Posted by heathweaver

I wasn’t really pushing myself that hard as far as speed today, rather I was practicing my start. I have been really struggling when coming off the block because as I hit the water my goggles come loose. I can visualize pretty well how it should look entering the water, but actually doing it is completely different. I find that I can tell I have issues with my entry because my legs slap the water when I enter or my feet do.

Entering the water is pretty tricky as I see it. When you watch the video you see the different phases. First you have to really imagine the starting sound. Next your arms give you a little push, but mostly you launch yourself off of the block as if you were going to start sprinting from the starter position. Instead of bringing your legs together and jump out. Gravity will bring you down starting with your upper body, which will be followed by your legs. If you jump out too far you’ll smack your legs on the water. Jump too short you’ll end up going too deep.

I have the feeling that a big part of the start is in being able to curve your back as you enter the water. I need to investigate.

Once I get in the water I rarely have the feeling that my dauphin kick is going well. When I see videos like the one below of Ian Thorpe I think that I using the wrong part of my torso to generate the kick. It seems that his kick starts up in his upper torso and gains power through his hips and legs. Mine, on the other hand, feels like it starts in my hips and moves through my legs.

I need to remember that just like improving my swimming it takes regular practice and study to really improve.