Tag Archives: Swimming

The Essential Swimmer – Book Review

The Essential Swimmer BookFor those of us that are not born seals, like Kris, you work, and work, and work, and work at your swim stroke.  And even after all that work, you look over with envy and that guy or girl in the next lane because they are gliding along like it isn’t even a challenge.

I fight a never ending battle with swimming.  If you don’t believe me, there’s a video of my technique on the bottom of this post.  You’ll see there’s lots to improve. (Note: This video was taken before I got this book.)

In looking for books on swimming there are some that are like bibles and others like illustrated books for kids.  I was happy to find The Essential Swimmer by Steve Tarpinian. This book is a nice manageable size, with good writing, aimed at swimmers of all levels.

I found this book to be short, simple, and to the point.  His description of the free-style technique stroke is thorough and I don’t know why, but it finally clicked.  It made sense and I could see and understand what he was talking about.  (Note:  Don’t read this book on the bus, you’ll want to practice the technique he describes and if you do this you’ll look a bit odd – I speak from experience here.)

The book may look a little old school since it uses illustrations, but I actually think they are more helpful and less distracting than full-color photos.

I also like that he thoroughly describes the phases of stroke cycle in one chapter. In the next, he diagnosis the most common weaknesses and flaws in the average swimmers stroke, followed specific drills to address each flaw.  I really liked the organization and structure of this book.

Finally, I really appreciated the chapter about setting up effective workouts complete with:

  1. Warm-up
  2. Drills
  3. Main Workout
  4. Drills
  5. Cool-down

Long-time swimmers probably know this pattern without evening thinking about it, but for those of us that came to swimming later in life, knowing what to do, in what order, is very helpful.

The Bottom Line ~

If you are looking for an easy to understand, quick read on improving your swimming stroke than The Essential Swimmer is a great place to start.  The majority of the book focuses on freestyle technique, but there are sections about the other big strokes, clothing, accessories, race starting techiniques, flexibility, etc.  The book is very thorough without being overwhelming.  The book is very affordable at a list price of $12.95.

Ben’s Swim Video a.k.a. How Not To Swim:

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TYR Competitor Collection Review

TYR Competition Collection ReviewIt’s that time of year that triathletes are hitting the pool in droves, perfecting their catch, and striving to improve hip rotation.

What to wear to the pool is always a tough call for the triathlete.  Some people prefer a traditional brief cut,  while others prefer the modesty of the full length jammer.  Others find themselves somewhere in between.  It was really tough going to swimming stores, because they were primarily focused on competitive swimmers and not triathletes.

I was really excited to see TYR start to address the triathlon market.  I love the swimsuits they have been making for swimmers, and finally they have heard triathletes.

The triathlon specific line they introduced is called the Competitor Collection.  It’s a well-designed, quality line of clothing and accessories for multi-sport athletes.  It offers everything from competition tri-shorts to running singlets.

I was especially happy to see that TYR finally introduced training swimsuits for the triathlete.  They made their triathlon training suits available in a brief, square-cut (boxer) and a jammer.  Regardless of which length your personally prefer -  you’ll be happy.

First of all they look and feel great.  Quality is one of TYR’s strong points.  These swimsuits are made out of 92% polyester and 8% spandex.  The majority of the fabric being polyester makes the suit much more resistant to the chlorine.  Also, the little bit of spandex still provides some stretch to make the suit very comfortable to wear.  The Competitor Collection training suits swim to be very similar to TYR Durafast suits – specifically designed for swimming endless laps in highly chlorinated water.

For those who like the brief cut suit, this cut seems a little more generous than other swimmer focused racing briefs.  I personally like the Square Cut (boxer) suit, because it provides a little more coverage than the brief, but for some reason helps me pay more attention to my kick then a full-length jammer. Another nice feature is that the legs openings aren’t really tight and uncomfortable – something that triathletes with bigger quads, like me, appreciate.

