Ironman on tv

[doug]

Any early risers might be interested in watching channel 4 tomoro morning at 7.30 as ironman uk 2008 is been televised.

[micdug]

Morning Doug !

I thought IM UK 2008 was over ! Will you be able to watch yourself taking part !
I Know. "ARE YOU SMOKING AGAIN".
Its just the way you said it, it sounded like it was "LIVE"

Mick.

[colm]

It's only a 30 minute show so if you're up to watch it you might as well join us for a cycle at the Park hotel afterwards, starting out at 8.30.

[paulamurray]

Doug that was awsome, Ironman on tv that is. It was well worth getting up early for. I am so inspired I am tempted by Colm's message and slip out for a cycle with the group while the kiddies are sleeping (but better not chance it just in case).

By the way the leaders they featured on in the swim, i counted at least three of them that only breathed on one side!!

Brigid, Eric, Jamie, Sharon and Nicole you looked great on tv, loved the posters. Well done MTC

[bboyle]

Long distance swimmers will tend to breath on one side during races....... but if you look at them training they will be breathing on both sides. So Paula, no getting away with practicing those drills!

[paulamurray]

O dear thought I had my swimming sorted after this morning . Drills it is so

[micdug]

This breathing to one side is a bit confusing
I myself breath to one side and don't think at this stage I'll be changing it.Brian, why do they breath differently in training and races ? Surely changing your technique in this way is not good for your swimming as you are trying to swim two different ways !
I know breathing both sides helps balance you more in the water but I for one don't feel happy with it.Will it really make any difference to my time at the end of the day?.

Mick,

[bboyle]

Hi Mick,

What do you mean 'at this stage you wont be changing'? Does that mean you wont be trying to improve your cycling or running?

The breathing on one side comes from the necessity to get oxygen as easily as possible over longer distances. These swimmers are swimming on one side only during races because they will still hold good technique and they can hold this good technique because they spend hours and hours practicing it.

The reason for breathing to both sides is simply - balance! and the better balanced you are in the water the more efficient you will be. If you choose never to address this simple philosophy you will stay the same. You can spend hours/days/weeks/months and even years banging up and down the pool swimming harder and tougher each session and never really getting the results you want......... train smart not hard. It is during the winter months (NOW!) that you should address this as you won't have to race anyone for a couple of months. Leave the ego at home when you get into the pool and be prepared to go into the slower lane if it means you can concentrate on your technique. The three rules for improving swimming are; technique, technique and TECHNIQUE! anything else is foolish.

Let me give you an example;
A guy I know used to swim 1500m in approx. 33 minutes and this was after spending 5-6 days a week swimming as fast as he could every training session. On a good night the time might have gote down to 32.5mins. He then went to total immersion swim technique classes. After the first night with simple adjustments he got down to 30mins with less effort. After a couple of more weeks the time was down about 27 minutes swimming with even less effort..... took some diciplined practice but this swimmer cant swim 1500m in 33mins if he tried!

Mick, we all have plenty of room for improvement so we should seize every opportunity to do so. Check out Doug's swim times and their improvement over a year, the results are huge!

Brian (on the passionate subject of swim technique)........

[Eric]

Hi folks
I don’t want to take away anything from the advice that Brian is giving to all and sundry but can I just draw your attention back to what is really important?

The Douglas Bates Fan Club!!!!

Didn’t we look great on tv this morning shouting our heads of at Ironman UK? Imagine that after all the hard work our athletes did we got our mugs on tv? But seriously I thought our enthusiasm and dedication came through so strongly on the clip! My six year old now thinks i was in the race as well! I may not tell him the truth about that! Fair play to Channel 4 they are one of the best tv channels out there …
Eric

ps was it on Channel 4 ?

[micdug]

Hi again Brian,

Thanks for taking the time to write your message.I fully agree with what you say and in my heart I know that I need to go back to the drawing board because the longer I get used to what I'm at the harder its going to be to change.
My times are just above average eg. 1500m in 26 min approx.I'm happy enough with this but think of what that could be with better technique !.Its just so difficult to change what your used to doing.So Paula were in the same boat ! Its time to act and change it for ever!.

Mick,

[paulamurray]

Mick your off the hook. I think Brian is smoking now but it sounds like it's probably the good stuff he's puffen, now I'm not suggesting yours was'nt or anything ;D

[paulamurray]

www.totalimmersion.net/2008articles/september/ferris.html

Check out above site. My work colleague passed it onto me today.