5 Pro Tips To Swim Faster With Lucy Charles

[@gtn]

Which of these tips do you think will make the biggest improvement to your swimming? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below 👇

[@kaitlinb476]

Global Triathlon Network skulling. heres to speeding up my 100m

[@1031monlin]

For me it’s increasing my cadence or turnover. I tend to glide so I need to work on that. They are all great tips to be honest! I just think this one for me in particular will help me most. Great vid! Thanks

[@zekevfab]

For me, increase cadence was the first breakthrough I had, the second was to extend well for the catch which helps body rotation, which made me use my main body muscles instead of my biceps, so I don't get tired anymore

[@jarnedeprins3617]

Easy way to swim faster: put your swimming glasses under your swimming cap. They always told me it would help, so I guess it is? It is probably more waterodynamic(I don't know, but aerodynamic, but then in water?). What they also told me back in the day when I was a swimmer, was to keep your pinkie finger a little bit open, so some water can flow trough. Don't keep it open by 5cm or so, but 0.5-1cm, I don't know if it really helps, but you might want to try it.

[@Marko-sh5tn]

Jarne De Prins waterodynamic 😂 you were looking for hydrodynamic ☺️. Goggles under the cap are just a safety measure for them not to slip off when fighting others in the water? I’ve always had the pinky a little bit open too, even in my competition years. Still swim like that. The thing with tri swimming is that’s in open water, which is a completely different discipline to pool swimming, so a few alterations to technique need to be made, such as higher cadence. I too glide in the pool at about 20-22 strokes per 50m lap but that doesn’t really translate to open water.

[@JanseJannik]

More Lucy please! So cool that the pros are involved.

[@jonash3251]

Seriously, her catch is so fascinating to watch! Love her technique

[@steakfries__]

get u a guy that looks at u the way mark looks at lucy

[@christianalmanza3514]

megino._ i lol. Dang she’s married. He should’ve looked a bit more at the camera instead of her.

[@marcopoloplanner8843]

Very beautiful girl :)

[@MayimHastings]

Didn’t seem any different than normal. He always gives people the boyfriend stare. Some guys are just like that... And as a woman, I’m never opposed 😂

[@hotelmanagerchannel]

"And if you compare me to my other half, Reece" *Mark dies inside*

[@LucianoDevoto]

So true!!! LOL.

[@gururajms]

Thank you GTN, Mark... I am 38 and recently started training for triathlon mainly for fitness reasons. You guys are doing a fab job getting people fit and healthy. All the best to your entire team.

[@obi-wankenobi9871]

I love everything about trialthlon besides running and swimming.

[@gtn]

Transitions can be fun...

[@boia1277]

😂

[@Josh_Stuchbery]

Hmmmm..I think cycling might be your sport!

[@rs.br.9584]

Subscribe GCN😂

[@ciandoyle8453]

Put that on a t-shirt.

[@MayimHastings]

I’m so addicted to this freaking channel... I have the body of Yoda, but when swimming I’m free! So this channel has really upped my game and I can now out swim everyone I know! THANK YOU ALL!!! And a happier new year! 🎊

[@norbert4571]

that casual "i'm lucky to have one at home"

[@jamesambrocio]

Basically, "not to brag but I have one at home."

[@XenozFifa]

lol I just went past both

[@PoetWithPace]

i know

[@PoetWithPace]

@Can Kaya where in Egypt?

[@buzzkath]

I wish I had one

[@andrewgrenville5330]

Good vid, Mark does a good job of ensuring Lucy expands on her tips.

[@dionysiaex5538]

Yay! More Lucy Charles content please!

[@xGshikamaru]

yes please ! She’s such an inspiring athlete.

[@syedabegum6640]

S I M P

[@MrShoji5150]

She was so fast specially swimming part when I was watching her in Ironman Kona 2017!!

