The Effortless Swimming Podcast

Join me on a wild journey where I accidentally became the subject of a search party while swimming with friends in Melbourne. From helicopters to firetrucks, this rescue operation had it all. But it's not just a cold-water mishap; it's a story about finding answers right in front of us. Learn the lessons from this unforgettable experience and how they apply to our everyday struggles. 00:21 Swimming in the Cold Water 02:04 Lost Swimmer in Red Cap 06:39 Miscommunication in the Cold Water 11:40 Improving Back Strength for Better Performance 13:40 EO SwimBETTER 14:30 Swimming Insights: Finding Obvious Solutions

Andrew Sheaff, author of 'A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching,' shares valuable insights for swim coaches and swimmers. Topics include: effective coaching for large groups, fun and effective teaching techniques, simplifying swim technique analysis, improving body alignment and kick effectiveness, reversing swimming misconceptions, individualized swimming instruction, coaching language and analogies, the power of questioning in coaching, efficient skill development, common mistakes in increasing speed, measuring progress in remote coaching.

Join us today with Tom Barton, fresh from the US with Australia's A team! Tom is the founder of the Q Swim app and works as a physiotherapist at The Health Collab. He's your go-to expert for keeping swimmers and triathletes moving smoothly and injury-free. Today, we're focusing on how triathletes can step up their range of motion and overall movement. Don't miss out! 01:17 Trip to the US for a Swimming Competition 03:44 Standout Performances in Swimming at the US Open 05:14 The Importance of Mobility Testing for Swimmers and Triathletes 8:10 The High Elbow Test and Combined Elevation Test 13:03 Improving Combined Elevation and High Elbow Test: Strengthening Antagonist Muscles 17:06 Strengthening the Back and Nervous System for Optimal Performance 20:23 Incorporating Swimming Exercises into Pre-Swimming Routines 23:08 Tips for Overhead Pressing 27:11 Improving Hip Flexibility and Activation for Triathletes 32:18 Q Swim App and Working with Swimmers in Queensland 35:35 Why How You Swim and How You Move in the Water Are Crucial

I'm excited to introduce our guest today, the legendary triathlete Craig Alexander. He's a three-time world Ironman champion and a two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion. Craig shares insights on resilience, perseverance, and the importance of a supportive community. He also talks about how visualization helps in triathlon training and racing, along with a personal mantra that guided him throughout his career. Plus, he provides valuable advice for young triathletes to help them reach their full potential. Tune in now! 01:05 Racing Through the Ages and the Pandemic Pause 03:57 Motivation, Resilience, and the Coach's Journey 08:17 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach: Sharing Knowledge and Inspiring Others 11:38 The Guiding Mantras for Triathlon Success 14:31 Surrounding Yourself with Good People 15:20 The Power of Living in the Present Moment and Making Split-Second Decisions in Races 21:21 Visualization and Its Effect on Athletic Performance 25:52 Advice for Young Triathletes: Train with Better Athletes and Seek Help from Great Coaches 33:28 Motivations Beyond the Finish Line: Family, Community, and Coaching 39:12 Growing Old is Not for Sissies 40:04 Get in Touch with Craig!

Get ready for an amazing Andy Donaldson episode! He's done something amazing: finished the Ocean 7 challenge faster than anyone ever has before. In just one year, he completed all seven swims in a total of 63 hours. And the best part? Andy's doing all of this to bring attention to mental health. We'll chat about the tough parts of those swims, how he tackled the tricky currents, and what lessons he took away from the whole experience. 02:24 Navigating Challenges In The Molokai Channel Swim 05:51 The Team's Vital Role in Distance Updates And Support During The Swim 11:02 Mindset Shift: From Competition To Channel Swims 13:19 The Controversy Surrounding The Tsugaru Strait Swim 20:40 Andy's Difficult Swim Through The Tsugaru Strait 27:33 Overcoming Obstacles, The Team Succeeds in Breaking the Ocean 7 World Record 33:11 Promoting The Ocean 7 Sport, Mental Health Awareness, And Message Of Hope And Teamwork 36:50 Moving Over Disappointment And Finding Greater Purpose 40:00 Lessons From The Open Water Swims: Perseverance, Self-Determination, And Lasting Connections 41:58 Life After Reaching The Goal And Embracing New Opportunities 46:00 Media Attention And Impact Of Open Water Swimming 48:23 What's Next For Andy Donaldson?

