the
wall but streamlining is so much more. Streamlining is a constant effort to minimize drag in the water.
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from legalswim.blogspot.com |
Here are a few examples of some very non-streamline triathlete habits:
- Kicking on your back with relaxed shoulders and bend elbows
- Dropping your elbows
- Bowing your back
- Dropping your legs
- Sticking your butt out
- Kicking with your knees instead of a straighter leg
- Big kicks
- Lifting your head
- Head too low
- Extraneous lateral movements
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Don't get lazy, free speed for the taking! www.cityofthornton.net |
*It concerns me this links to a UNC page where the writer refers to a shark as a mammal. Really UNC? Really?