There are so many reasons why I love working with Angie, and tonight is just another example. She seems to know exactly what I need. It was my turn to swim out in Cochrane again tonight and as I ran out the door I sent Angie a text message, “I need you to kick my butt tonight.” I had a few things on my mind and it was either going to be a really, really good swim or it was going to be a really ugly swim.
I’ve used paddles before, but only on my own. I ran through 3 x 150m set with paddles and this is the first time Angie has seen me swim with them. After she watched me she urged me to to really concentrate on high elbows as opposed to my usual reaching around and not catching the water.
As I swam I breathed and listened to the sound of the paddles.
Pull…whoosh…pull…whoosh…pull…whoosh…
High elbows…high elbows…high elbows…
Think…think…think…about the paddles. Think about your lats working.
After that we went into a hypoxic set. No pull buoy, and 50 metre sets of breathing every third then every fifth stroke. Then every third and seventh. And I even tried every third and ninth for one length. Let me tell you, when you aren’t breathing it really forces you to think about your stroke. And apparently that is the key to get me to stroke faster!!
Quick…1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,BREATHE!!!
From there we went into on heckuva kick set…which was interesting after our intense bike session last night!! Yeah, it was a fun night and totally just what I needed. Loved the paddle set!!!
Great job on the swim set!!! There’s no way I’d be able to go 9 strokes without a breath – I can barely make it 7 WITH a pull buoy.
Um yeah, I need to start doing breathing drills bad! I would pass out if I tried to go 9 right now!
Wow, 9 strokes without a breath? That’s so impressive!
Colour me impressed. I can do 7, if things are going well. I haven’t made 9 yet.
Sometimes I think coachland offers special courses in knowing just what your athletes need to have their butts kicked.
Woman, U are jammin’.
God I need to get back into the water. What’s my deal? I haven’t been there in about 2 weeks!
This drill sounds intense! I can’t imagine holding my breath for 9 strokes. Awesome job!
Great work Leana! 🙂
Those niners will teach to hold your ox-i-gen 🙂
Great set. I am going to try the hypoxic reps next week. I like the sound of those!
Sounds like a great swim!
Nice job with the workout – those breathing sets are TOUGH! Woo hoo! And the sound of the ‘whoosh whoosh whoosh’ of swim paddles – excellent 🙂
glad you had a good swim and sounds like you were able to work those “things” out of your mind. i hate when a workout is ruined by whatever-crap-is-hanging-around you know?
hmm holding your breath for a certain number of strokes. i think i tried this back in college when i swam sporadically… i think i *maybe* got to 5 strokes max 🙂 and certainly not for an entire length!