Finally, the style of these suits is right on.  They use the classic colors of black and white, with your option of red, gray or blue highlights.  The red looks awesome, and I would definitely recommend it.  Another bonus is that they really understand their target market well.  When my suits showed up, it included these very funny little motivational cards.

TYR Competitor CardsTYR Competitor Card
The Bottom Line ~

If you have been waiting for a line of training swimsuits with the triathlete in mind, look no further then the TYR Competitor Collection.  These well-designed, quality suits will keep your swimmer and triathlete egos in balance.  The line features 3 styles of suits: a brief, square cut (boxer), and jammer.  The fabric is 92% polyester, so that it will be durable in chlorinated environments.

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The Triathlete’s Training Bible Review

The Triathlete's Training BibleIt’s getting to be that time of year when serious triathletes start thinking about their next racing year.  The last season’s shortcomings are still top of mind, and the search for that competitive edge begins.  Some people turn to nutritional supplements and others look for better equipment.  The seasoned athlete knows that the only way to better performance is through proper training.  The word “proper” can be completely unique to every athlete, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

For the triathlete interested in an extremely thorough and very scientific approach, Joe Friel’s The Triathlete’s Training Bible is as good as it gets.  I don’t know if there is anybody as respected in exercise physiology as Friel.  In fact, I think there are many people who buy this book because of its authority.  But that authority is a two-edged sword. The word Bible in the title is very appropriate.  It’s a thoughtful, information-rich, slow read.  This is not the kind of book that you will finish in a week and start to implement.  In fact, like the Bible, it brings up conflicting arguments and debates and sometimes leaves the reader with more questions than answers.  The great part about this book, is that it gets better with every read.

I usually try to spend some time when making my annual training plan (ATP) to go back through and review key concepts from the book.  I especially like to hit areas that I feel were particular weaknesses in my previous racing year.  I did read this book once from cover to cover, but I feel like that is probably unrealistic for most athletes.  Also, many of the concepts would have been more confusing if I hadn’t already worked with a certified cycling coach who taught and used the same training methods as Friel.

I really think one must analyze their personality as to whether or not this book would be an effective resource.  If you are the kind of athlete that is methodical, thoughtful, and thorough – then this book will be helpful.  If you are bit more gregarious, random, and rushed in your training, you will most likely get frustrated.  In either case, know up front, that this book will present a serious commitment to both your time and attention, but that’s precisely why it’s worth it.

I really respect Friel’s expert knowledge and I agree with his core philosophy of training.  He also has a great blog that you should consider subscribing to and read for the most up to date training science.  I was blown away, when he personally responded to and followed-up about a training question I emailed him.  I wish his training camps were more affordable because I’m sure they would be very helpful.

The Bottom Line ~

This book presents a very thorough, analytic approach to training.  At over 300 pages, it’s not a quick and easy read.  For the triathlete that is dedicated and serious about training, this book can be immensely resourceful.  It has a great appendix with many ideas for various workouts and will help you plan an effective training year.   I would recommend that you carefully consider your personality, available time, and  dedication before buying this book.

But remember, “Great things are not done by impulse” – Van Gogh

 

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Clif Shot Bloks Review

Clif Shot Bloks Energy Chew ReviewIt is amazing to me how few athletes take the time to understand nutrition.  Many athletes would discover that with proper nutrition, they will feel much better during training and racing.

Most dietitians recommended that athletes consume 200 – 400 calories per hour during activity.  There are a variety of sources, formulas and brands from which athletes can choose to fulfill their nutrition needs.  One of my absolute favorite brands for performance nutrition is Clif Bar & Company’s Shot line.  Many people know Clif Bar for their, well, bars.  But the company has rapidly expanded into a variety of sports related nutrition products.

A few of things I love about Clif Bar & Company as a whole:

  • All Natural Ingredients (That means absolutely NO artificial anything).
  • They source as much organic ingredients as possible (Usually in the range of 60 – 90%).
  • They only put ingredients into their products that serve a nutritional purpose.
  • A strong commitment to the environment – protecting the places we love to train and race.

