When you ask athletes what the #1 thing is that they want to improve, most answer “Speed”.  Seriously…what athlete doesn’t want to get faster?!   But how many athletes focus on technique first to improve speed?  I’d argue…unfortunately…not many.

The tricky part then becomes just exactly how to improve speed.  There are many ways:

• Get stronger via strength training
• Train your fast-twitch muscle fibers (TUT strength workouts, plyometrics, sprint intervals)
• Improve mobility
• Fine-tune technique

So, which way is the BEST way?  I would argue that they’re all important.  But, with limited time, where ought an athlete focus their energy?  You guessed it – technique!  Regardless of the sport, technique rules!

This is why I’m highlighting Denise McClure.  She has finally experienced how better technique leads to faster times. It’s like magic!  Way to go, Denise!

In Denise’s own words:

“I’m a long-time swimmer – I took a swim class in college & have been swimming ever since.  Because my 1st swim class was roughly 50 yrs ago, I thought it high time to learn a bit more about swim technique.  So, in March 2023 I signed up for swim lessons.

Before starting swim lessons with Coach Michelle, I struggled to improve my swim times.  The only ways I knew to get faster were to spin my arms more, kick harder & breathe less.  But…really…those techniques only made me very tired, but not a whole lot faster!

Over the last year I’ve learned that efficient swimming = faster swimming.  What is ‘efficient’ swimming?  It is…

• Buoyant & streamlined
• Effortlessly gilding through the water
• Powered by my hips, not my arms & legs
• So much faster!!
• Amazing!!

When I started these lessons, I was annoyed with the focus on repetitive drills.  Would I ever be able to swim laps again?  Now that the techniques are integrating into my swim stroke, I still do those drills.  I do them because I want to keep my progress moving forward…forward towards more efficient technique & as a bonus…much faster swim times!”

For more info on coaching, click here.  For info on adult swim lessons, click here.