[@gtn]

So fast! Lucy is widely considered one of the best swimmers in Ironman triathlon, good presenter too 👍

[@magnemmar4869]

If you don't have a swimming background, and many Triathletes do not, you should see if there is a Masters swim team in your area. The quality of coaches for Masters teams will vary a lot, but if the team is fairly stable and has more than 10 or so people then it likely has someone on deck who is a decent coach. Teams with poor coaching tend to fall apart pretty quickly. If you can't find one, look for year round teams (ages 6 - 18). Obviously you can't swim with them, but very often the assistant coaches will do coaching on the side and they may be a less expensive way to get in some focused stroke technique work. I haven't met a coach yet who will turn down some side work as long as they don't feel their time is being wasted. Have your spouse/significant other/friend video you, and since many phones are water resistant, you can get video under water. No endless pool + mirror or coach required. Drills are very helpful, but you need to know which ones to do, when to do them, and how often per practice/week to do them. If you overdo it or do them incorrectly, you can end up worse off than if you hadn't done them at all. Being told, "Do drills to improve your catch" or "Keep your elbows high" or whatever the case may be doesn't mean YOU should be doing them, or that there aren't other issues with your stroke that should be sorted out first. Don't rely on fins, paddles, bouys, or boards. They all have their time and place, but if they are overused they become a crutch. Kicks without a board are fantastic for core strength. Same for pulls without bouys. Don't rely on only swimming freestyle. Breaststroke is extremely useful. Backstroke kicks (without fins or a board) are excellent for overall endurance. Butterfly for strength and endurance. Basically, don't just roll up, swim a ton of freestyle and be like, "1 and done!" because you're doing yourself a disservice.

[@mattyice1710]

Best video yet! Love Lucy's expertise and Mark's interview skills to help fully explain the ideas. More of this format please

[@barryfield9300]

Great tips from Lucy, especially to get a video. She is right on about thinking you're doing it right, but the video doesn't lie. Mark does a fine job on getting Lucy to expand on her tips. Good stuff with these videos with elites, GTN rules! The best triathlon youtube out there.

[@markthrelfall3577]

Barry Field thanks Barry! Glad you’re enjoying the videos

[@Muskar2]

I hope I can find a practical way to do a video one day - but we're not allowed to film at the local pool, and not only is that a common policy here in Denmark, but there's not that many pools at this latitude. Perhaps I'll have to sign up to a private swimming event or team or something.

[@dandykaligis]

Aww... her smile is so adorable.. 😍

[@christophercharles6671]

Gay

[@Ghosty0727]

I know you are, dick.

[@anormalgamer443]

I have learnt how to swim and float by myself so I’m looking how to improve

[@Mysiamesecatblue]

My endless pool is the rip tide in the ocean. This is a good video

[@beaub650]

Just getting into running tris at 37...also just fell in love with Lucy Charles! Global Tri Network...you’re OK. :-)

[@egbourgeois13]

I love Lucy and love to see her sharing things!

[@ironmantooltime]

egbourgeois13 ohhh things.. Not thighs 🤔😊

[@ODYSSEYOpenWater]

Thanks for the tips! We'd love to see more about swimming in the open water, which brings many unique challenges to swimmers.

[@rebeccabeeney1380]

I’m doing a swimming competiotion soon. Wish me luck! 🦄😃

[@lorianag5097]

Rebecca Beeney How was it? 🙂

[@JuiceisGood]

How was it? I have one today

[@randomgameplayspt6523]

@@JuiceisGood how was it?

[@britneybritney977]

Its called a meet

[@darrenc.3263]

GTN, thanks for the great interview. The tips are obviously rock solid from such a superstar swimmer. One suggestion I have is to create a video that can help triathletes with something many of us don't get to practice often and that is how to start effectively from the beach into breaking waves. I've been lucky to have lots of experience with this, but it never ceases to amaze me that in a 10person wave start, after the first wave I'm on my own as the others tried to jump over a wave and got rolled back. Triathletes really need help with this!

