By Relentless WaterSports via Wikimedia Commons
By Gary Stewart via Wikimedia Commons
The next thing that could be slowing you down are your ankles.
So, until I started looking in to how to swim faster, I never really thought about my ankles.
They were there, they helped me walk, good enough. But when it comes to your kick and generating power, they are an important flex point.
If you have stiff ankles, you won’t be able to capitalize on the power from the hips. So, you will go super slow as a result. Make sure that you stretch those ankles and work on getting more flexibility.
The more flexible you are, the more whip you can get.
The last things that could be slowing you down like to team up with the ankles to bring you to Slowsville. Oh …those toes.
That’s right! Those ten little guys can give you a ton of drag.
They can slow you way down if you keep them stiff and pointing the wrong way. If you hold the ankle stiff while kicking they will push water the wrong way and you will never get anywhere.
So, for a fast swim, be sure to point those toes and keep it loose.
I know it’s a lot to remember -but if you can just think of your legs as two whips moving from the hip and snapping at the toes, you will find that your kick works for you and not against you.
Also, as you work on your timing be sure to use music. It can help keep you up to tempo and moving.
I recommend a Waterproof iPod Shuffle from Underwater Audio. It can hold a tone of music and is easy to use so you can focus on your need for speed.
If you have any comments please feel free to leave them below. Swim fast and have fun!