How to Pull Buoys...
A two part post today :o)
Swimming
Distance: 800m
Got to the pool around eleven, and the place was packed - about 10 people or more in the lane. Not really much good for swimming, and to be honest, I wasn't swimming that well anyhow! I had originally intended to do the usual mile, but in the end gave up.
I did however manage to use the pull buoy - a sort of float that goes between your thighs, and keeps the legs naturally high in the water. The result - I seemed to speed through the water much faster. I did eight lengths like this and they must have been my quickest. The pull buoy tends to press my chest into the water to compensate for the higher legs, and deliberately pushing the chest forward makes the legs rise, even without a float. An interesting point on technique
Manage to do a 4:19.8 sec 200m - not my best, but given that I only decided to bother doing more than a casual slow stroke about half way through, not at all bad!
Must do that 50m sprint, 30 second recovery drill that I did with Lindi again sometime the pool is emptier :o)
Running
Distance: 2.25 miles
Surface: 1.3 miles tarmac, 0.95 miles grass
Shoes: 2100s without the heel raise
Time: 18 minutes
My best run for absolutely ages! I followed the route shown
here from my flat, round the block, and then up onto a local playing field/park, and then a final quarter or mile so back to the flat.
It really did feel genuinely great for the first quarter mile - very natural and easy :o) The right hammy started playing up a bit at the top, but switching camber relieved this. It seemed to be worse when the left leg was lower than the right (i.e. left hand side of the road). The lateral right knee twinged a bit too. The left medial knee gave minor twinges, but nothing more than minor. I made sure I tried to even ou tthe camber as much as possible, and kept switching to rest the areas that were giving me gyp.
I got home, iced the knees, had a cold bath, and so far - no stiffening or anything that seems problemmatic :oD
Mustn't forget the knee class first thing this morning either! Must get hold of one of those wobble cushions :oS
Swimming
Distance: 800m
Got to the pool around eleven, and the place was packed - about 10 people or more in the lane. Not really much good for swimming, and to be honest, I wasn't swimming that well anyhow! I had originally intended to do the usual mile, but in the end gave up.
I did however manage to use the pull buoy - a sort of float that goes between your thighs, and keeps the legs naturally high in the water. The result - I seemed to speed through the water much faster. I did eight lengths like this and they must have been my quickest. The pull buoy tends to press my chest into the water to compensate for the higher legs, and deliberately pushing the chest forward makes the legs rise, even without a float. An interesting point on technique
Manage to do a 4:19.8 sec 200m - not my best, but given that I only decided to bother doing more than a casual slow stroke about half way through, not at all bad!
Must do that 50m sprint, 30 second recovery drill that I did with Lindi again sometime the pool is emptier :o)
Running
Distance: 2.25 miles
Surface: 1.3 miles tarmac, 0.95 miles grass
Shoes: 2100s without the heel raise
Time: 18 minutes
My best run for absolutely ages! I followed the route shown
here from my flat, round the block, and then up onto a local playing field/park, and then a final quarter or mile so back to the flat.
It really did feel genuinely great for the first quarter mile - very natural and easy :o) The right hammy started playing up a bit at the top, but switching camber relieved this. It seemed to be worse when the left leg was lower than the right (i.e. left hand side of the road). The lateral right knee twinged a bit too. The left medial knee gave minor twinges, but nothing more than minor. I made sure I tried to even ou tthe camber as much as possible, and kept switching to rest the areas that were giving me gyp.
I got home, iced the knees, had a cold bath, and so far - no stiffening or anything that seems problemmatic :oD
Mustn't forget the knee class first thing this morning either! Must get hold of one of those wobble cushions :oS
posted by XFR Bear @ 11:23 pm
2 Comments:
Great to see the running is getting further - now I noticed you said it started great then the hammy tightened. Have you tried going back to basics and doing a brisk 5mins walk then stretching before you start your run? My physio said that a warm up and cool down was the most important part of a training plan and more important than the post run stretch!
Also between you and Fraggle I have been inspired to try and improve my swimming but NOT do a tri or an Ironman before you get any more daft ideas (I've heard that you've added your name to a list!)
Pix
Pix, I've had that same "should I restart swimming" feeling the last week or two. I need to get my running sorted out first though. I'm struggling this week.
Bear - run looks cool. Can I make a suggestion..? Your distances have been fairly small up to now so I was thinking that really you should maybe slooooooww down a bit. 2.25 in 18 mins is quite fast really and can impact upon some of the achiness and pains. Only reason I suggest this is I tried it last night... REALLY slowed the pace down and it seemed to have helped with the run. Bit achy this morning like but still... worth a try. Also, I agree with Pix, I warm up and stretch - only way I do it is 10-15 mins into the run.... stop and stretch and then carry on. Feck's the speeds and HR calculations up on the Garmin like but hey ho. I'm a genius I can work it out.
Oh and (((hugs))) for the poorly head today and back to the WW points. Well done you.
Cath
:o)
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