Join me in this engaging episode as I chat with Sandra Schenkel, an elite duathlete from Spain who overcame swimming frustrations during the pandemic. We'll dive into her journey of making incredible progress through focused training and coaching. Discover how Sandra regained her swimming skills and achieved her best level ever. We'll also explore the significance of relaxation, breathing exercises, and technique in swimming. Get ready for valuable tips on mobility work, rest intervals, and maintaining a healthy diet. 01:56 Overcoming swim frustrations and developing skills 03:32 The Impact of breathing exercises on stroke improvement 04:18 Breathing exercises can help improve relaxation and body position in the water 08:05 Focusing more on the process than the result 11:49 Improving technique through the catch, breathing, leg posture, and head position 13:19 The importance of mobility and flexibility in swimming and how to improve them 19:07 Advice for those who are frustrated by their swimming 21:45 What's the next goal? 22:58 Interval Rest is Vital for Athletes 30:20 Work on technique, breathing, and the things you can control, and do not always train at maximum intensity

Joining me today is Gerard Donnelly from Trivelo Coaching, an Australian champion and podcast host. His podcast is a go-to for triathletes seeking insights from his seasoned journey in the sport. We'll dive into life lessons from triathlon, smart training with technology, race focus, and the balance between short intense sessions and longer technique-focused ones. And, of course, get advice for those training for half or full Ironman events. 01:29 How the sport has changed in the past 30 to 40 years due to various evolutions 05:00 Getting ahead in technology helps coaches train athletes better 12:55 We've plenty of technology to test and train smartly, aiming for peak performance in races 15:44 Athletes should understand their body's feelings along with data for better decisions during races and training. 22:01 What does perceived exertion look like for most athletes? 27:15 Form goggles provide solo training feedback, crucial for refining swimming technique 29:54 Avoid drifting and losing concentration during races 37:55 Key habits for faster triathlon swim times 41:57 The fitness component is the key to holding the form 49:20 Shorter intense sessions VS Longer technique-focused ones 53:10 What advice would you have for someone training for a half or full ironman? 58:10 A focused race plan lead to a positive experience and a more fulfilling life journey

Today, we're thrilled to have triathlete Josh Salley sharing exciting updates on his technique and swimming breakthroughs. You can learn from his journey and find out the secret to his success. Get ready for an inspiring conversation! 02:33 Josh's Swansea Half Ironman Experience: Calmer and Faster! 07:21 Open Water vs. Pool Impact On Awareness? 10:32 Build Confidence In Open Water. Fear Fades With Time 12:34 Josh Shares His Progression And Coaching Insights 20:36 Consistency, Feedback, And Patience Led To Progress 21:51 Find What Works Best For You, Avoid Overthinking 24:09 Having Strong Foundation And Better Habits In Swimming 27:27 Believing In Yourself And Taking Your Place In The Race Leads To Better Results 31:56 Advice For Triathletes Struggling To Improve Their Swim 35:23 Focus On Progress, Not Pace. Be Obsessed With Improvement, And Use Feedback To Refine Your Technique. 37:43 Consistent Practice Helps Your Body Learn What Works

4x Olympian Brent Hayden discusses his Tokyo Olympics comeback, staying in shape post-retirement with strength training, coaching approach, and thoughts on coaching through Skillest. He shares insights on the Canadian swimming community support, relay event details, passing on core aspects to coaching groups, and the impact of media spotlight on his focus in the 2016 Olympics.

Today, I'm excited to have Tom Hofnadel as my guest. Tom is a committed triathlete who is focused on improving his swimming in Ironman races. In this episode, we'll explore the benefits of video analysis and receiving feedback, as well as the technique changes he has made in the past few years to enhance his swimming. We'll also discuss how he keeps track of his progress over time. Tune in now! 03:23 Performance over appearance 03:56 Did the video analysis teach you something new? 07:52 What's your swimming background? 09:48 Has your progress been quite gradual, or did you make significant gains and then plateau for a while? 11:47 What technique changes have you made in the past few years? 15:10 Did you learn by observing or naturally gravitate towards certain swimming techniques? 16:45 How often are you recording yourself with the GoPro? 19:56 Is there anything that you use to measure where you're at or measure your progress over time? 24:00 Have you noticed variations in your swimming times and factors like leading the lane or drafting affecting your performance? 26:15 Are you training with a squad or doing solo sessions? 31:36 Based on your experience in triathlon, particularly in swimming, what advice would you give someone new to the sport? 35:32 Brief structure for analyzing your own stroke