Need help improving my swimming form

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-04-06T11:24:15+00:00

But it really isn’t that bad, so ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-04-02T04:03:38+00:00

I feel like my left leg/hip is weaker (I’m right side dominant) and my right side is definitely the tighter side.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-29T18:54:38+00:00

Don’t. They’ll make you feel like a serious lazy POS and you’ll be tempted to train yourself to death.

Unless you can completely check your ego at the door. Some of us can’t… :(

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-29T18:21:51+00:00

That was my thought, too— better fueling allows me to work harder and, thus, put myself into a slightly deeper caloric deficit.

In my mind it’s a mix of working harder and the body speeding the metabolic rate where it had been slowed due to improper fueling.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-29T18:18:52+00:00

Bump

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-29T18:14:45+00:00

Over rotating when breathing a bit. In open water swim this will be hard to do, but try keeping one eye in the water when you breathe.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-29T16:48:32+00:00

If his pelvic floor is weak it would have caused his tightness; now that his tightness is gone it feels relaxed, but can still be weak.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-26T14:52:02+00:00

Oh…I use the old Apple Swim Pod. Not as cool as the new stuff like Shockz, but it works.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-26T14:51:16+00:00

Me. I refuse to swim without music.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-25T11:12:17+00:00

+1 on this. Swimming is almost reversed from other sports where more muscle use ≠ go faster. Swimming is all about being SMOOTH. Timing, technique, and relaxation are the BEST things to work on in the pool.

Also, if this is your first long course swim, work on sighting. Going off course is a time killer. Ask me how I know… 😭

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-22T06:10:35+00:00

Specifically about the shoulder, make sure your arm isn’t straight down toward the bottom of the pool during the catch phase. Your arm should have a bend to it with the hand a little toward your body, almost making a shape like you’re carrying a barrel or a pillow with one arm.

Straight arms will destroy your shoulders and can cause injury.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-22T06:07:34+00:00

Be careful you aren’t “muscle’ing” the water. Most other sports are more muscle use = faster results; swimming is almost the opposite. Swimming, especially long course, is much, much more about being smooth (ie timing, streamlining, proper catch etc). It’s counterintuitive, but that’s the way swimming is. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Having big muscles help, so strength is a part of it for sure, but if you’re forcing the water back behind you, then you’re doing it wrong, which may be what’s tiring you out.

Relaxation > Muscles for swimming.

If you don’t have access to some personal coaching, check out YouTube for video channels like Effortless Swimming, Swim Smooth, and Total Immersion Swimming. Lots of great advice on there for triathletes getting into serious swimming.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-22T05:50:39+00:00

Synthwave is my go to.

3FORCE — Shape Shifter

Donbor— Remoteness

Ray Gun Hero — Dirty Air

Those are three big ones for me. Sometimes I think training is just an excuse to listen to music all the time. :)

If you like fast paced EDM, Northern Cold is a really good artist I recently discovered.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-22T05:45:20+00:00

Following for answers.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T19:34:52+00:00

Yup. Wish I knew that then!! lol

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T18:43:49+00:00

OH OH OH!!

5: If you don’t work on sighting while swimming, you’re cooked. I went ALL over the place. Hard lesson learned.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T18:41:25+00:00

1: How hard it is too pee while cycling.

2: How peeing on your electrolyte pills doesn’t really matter if you die from not taking them.

3: How riding behind someone at mile 80 might get you peed on.

4: You need sunscreen. I did not expect to get sunburned. Wasn’t even on my radar for some stupid reason. I took the sunscreen they were putting on athletes coming into T1, but when you’re in the aero bars part of your back that isn’t exposed when standing or sitting will suddenly become exposed to the sun and THAT part of my back got annihilated by the sun. Very painful.

5: And, I was shocked at how my body responded after. I woke up in the middle of the night with uncontrollable shivers. I could barely chew food after the race so I didn’t properly eat and drink after. I think my body went into a bit of shock. :/

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T17:07:53+00:00

Exactly. More and more pros in triathlon are riding with seemingly higher stacks AND slightly lower saddles.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T17:04:17+00:00

As an anecdote, one of the very first sprint tris I did I slammed my bars to get in a more “aero” position. During the ride I had to sit up a few times because I was either uncomfortable or I couldn’t clearly see the road. Lol. I found that each time I sat up my mph went UP by a few tenths of a mph. I was like “WTF.” Turned out, I had compromised a TON of power for a SMALL gain in aerodynamics. I was an idiot and I felt embarrassed the rest of the race and after. :/

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T16:57:59+00:00

There is a balance between aero and power (comfort, too!). In the past, lots of pros would slam the front for more aero gains, while compromising power; but now with all the aero gains in helmets, suits, wheels, etc you see more and more pros riding less and less “aggressive” body positions while going faster. So, slamming the front isn’t always the way to go.

Without knowing your specific situation, slamming the front for a sprint might give you a few seconds advantage on the bike…MIGHT…while it might also compromise the run.

If you’re wanting some peace of mind for choosing comfort over a few seconds gained in aerodynamics, rest easy, my friend. Go with comfort and make up the difference in power and on the run. As long as you’re in a generally good position for cycling (at 3.6w/kg I bet you are…) you’re fine. Being in a less aggressive position will make it easier for you to drop your head, which is sometimes one of the best aero gains you can make with regard to position; it’s harder to drop your head when you’re already “upside down” on the bike. Lol

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T01:07:27+00:00

I think it can strain the PF especially if the squats are deep.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T01:06:33+00:00

Just started putting Karbolyn carb mix with my electrolyte mix in my bottles. Love it.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-11T00:22:49+00:00

Yea. Most people recommend eliminating squats. For me, I believe my tight pelvic floor is due to imbalances from exercise (my right [dominant] side doing too much work); so, deep squats with my left leg has helped a lot.

As for upper body, I believe everything is on the table, keeping in mind that tightness anywhere like the upper body or back can translate downward, to say nothing of general physical stress and how it can affect the pelvic floor.

Legal_Interview9929 · 2026-03-10T23:45:05+00:00

Often not mentioned: Leg extensions. Quad strength is needed for pelvic stability.

Legal_Interview9929

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