One of Clif’s best performance nutrition products is the Shot Bloks.  These Bloks of goodness are like eating candy – seriously. There are 8 delicious flavors to choose from and they come 6 bloks to a pack (2 servings).  Shot Bloks are specifically formulated to help replenish your bodies carbohydrates and electrolytes.   Like all Clif products, they are made out of all natural goodness and the Bloks are 90% organic.

The Clif Bloks are a great option for the athlete who doesn’t enjoy squirting a gel into his mouth.  Many people dislike the gooey texture of a gel, and then having to swallow all that goop is also a little too much to stomach for some.  I personally dislike how the gels get all over your fingers, face and jersey pockets.  Thankfully the Bloks work exactly the same from a nutritional standpoint – although they do take a little bit longer to get into your system than gels.

Shot_Bloks_Review

3 Bloks is equivalent to a single gel, and has 100 calories.  So those that like to be a little O.C.D. about measuring calorie consumption – this is your dream come true.  I also like the fact that you can throw them in your jersey pocket and they don’t get sticky or melt.  I had a pocketful in a race I did in 90 degree weather, and they didn’t leave stickiness anywhere, it was great.

I also love being able to easily and quickly put them in your mouth with little hassle and mess.  It is recommended that you consume the Bloks with water.  Each package contains two servings or 6 Bloks.  Also, their newer packaging, dubbed the “Fastpak” allows you to quickly and easily get the Bloks out.

The Bottom Line ~

You can’t go wrong with Clif Shot Bloks.  This is a great product that you’ll enjoy using in training and racing. They taste great and are made with all-natural ingredients. It comes in 6 great flavors, with several caffeinated options and a 3x the Sodium option – for those who find themselves cramping up more often.  Look for Shot Bloks at Amazon, REI, Whole Foods,  Running Stores and other athletic shops.  They retail for $1.99 (That’s one dollar per serving) so they are very affordable for athlete’s on any budget.

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Ironman St. George – Race Review

I am Ironman!

What an incredible event. On may 7th, St. George hosted their second Ironman Triathlon and there are not enough positive words that can express how great the organizers and especially the volunteers were throughout the entire event. As a first time participant at the full distance my mind was completely focused but a mess, which makes the volunteers and organization that much more important.

Registration was easy which gives you more time to buy all the over-priced Ironman branded souvenirs. St. George is an easy city to navigate to it was simple finding our way to where we needed to be. IMSG does have different areas for transition so participants do need to be multiple places on the day before the race. The swim and Transition 1 are out at Sand Hollow reservoir which is a beautiful location. You could feel the buzz as all the athletes were checking in their bikes and transition bags. Many athletes were in the water and no one seemed too cold which was a relief.

Transition 2 was downtown next to the finish area. My experience was smooth and I didn’t face any issues throughout the day. The athlete dinner was OK. It was nice to gather with all the other athletes and watch some great videos and listen to Mike Reilly and others. The dinner itself was nothing special and I am glad my family didn’t want to attend because that would have been crazy expensive for them to eat normal spaghetti.

Race morning went smooth as well. The excitement of the day is palpable as you load the buses and head out to the start. I never felt rushed.

For a great many details about my personal race experience click on the following links:
IMSG – Part 1
IMSG – Part 2
IMSG – Part 3

The Bottom Line ~

The IMSG course is quite difficult and the weather in St. George is unpredictable during that time of the year. Last year people were suffering from hypothermia in the water and this year people were dropping from heat stroke during the run. I have heard talk that organizers may change part of the course so that it is not so hard…but I believe they should use that as a marketing tool. There are Ironmen, and then there are St. George Ironmen. Organizers probably want more participants which this year was around 1,600 and 1,700 people; but it’s an Ironman, it’s supposed to be hard. Those who are doing Ironmans should be looking for EPIC; and St. George definitely fits the definition.

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