As the weather has warmed up I am again doing about half of my swim training with a wetsuit in the lake. I try to use the pull buoy less than half the time in the pool but must admit that it simulates my flotation with a wetsuit quite well. Though the purists say not to rely on the PB since it can throw off your balance, if all of my races are in a wetsuit it would make sense to train similar to racing conditions. What am I missing here? Right or wrong, I don’t kick much for the IM distance events which are my focus.
You’re right in the sense that the buoy simulates the leg float of a wetsuit quite well but at least for me it restricts my ability to properly rotate my body during the swim which in turn throws other things off.
Too much pull buoy in the pool & you’re losing your sense of kick & rhythm. Not to mention putting a LOT of stress on your shoulders.
You want to swim in the pool with the same rhythm that you’ll use in the race. Instead of trying to simulate the effects of a wetsuit, just put it on & get out & do more OW swims. ESPECIALLY when it’s choppy.
Wait… are you signed up for any races that I’m doing? Correction! Do LOTS & LOTS & LOTS of pull buoy!! 8000 meters a day. 6 days a week. Build to 12,000 meters a day.
After all, More is More!
;-}
Later!
Brian
Wait… are you signed up for any races that I’m doing? Correction! Do LOTS & LOTS & LOTS of pull buoy!! 8000 meters a day. 6 days a week. Build to 12,000 meters a day.
After all, More is More!
;-}
Later!
Brian
that is how multiple non swimmers became competitive at the world cup level. but by all means, continue to listen to all the conventional wisdom bs.
Was it doing lots of pull buoy work, or was it from doing lots of swimming? i.e. would they still have gotten fast enough to be competitive on the WC circuit without touching a pull buoy?
That honestly makes sense to me for a triathlete…
The pull buoy is a great training aid for someone without big stoke issues. If your techinque is sound I think it is a great way to simulate the wetsuit feel. I use it as much as 70% of the time in the water.
Your legs have enough to do on raceday without wasting them on kicking in the water…I agree with you, there.
I don’t even know what swimming purist even means, but I wouldn’t be concerned with them if they, in fact, do exist.