Why you should learn the Backstroke for Triathlon?
I have always head to the pool doing laps after laps with 80% of front crawl and 20% breast stroke all the time, I am not sure if it was the best way to train as I am only improving those few muscle group. I was a club swimmer, training with the boys doing 50m freestyle competition but never got to signing up for one, have friends who are on the national squad but never took any swim tips from them.
Since I am doing triathlons and Ironman for the love of it, when it comes to the swim part I can tell you,I am definitely not fast even after so many swim sessions, ,sessions after sessions my time never seem to improve. I also never used other strokes like the backstroke or butterfly, never wondered why I need the them for, this conversation between speedy @trimeon and coach @felog in my feed were conversing about backstroke got me intrigued. I went all out and in search for the missing piece to understand why a backstroke was needed in our training session
Twitter Feed Elieen and Felog
So what happens now is that, I am gonna put in post some backstroke drills that I am gonna use and try on my next swim session..
The backstroke is easy to learn and helpful to triathletes for multiple reasons. It counteracts swimmer’s “shoulder slouch” by engaging upper-back muscles and lengthening pectorals, it can provide an opportunity to calm breathing or clear goggles during an open-water swim and it breaks up monotony in the pool. Plus, kicking while on your back serves as good cross-training for major cycling muscles such as the hip flexors, core and quads.
Try these sets:
• 4×75 with 15 seconds rest (25 free/25 back/25 free)
• 1×600 [4x(100 freestyle strong effort/50 backstroke easy)]
• 8×50 on 1:15 (25 back/25 free) descend time 1-4, 5-8
Five technique tips:
1. Tilt chin up and look at the sky. This puts head and spine in good alignment. Do not look toward your toes, as it causes hips to sink.
2. Push hips toward the surface and maintain a steady up and down flutter kick. Keep feet just below the surface of the water. Do not rotate feet with the rest of body.
3. Hands exit the water thumb first and enter the water pinky first. This requires a slight wrist and shoulder rotation as a straight arm moves through the air.
4. Arms enter the water straight up from shoulders and do not cross the center line overhead. Swimming backstroke in a straight line is difficult without following pool lines. Keep zigzags to a minimum with consistent arm placement.
5. The key to backstroke is good upper-body rotation with a motionless head. Try to roll your left shoulder to your chin as the right pinky enters the water and vice versa
drills taken from Triathlete Competitor By Sara McLarty
Shimano’s Triathlon dedicated Website
Triathlon has been gaining attention over the years and with the help of the Dot M franchise it will only get bigger.
Shimano seize the chance to have a dedicated website just for Triathlon specific and I can foresee them having a dedicated shop just for triathletes. How cool will that be?
Take a look at the font of their webpage.
the website has a feature gallery where you see all the latest happenings for Shimano and you can even link with their Twitter or RSS feed for updates.
Do visit their website at TriShimano.com
I click on the page cause I saw CaitSnow.. LOL.. Have a great week ahead
Ironman 70.3 Singapore
Not sure what has happened to the titled sponsor Aviva as they have always sponsored the event, but this time the page seems to have changed into this …
So whats a triathlete got to do but to wait for it…. wonder how long its gonna take. ..
RoadID GiveAway Friday
It’s a Gorgeous Friday everyone, and if you were wondering what was that icon posted last week, it’s no road sign but a logo of a company that has “YOU” in mind, yes, you the one reading this, and this company is called RoadID.
Before I go any further let me tell you what RoadID is all about, This Company was founded by a father-and-son team and they are none other than Edward and Mike Wimmer. They have been providing safety gear to help keep you safer since 1999, and I am glad they did so. This so called bracelets are like guardian angels, no kidding. With all the unfortunate recent death of Marathoners like Claire Squires in the recent London Marathon , Jeffrey Lee for the Philadelphia Half Marathon , or even Firefighter William Caviness in the Chicago Marathon.
Those people I have mention are not old or unhealthy, they are young and even triathletes at their peak of their health, just saying that we are not bullet proof even if we are at our pink of health. I am trying to say that those death are at a high profile event, given the scenario that we are training alone running 5 am in the morning (which is a fav of mine) and I fall flat to the ground. I would have this ID tag on me telling anyone that finds me all my vital info.
I have been using RoadID since a couple of years back and it has not faded on me nor smelled on me. Why do I talk about RoadID? Cause I truly believe in a product that is for safety and has athletes in mind, but come to think of it, RoadID are not only for athletes but can also be used for everyone including your family members, This little nifty product is a bracelet that carries all the vital information for anyone in an emergency situation, and not only they have bracelet form they now come in 6 different types of design for you to choose from depending where you want to place your ID from wrist, necklace, ankle to even your shoe.
I have the wrist ID Sport on me and it goes where ever I go, I don’t only use it for sport but I use it as a fashion bracelet as well, who knows I might just drop dead when there is a pretty girl that come asking for my number. LOL See it still looks new to me.
Anyway since it’s a FRIDAY , I am gonna be doing a “GIVE AWAY FRIDAY “ I will be giving away Gift certificate worth $15 each to 2 lucky readers courtesy of RoadID. All you need to do tell me how many types of RoadID design are there. Leave your answer at the comment box below and like the post. Remember Stay SAFE !
The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and the results will be posted on this blog. Winner will be announced by Monday, May 6, 2012 at Noon. A winner has one week from the announcement of the winner to claim the prize or else a new winner will be chosen (May 13 at 12:00 p.m.). All prizes will be awarded. Thus, if the winner does not come forward, a new winner will be chosen. The writer of this blog will not be held liable for any typographical errors or technical failures.
This Giveaway is now closed. Chosen winners please do contact me as soon as possible.
Sudden Cardiac Death and the Endurance Athlete
I was browsing through Trifuels website, and I found this article, I think its only good to share this..the below excerpt was written by by Patrick McCrann on February 9, 2012
With the recent passing of our friend Chris Gleason, many here at Endurance Nation have been wondering whether we should be doing more to ensure that our participation in our beloved hobby is (more…)
Top Three Swim Drills
I know most of you Ironman/Triathletes are always worrying bout your swim, unless you have your own personal coach or you are already a pro, as for myself I am always worried cause no matter how much I train, I can’t go fast enough, It always cause I have no discipline when it comes to performing drills in the pool, Let me share some good drills that might improve the swim leg if I am discipline enough. Enjoy ..
I also added the following video of Michael Phelps doing Freestyle in Multi angle underwater cam, this video “I LIKE”
This is another favorite video of mine by Pro Triathlete Scott Neyedli showing off a very good freestyle stroke
Have fun training and I do hope this post got you inspired ! NOW GO GET EM TIGER !!
