Recent acquisition: Finis Tempo Trainer

 This is a very simple device that you can clip on to your goggle strap or tuck under your bathing cap.  You set the frequency of beeps with the up and down buttons (seconds:one-hundredths).  This is a great way to practice maintaining a constant Stroke Rate, timing every spearing of the hand to the beep.

There are many ways to use the device to increase efficiency in the water.  One drill consists of setting the TT to a comfortable, moderate rate.  You then swim a couple of laps to determine your base Strokes Per Length (SPL).  Next, you decrease the Stroke Rate (SR) in increments of 5 or 10 (pressing the right button).  Do another few laps, counting SPL.  Repeat this a total of five times keeping note of the change in SPL.  The slower SR forces you to spend more time gliding and maintaining proper balance and streamlining.  Next, gradually increase the SR back to your starting point, trying to maintain the same relaxation, ease, and stroke length that was achieved at the slowest of SR.  Most people should find that they can shave a couple of SPL off their original baseline.  Pretty cool, eh?

The Finis Tempo Trainer can be purchased online for about $35+tax.  I got mine from Amazon.ca for $40 all included, free shipping (arrived within 48 hours of ordering).

Video, finally!

I finally have a training buddy with whom to take turns filming, and here are some of the clips made recently at the Wilfred Laurier University pool in Waterloo.  We're still getting a hang of using the camera, so some of the shots are shaky or too close at first.

video #1
video #2
video #3
video #4
video #5
video #6

The first thing I noticed was that my left arm (breathing side) enters the water earlier and steeper than the right, and I appear to over-rotate to the left as a consequence. I'm now working on bilateral breathing to help achieve more symmetry in my stroke, as well as finding the "just enough" rotation. I thought I also might be too deep in the water, which would require me to roll further to breathe. Swimming closer to the surface has made a difference.

Second, I didn't realize how erratic my kick was. I've since been focused on pointing my toes more, keeping both legs drafting behind the body, and feeling the kick initiated more from the hips (I tend to bend at the knees, especially on the left side).