[@bensoN_GT]

she a "superstar" swimmer? been swimming competitively for 7 years now never heard of her before tho

[@karbsundance]

This was super helpful to me! Lucy is awesome btw

[@leecoates]

And endless pool with a mirror on the bottom? Yeah, ok I'll buy one. Anything else? No. Ok, just the pool then?

[@bigbuggie5]

I’ve never seen a pool with a mirror. That sounds cool!

[@SudipSinha]

Are you sure you wouldn't like a coach with that, sir?

[@mayarina6]

I highly recommend ro broadend your package sir. So your package consist of an endless mirror pool, a coach, a dietician, fysiotherapist and a you might need a sponsor as well

[@PeakTorque]

Question for Lucy: you say increase cadence, but how can you do this keeping the power low? On the bike we can use gears, in the water, how do we reduce the gearing? For me, increasing cadence swimming just feels like sprinting and im done after 100m

[@BigOilerFan2011]

Better fitness and some weight training would help. Practice with a metronome under your swim cap.

[@the23rdshadowdragon]

I think our 2 new presenters need to be Mark Buckingham and Lucy Charles, they are both naturals! (Not getting rid of the current mark of heather of course, you can have more than two presenters. Just look at gcn or gmbn)

[@alanmorris3636]

very informative thanks, just taken up tri from a cycling TT background....loving all your videos. Keep them coming,.....thank you

[@gtn]

Thank you Alan!

[@nikoladze77]

Catch 22 for triathlon is that swimming is the hardest part for making improvements. Learning proper technique and adapt it to your skills and physionony take a couple of years to master, with experienced coach. Lucy is a former competitive swimmer and she knows that very well. .

[@danjohnson1001]

My coach? My endless pool at home?? Got any tips for real people?

[@JStephs1950]

A big note of envy there. That kind of thinking poisons your mind. She had a lot of other great hints and tips. You don't have to implement them all. But they can widen your perspective, maybe give you some ideas, if you can get past the envy. Don't have an endless pool or a coach? Get your mother or your sister to video you swimming in a regular pool. Hey, you're lucky you have a pool to swim in.

[@abox6989]

@@JStephs1950 It was a joke.

[@JStephs1950]

@@abox6989 Your comment brings up a point of Netiquette: If you're making a joke, end it with some indication that it IS a joke, like a smiley face :-). Even among English-speaking countries, there are so many cultural differences that it's difficult, sometimes impossible to read behind the lines. It didn't sound like a joke to me. It sounded like Dan Johnson was ridiculing the speaker for not understanding the circumstances of most people, when he apparently has no knowledge of what she went through to get to where she is. Maybe she was born rich. Or maybe she was born poor and worked really hard all her life so that she could own a continuous pool. Most of the competitive swimmers I've known and the ones I've read about have had schedules which most people could never follow, because they take so much dedication, effort and sacrifice. The comment is not something anyone with any real knowledge about competitive swimming would ever make fun of. It reeks of ignorance and having a mean-spirit. Even if with smiley-face, it's unworthy.

[@abox6989]

@@JStephs1950 Most people find smileys annoying and consider it a sign of degeneracy. :-)

[@JStephs1950]

A Box degeneracy? I don’t believe that. It!s simply a matter of making intent clear. And emojis are just one way of making yourself understood. A better way is to write clearly and say what you actually mean, instead of writing ambiguous or easily misunderstood statements. Emojis are a quick shorthand, but if you don’t care about being clear or aren’t able to write clearly, then you’ll have to become inured to being misunderstood and probably laughed at or derided for being an asshole, even if you never intended that.

[@Lokra_]

swimming f-a-s-t-a!!!

