This is a question for garyhallsr (or anyone else who might have some insight)
After reading about how the majority of triathletes don’t have a strong kick therefore should not rely on the hip driven method, and that in open water high turnover rate is critical, I’ve decided to put the pieces together and try my hand at what garyhallsr calls the “shoulder driven” style. The results have actually been surprisingly good. Now, to my problem: I find that when I increase my turnover, I end up breathing a lot more… which can’t be too bad right? BUT at a certain point I start getting a side stitch (to my right side). Does anyone have this problem when they increase their turnover rates in the water? What can I do to alleviate that? Am I doing something wrong?
Which leads to the next question - should I aim to be breathing every stroke like I usually do? Or does this turnover rate necessitate breathing every off stroke?
Or is it possible to get “acclimated”, for lack of a better term, to breathing at this rate?
That high turnover really worked for you? I tried it, worked well for about 100 yards, and then I was exhausted! I have a weak leg kick, but that high stroke rate wears you out, doesn’t it?
Specifically, I would keep breathing every cycle, as you have been.
More generally, hip driven versus shoulder driven is a bad analogy at best and a false dichotomy at worst. I understand what Gary is saying and the differences he wishes to highlight. Problem is, ultimately it is all hip driven, regardless of turnover rate or kick rhythm.
Oh yea, it definitely helped. As garyhallsr mentioned, to do the shoulder driven technique well, you need to have swimming fitness. I’ve been averaging only around 12k-15k yds a week and that seems to be enough (of course enough is relative… but that’s a different discussion). For me, I don’t think I could do shoulder driven while swimming less than 8k yds a week.
Hmm… so my hips do a lot of work, but I feel that with this method my shoulders are actually what’s initiating the body rotation. The rest of the body is following the lead of the shoulders. Am I doing it wrong then?
I couldn’t say you are doing it wrong. The pace clock can answer better than anyone. I could say that your perception of what you are doing may not be spot on.
When swimming ‘well’, your hips are integral to the proper timing between the arms and legs, which is the single largest distinguishing factor between the fast and the slow. How much or little rotation you have is secondary, at best.
When fast turnover swimmers say they are rotating from the shoulders and slower turnover swimmers say they are rotating from the hips, I say “But how is your timing?” Timing is alway driven from the hips.
If I was to split swimmers into two groups they would be those that have timing and those that do not. Within that framework you will have 2 beat kick, 4 beat kicks, 6 beat kicks, every cycle breathers, every 3 stroke breathers, flat swimmers, lots of rotation swimmers, fast and slow turnovers, etc.
That high turnover really worked for you? I tried it, worked well for about 100 yards, and then I was exhausted! I have a weak leg kick, but that high stroke rate wears you out, doesn’t it?
When attempting to ‘simply’ increase the stroke rate, you need to be willing to ‘let something go’. Taken to the extreme for clarity, imagine simply turning your hand to the side and sliding it through the water like a knife blade. You can imagine how this would be a lot easier right? And a lot slower of course. You can also stop reaching out so far and / or stop your stroke short at the finish. Fast turnover does not have to equal aerobically harder. When you figure out the difference, you have taken a big step.
Oneof the keys to increasing your turnover is figuring out what to let go and what to, literally, hold onto. I can’t give you the answers but playing around with 50s done as 25 maximum distance per stroke - 25 maximum turnover, can help you find it yourself. We call these the Happy Medium Drill and I think they work best when taken to absurd levels on each length.
There is timing and rhythm that needs to be addressed with all of this. I wish it was just as easy as moving your arms faster. Most never get to a proper turnover because they never develop proper timing (or any awareness of timing at all). By utilizing a slower turnover, you can get away with improper timing a lot easier. There is greater margin of error when one arm is hanging out in front acting as a stabilizing pontoon. Remove that stabilizing effect combined with untimed arms and legs and you will have that “constantly falling” feeling as you try to swim.
Which leads to the next question - should I aim to be breathing every stroke like I usually do? Or does this turnover rate necessitate breathing every off stroke?
Or is it possible to get “acclimated”, for lack of a better term, to breathing at this rate?
Or, right for a while, left for a while.
I often breathe one length left, one right.