Swimming: Two Lessons

Swimming: Two Lessons

I want to share two things that I loved in the pool last week.

Terminology

Firstly, a swimmer’s feedback after a swim session reinforced to me that terminology and the way you describe a feeling or a pace can make a difference to how you take on and execute a session. 

Let me explain.

Smooth vs Easy

When coaching, I often use the term ‘smooth’ when referring to easy swimming. Easy, to me anyway, implies sloppy and slow. Smooth implies good technique whilst staying relaxed.

‘Easy’ and ‘Smooth’ may possibly be the same pace, but each term triggers a different mindset and execution.

Strong vs Fast

Another term I use is ‘strong’ when thinking about swimming fast. Fast, I’ve learned, often translates to frantic and going off too hard without control or great technique. Strong, on the other hand, implies power and moving well with each stroke. 

When we think about distance swimming, I often ask swimmers to swim ‘smooth and controlled’, setting off at a slower pace than they want to. This is very deliberate and usually means swimmers execute the set better than if they try and push the pace. 

Take this feedback from a swimmer recently …

“Thoroughly enjoyed that one, surprised myself too … it really does make a difference how just the word ‘smooth & controlled’ can have vs ‘strong and fast’ on how you execute the swim … I still managed to swim at a reasonable pace and felt comfortable most of the session, maybe pushed harder on the last 200m to an unsustainable pace in that set but felt controlled otherwise, whilst thinking of breathing and that arm placement … Thanks Bryan 🙂

Garmin or No Garmin?

Secondly, I was reminded that going ‘watchless’ in the swim can make a massive difference to how you feel during a swim and how you execute a session. 

One of our swimmers did this recently – not on purpose but because her Garmin was malfunctioning. “Liberating” was how she described it. 

Inspired, I did the same myself in recent swim sessions and I found that pressure to hold pace every length or every rep is significantly reduced.

(In fact, I haven’t worn a Garmin in my last 4 or 5 swim sessions)

Why is this important?

I wanted to swim an endurance session – a set of 10 x 200m off 3.30 – where I was swimming at 5 or 6 out of 10 effort. I used the pace clock at the end of the pool to tell me when to go and had a rough idea of pace by using the clock – but I wasn’t trying to push and achieve certain times. Staying relaxed, staying in that ‘endurance feeling’ and completing the overall set was the goal.

The ‘No Garmin’ approach altered my mindset and helped meet the overall session goal.

You should try this in some of your sessions.

What About You?

Have you found you respond to different terminology?

Any key words that you keep in mind?

Does swimming without a Garmin trigger your curiosity or fill you with dread?

Let me know, I would love to hear from you.

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Swimming: Two Lessons