[@swiminlovelyplace5203]

Agree with you Lucy ! Video is so important to see how we swim and be aware of our mistakes

[@Pattimann7]

I was just watching this because I’m competing in freestyle like after an hour and want to win

[@lethalbroccoli01]

Mood

[@vanesaorozco1279]

ThinkC21 me too!!! 😭

[@Pattimann7]

Vanesa Orozco no worries, u can do it, what helped me win was closing your palm or hand to swipe more water so u go faster

[@pezores9925]

did you win

[@d1Page762]

Why did you loose ?

[@NathanHiberDive]

Glad to hear working on the weaker side doesn't have to make it as strong as the strong side. Probably put a bit too much work onto it myself from the sounds of things.

[@tomclay3153]

I really struggle with breathing to my left, normally in open water every 2 breaths I throw my head up quickly. But this has helped greatly :)

[@gcostagcosta]

Lovely. Great tips

[@mochijimin6360]

These helped me soooo much! I bet I'll make the swim team! 😀

[@gtn]

Great stuff!

[@bensoN_GT]

a year has passed did you make it?

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Very informative, thank you.

[@danielgembski4487]

Brilliant, both of you, really good. Keep it up. Ta!!!!!

[@Maul3097]

Thanks

[@richardruns4cake]

Great tips 👍 more of this stuff please

[@teddytaffy4574]

*Good thing I have a pool and lane ropes at home to practice!!*

[@Sara-zl1zs]

NXT Taffy i feel like there was sarcasm in this post 😂

[@cliptracer]

3:56 "do half a length sptinting" - it means half a length of the stroke, with accent on cathing, not ending?

[@revvingrebel8213]

On the beautyfull IJsland Lanzarote, costa Tequise. Nice movie, going there in 4 weeks

[@sdoofette]

Great video , thanks for the tips. One question though, the pool is fabulous where did the setting take place?

[@markthrelfall3577]

Olivier Van Parys we were in Lanzarote. It’s the Occidental Lanzarote Mar hotel

[@nazz_m9026]

Swimming with a wetsuit in a pool, is it advisable? I have to get used to swimming with a wetsuit and would like to know if I can use a wetsuit in one of my swimming sessions at an indoor heated pool? We have ows but limited with time, temp and weather. Thanks for the tips Lucy Charles and GTN.

[@lukas_mena]

Yes! It is very recomended to start using your wet suit 1 week before a race

[@davidlouiebedia1319]

What is the best cadence? And how to improve swim cadence?

[@ironmantooltime]

Sees new Sage Canaday video in feed, watches Lucy Charles on GTN first 🤘

[@roksraka9241]

I swim with long slow powerful-ish strokes. If I were to increase my cadence, would that mean my stroke would have to become less "efficient" (pushing less water with less force) in order for me to be able to sustain the effort?

[@JakobThusgaard]

I have the exact same question. Did you find an answer?

[@scottbeasley8589]

Isn't being able to do high cadence (while keeping form) a total function of fitness level?

[@thisisbob1001]

Where are they? Looks nice.

[@jiaaustralia1]

Helped a lotttt😍😍

[@codyd.1415]

She and many of the pros kick quite a bit more than typical triathletes. Obviously this helps their time but keep in mind these are elite level triathletes and this is only possible at such high cadences because they have a mind blowing amount of endurance and fitness. I am a very competitive age grouper and I can and have done iron man distances but for me to kick as much as she is kicking here I would be gone in 500-700 meters!.. just completely demolished. I am aware that I tend to employ one whip kick per arm stroke typically at long distances (not in my shorter speed work obviously) therefore not consuming the oxygen needed to have a high kick rate beyond 700 meters and also saving my legs for the bike and run. These elites are absolutely amazing like on a lever that most cannot wrap their heads around and they seem to have an endless amount of leg endurance and an unreal Vo2max.

[@CoreyBlenkarn]

Yes! More Lucy!

[@Marko-sh5tn]

What I noticed in the local pools is that people just jump in and splash around. No technique, no improvements, hips dropping, hips wiggling, breathing straight up, rigid kicks... people should focus on some drills if they’d want to swim faster. 200 strokes per lap in a 50m pool will only exhaust you and you won’t get anywhere.

