Two Beat Musings
Triathlon training is now in its off-season phase. First there is an adjustment from open water to pool. A pool has walls. Is this the time for intervals? No, that comes later. A 2000 yard swim broken into 500 yard segments can be an attractive activity for this phase. The Muse enjoys this stage; he can perch on a shoulder, watch and suggest. Muse? What is a Muse? A Muse has an ethereal, uninhibited quality that ignites creativity and inspires. The Muse may appear when one is doing a long swim. He may muse about different aspects of a stroke and possibly suggest a two beat kick. This was his thinking today; his thoughts are paraphrased.
This is what he suggested. Now is the time to work on details, with hopefully, just one aspect per session. One aspect derived from swim literature is that the kick should be timed with the stroke, so than when the pulling arm is in near perpendicular position, the power position, the same-side leg should begin its downward kick, of course that is coupled with the kick induced rotation.. If one tries to do the swim with a 6 beat kick, the poor swimmer may become flummoxed and just flutter kick. A better approach, and more easily understood, is the 2 beat kick. The Muse enjoys this in particular, he can just sit on the swimmers shoulder and critique the process more effectively.
Why do it?
Of course, the kick by itself can provide propulsion! Fortunately, even triathletes understand that kicking, especially the downward phase, helps create rotation which powers the stroke.
That is great, but there are two other caveats!
Triathletes also have figured out that dynamic side-shifting is more speed effective that simple rotation. If one can get quicker on one’s side, the swimmer is then narrower in the water because of the more hydrodynamic profile. Using that two beat kick, on the downward kick, the swimmer is then tipped over, then allowing gravity to come into play to further shift the “fuselage” to that opposite side. Also gravity which occurs when the downward aspect of the rotation is conducted, provides free energy.
OK! So what is the final caveat? Here it is! Consider this. The swimmer has extended the right arm in anticipation of the stroke. The swimmer then, with the elbow high, begins the stroke. When the “paddle, or anchor” (hand and forearm) are approaching perpendicular, the same side leg, the right one kicks down. The paddle has become an anchor in the water, and with this high elbow set-up, core muscles, lats, can be more effectively engaged. When then one kicks down, now against the anchor, of course, augmented by the leg driven rotation, considerable more power can be generated! This couple with the two beat kick by itself, the “gravity” assist, the enhanced fuselage profile, results a more powerful forward motion.
Interestingly, when one swims, the Muse suggests. When swim ends, the Muse shuts down. Fortunately, when one is in front of a computer and wishes to write, the Muse then returns, purchases on a shoulder, and dictates script.
