How I've longed for you

This is what I've been building for

Sitting there waiting for me unused - Until laps 8, 9 and 10

Lap 3 is short fins - Lap 5 pull buoy - Lap number 8 is paddle hands


Lap 8 is when I put on the paddle hands and swim faster than I thought possible

I am not a fast swimmer
Yesterday I saw a fast swimmer
He jumped into the pool with no warmup

Wow that bro was off to the races like a gunshot
He looked like me after taking a very long warmup
Inside my head I'm like - who the heck starts out like that?!

I was miffed by his fast tempo - He was not a normal person
He had some kind of special swim cap from a competition
He was still keeping that fast stroke for a long time
Most normal people are nowhere near that output

For normal swimmers still working up their endurance - that's not how we begin
For regular people without that special background
Conditioning takes longer than you might think

During the early years when you are still working up to longer distance
Benefit of Tail buoy cannot be overstated - it is such a treat and reward
I didn't believe it or purchase one until much later in my training

Working with that tail buoy opens you
To the understanding that swimming
As an activity is almost all arms

Use this time to make sure your body-torpedo
Is leading with the crown of your head
The apex of your head is not the crown

To lead with your crown
You're not looking straight down
Which is how most people naturally set their gaze

Instead, look toward your feet
Until the last part of 1-2-3 arm swings
While your submerged head holds breath

You cannot keep your gaze downward the whole time
Doing so makes it harder to turn your head
Which is the required action for drawing air

Downward means toward your feet rather than toward the pool floor
Looking downward closes the distance between your chin and chest
That is how you achieve the position of leading with your crown

The crown is where your hair grows into different directions

Do the experiment - Lead with the crown of your head
Instead of looking forward, look toward your feet
Tuck your chin, angle your head's apex forward

The crown of you head is slightly toward the back of your body
The apex of your head would be measured to check height
If you were standing up tall to be measured against a wall

By simply dipping your chin-to-chest
You will find your back straightens
This causes your legs to lift

Higher legs means less drag
Less drag means better glide
Better glide is less effort same speed

It's legs dragging like broken fins
That cause us to have drag and swim slowly
Swim feet are funny - they count against you
More than for you - unless you are boosting with fins

When you tuck your chin
You straighten your back
Your legs lift naturally
Less drag

It is impossible to achieve the proper posture without looking toward feet
Some coaching sharks will train you by tucking a tennis ball under your chin
"Don't drop the ball while you swim" is an extremely innovative way to imagine this

Later, when your back hurts and you’re ready to dump the kickboard
The extra buoyancy and better form created by this tail buoy
Produces a sense of rest-while-you’re-moving

The tail buoy assists your upper body training over time
Using the tail buoy disengages the use of your legs

When you don't use your legs at all
This disengages your lower body
While forcing you to use all arms

All-arms swimming is easier than you think

You'll have to condition your arms to be able to do this
The good news is that it's actually less strain on your body
Due to the better posture that produces better glide and less exertion overall
So the conditioning is closer to your normal stroke than you were already thinking

More rest means less tired less soreness
Less tired means longer and further workout
Tail buoy is a really important training implement
You might not be thanking me yet but - you're welcome

Lesson Summary

Swimming enthusiasts know the struggle of building endurance and improving technique. Here's a breakdown of some key insights:

• Laps 8, 9, and 10 are crucial for implementing tools such as paddle hands for a faster swim.
• Using a tail buoy is highly beneficial, providing better posture, reduced drag, and improved glide.
• Leading with the crown of your head, not the apex, and looking towards your feet aids in proper body alignment.
• Restricting leg movement with a tail buoy forces an all-arms swimming technique, enhancing upper body strength.
• Engaging all arms increases efficiency, reduces exertion, and requires conditioning but ultimately leads to less strain on the body.

Embracing these techniques, including the use of a tail buoy, can significantly enhance your swimming experience by improving form, reducing fatigue, and ultimately allowing for more productive workouts.