Zoggs Predator goggle review
I have had my Zoggs Predators for a couple of months so have had ample time to try them out; this last two weeks in the Greek Islands I have truly put them through their paces. They are what I would call a hybrid goggle, built for both good visibility as well as performance. In the pool I found them disastrous, the drag profile ensured that on most streamlined wall push offs the seal broke and they filled up. This never happens with a purpose built pool goggle but is not uncommon with the hybrids. ...
Aquasphere Swim Goggle review
I have had a few excellent open water swims now and have been able to properly test out my Aquasphere Vista Smoke Lens and Clear Lens goggles. This trip has required swimming and boat travel between the Greek islands; with all the traveling and all the sand on the beaches it is terrific to have the hard storage case to store my goggles in. The visibility is terrific, nothing would be more annoying than having damaged goggles, the hard storage case protects them well and stops the lens becoming scratched....
Fit&Abel heads to the Greek Islands!
I am very excited to be teaming up with SwimTrek www.SwimTrek.com for the month of July, I will be guiding their Greek Cyclades tour over the next four weeks. For those who have been following my FitandAbel.com blogs you will have seen my passion for swimming runs deep. My swimming background was primarily pool based for many years. I still love the challenge and the speed of pool based competitions however, that black line on the bottom of the pool can get pretty tedious after 20, 40, 80, 120 laps and it is always great to swim in different locations, away from the line on the...
Basic Swimming Technique
People often say to me ‘you make swimming look so easy’, the other typical comment I hear is ‘I am doing all this training but my speed is not increasing’. In answer to the first comment I make it look easy because I have put in the practice and I was lucky enough to have coaches over the years who knew that technique training is just as important as fitness training. In answer to the second I would say cut down on the fitness focus for a while and focus on technique; improve technique and the speed will come naturally. The basic principles of swimming technique...
Finding the right swim goggles?
Previously I have mentioned how important your swimming equipment selection is to swimming performance. There is no point dedicating yourself to training only to be distracted in your swim by leaking goggles, poor vision or discomfort from poor swim equipment. Today I am going to look at goggle selection in more detail. For me buying the right goggles is like buying a new pair of jeans, it is really difficult to find just the right pair, you often have to try many pairs on but when you do find the right pair they fit perfectly and you end up wearing them until they fall apart. Where you are going to swim...
A True Champion
Congrats to all the true champions out there this summer. Sure many professional athletes will compete and win on the Triathlon, Ironman and open water swim circuits this season and they are most certainly the elite. But what about the first time Ironman competitor who struggled to swim 500m in the pool 12 months ago? They probably need to juggle training around a full time job, maybe a partner and their children, as well as the requirement to fund their own equipment, travel and training. Ironman and Triathlon training takes enormous commitment and dedication to ensure balance with family and work to ensure success in such a demanding sport. There are many of you...
Technique Technique Technique!
What an announcement earlier this year; a swimming champion comes out of retirement – Ian Thorpe to take on Phelps in the pool at the London Olympics 2012. At the moment Australian swimming comebacks seem to be growing in popularity. The most notable and successful in recent history is Geoff Huegill, a talented butterfly specialist who disappeared into the ether in 1996 after the Athens Olympics only to return with vengeance taking Gold at last year's Delhi Commonwealth Games. This year two more Australian Gold medallists have announced they will be getting their feet wet once again, 33 year old Michael Klim will be attempting to qualify for his fourth Olympics and the legendary Ian...
Learning to critique your swimming
Swimming can be one of the most beneficial and rewarding forms of exercise. It can also be one of the most challenging when it comes to learning the basics. One of the reasons it is so challenging to swim correctly is that it is particularly difficult to actually see what you are doing. So often the mental image of our arm recovery or breathing style varies greatly from the movement that is actually taking place. If you have the time and money to spend and have a coach that is willing to stand on pool side every time you swim then you will have access...
New to swim racing?
Nothing like taking advantage of the sunshine by swimming outside, yes it is only early May but the slight chill leaves you feeling so refreshed afterward and there are no crowds! I met a guy today who was training for his second ever triathlon. He had seen me swimming and had some questions which, by the way, I am more than happy to answer. If you do see me pool side feel free to approach me and ask away! I will share with you now the advice I gave to this chap. All three triathlon disciplines, swim, cycle and run have technical aspects that need to be...
Expert or not?
I was talking to a swim client last night. We are getting set for an intensive technique session. Time permitting, with all of my 1 to 1 swim technique sessions; we will first go over some fundamentals on dry land. I believe it is really important to go over the fundamentals before getting in the water. Once we have discussed the fundamentals we will begin with the swimming proper. This will involve me assessing from the poolside and providing the necessary feedback and drills. I will then either film and provide feedback or I will get in the water myself and demonstrate. As soon as...