[@Incaensio]

She's a real athlete.

[@eden4190]

Tips: 1: Keep your fingers closed 2: Structured swim sections 3: Control how fast/slow your strokes are depending on water environment 4: Breathe to both sides 5: Focus on your speed

[@DontTestTheX]

Serious question... Do long fingernails help with the stroke?

[@PiestewaPeak]

I’m a huge fan of hers

[@johnbouttell5827]

Probably the best tip is bilateral breathing to balance the body on both sides and do rehab by doing easy training sessions on the weaker side.

[@obiwanschinobi]

John Bicycle I found it hard from the beginning but quickly adapted to breathing on both sides. Now it actually doesn’t matter to which side I breathe. Maybe because I was complete beginner and wasn’t used to a specific side. I also mostly breathe on every third stroke so I switch all the time.

[@antonpeterson1245]

ObiwanSchinobi I think swimming teachers tell children at a young age to breath every 3 strokes so that the y are used to breathing on both sides.

[@obiwanschinobi]

It may be so. I didn't learn how to swim at a young age! :D :D

[@BigOilerFan2011]

I find that when I bilateral breath I have a start and stop motion rather than consistent momentum.

[@meronporever895]

its hard for me to do bilateral breathing 😣 im more on right side breathing

[@erikapotgieter1032]

Need to start implementing bilateral breathing!!!!

[@phxrsx]

Shes so pretty.

[@MrLongshot26]

She's a married man now

[@lurongc2169]

MrLongshot26 “man” You alright?

[@Ghosty0727]

Remember it’s 2019 you never know.

[@Yato_011]

Animegeek17 it’s 2020

[@nedster63]

Damn. Good set of shoulders doesnt seem to hurt either...:-)

[@tway24ironlife34]

Great swimmer and beautiful person😁

[@rebbieandfamily]

Beautiful triathlete 😍 an inspo for girls like me. :)

[@truthfacts57]

I notice Lucy was outside curious to the water temp in the pool, and I swim indoors, and the water is between 83.8 and 84.4 wonder what Lucy would do in a warm water pool as far s workouts ?

[@ianclunie9753]

It'd be useful to know exactly how long the rest should be between each 50M sprint set. The less rest, the more likely this is going to be a threshold aerobic session (which I think is what she's doing), and not an anaerobic session. Ie 50M sprints with only 10sec rest is still a kind of CSS training.

[@ShadowG4D]

You aren’t supposed to keep your fingers closed while swimming, you want them partially open so when you pull it creates a web of water in between your fingers and it’ll make you swim easier.

[@PoetWithPace]

For the 50m sets, how much rest between each 50m?

[@padraigobroin370]

Top tip for swimming. Be built like a piece of A4 paper eg. Lucy

[@anoshsethna2977]

when breathing in side ways the water enters the mouth and the nose how do you prevent that from happening???

[@tanthiennguyen9133]

Vielen Dank

[@cadenceodonnell8191]

Hahahah high Cadence 😆

[@thedolenorway]

hard enough to find a Cadence at all around my part of the world, let alone a high one.

[@paigelouise2490]

Swimming has always been in my family and is has triathalons. My mom was in the junior olympics and she hasn’t really swam in a while and has gotten just a little out of shape, but my aunt still swims and is a swim coaches and does triathalons often. I feel worried because I’m starting a swim team for the first time (I’m in 7th grade 💀) even though I’ve been swimming my whole life I’ve never really done it competitively and I’m also in track/cross country but I can hardly run 2 miles. Biking well I’ve been doing that since I got on 2 wheels. Sooo, I’m still worried about my first swim team I feel like I’m starting too late. Erm

[@marcopoloplanner8843]

Can anyone please help? I breathe every 3 strokes (bilateral). Do you people think this breathing pattern could cause me issues on long swims, eg from getting a breath not frequently enough?

[@sabsanchezzz]

I love swimming and while in practice, I feel so terrible because I’m the slowest, I’m always behind. Everyone is done and I’m still swimming and finishing the practice. It sucks 😔

[@bensoN_GT]

you just need to put on the work to swim faster

[@RamenChips]

5:13 thats how i swim lmao. dude in the back

[@edoardodellepiane4535]

Lucy, I want to be train by you!! You are The number one!!

[@pogigwapo5093]

Getting really nervous for my lifeguard assessment test tomorrow

[@charliewalker9148]

Good luck

[@pogigwapo5093]

@@charliewalker9148 Thank you very much. It's been pushed forward to the 29th now.

[@penguino3480]

Lol I'm having a swimming gala soon so I'm here just binge watching all swimming videos but not actually swimming. MY LIFEEEE. And also I'm 13 year old and my 50m butterfly is 56 seconds is that slow or fast?

[@JStephs1950]

I'm 69 years old and my 50 meter fly is about 60 seconds, without really trying hard. I don't really do a competitive stroke. It's a year later, so if you've improved a lot, ignore my advice here: Sounds to me like you need some coaching on technique. If you don't have a coach, first have a look at the youtube videos on "The Shaw way to fly", which teaches you how to relax while doing the fly. Once you get down the technique for a relaxed fly, try looking up some videos on competitive fly, like the Michael Phelps fly - although he breathes every stroke, unlike many fly swimmers, who breathe every other stroke. Something you're doing or not doing is really getting in the way of your stroke. You should be swimming a lot faster - unless you're just starting out. At 13, you may not have had the muscle mass needed for a good strong fly. A year later now, and if you've kept up your swimming, you may be a lot stronger now.

[@jakebrading5324]

Where are they?

[@yurislima]

Lucy Charles 😍

[@MH-dr1py]

Well done Lucy.

[@mykimikimiky]

1. use your arms 2. use your legs 3. use your arms and legs simultaneously ! 4. don't breed while you are underwater 5. pick just one direction

[@elainekennedy4065]

My brother liam is soooooo slow at swimming so he has to watch this lollll

[@jdo1014]

So I just need a coach and an endless mirror pool.

[@buzzkath]

Wait quick question what is an endless pool?

[@Gary-iz8re]

normally what is the rest in between each 50m for doing 30x50m

[@maddy_marinebiology7772]

Gary Yeung we normally get 30 seconds in between 50’s if they’re sprints

[@briannap6799]

i’m usually afraid of getting cramps, that’s why i don’t usually try to swim faster

[@lisapet160]

Pressed "like" even before Lucy started talking! (Edit at the end of the video): Need "like so much" button!

[@markthrelfall3577]

LisaPet haha I’ll suggest it to KZbin

[@skymedic48]

Lucy charles 😍😍😍

[@pinins.prawhn4624]

Shes Mesmeriziing!

[@gateCodeKC]

Lucy Charles! 😍😍

[@bulentkamali]

She rocks

[@ervinsolano1984]

Catch!!!

[@tatedesmet]

1. Total Immersion swimming 2. Caffeine

[@miracletamez5541]

Only watching because I have an interview with YMCA for the job as life guard

[@mrgq2000]

Was that a salt water pool? Doesn’t chlorine kill the wetsuits and void the warranty?

[@666LazyBone666]

She is sponsored, so she probably doesn't need to worry about warranty or chlorine harming the wetsuit..

[@heatherfell_oly]

Yes it is salt water, nice for buoyancy too!

[@mrgq2000]

Andreas Krotki true but if it would have been a regular pool (it wasn’t) it sends the wrong idea to people who aren’t.

[@666LazyBone666]

mrgq1979 that's the issue with a lot of the pros' tips..

[@larissadueck2643]

Sooooo, what's the catch?

[@glywnniswells9480]

Her shoulders clear her arms way out of the water. Thats why shes so good