One concept in running and cycling that has yet to be largely integrated into swimming is the concept of changing stride length or changing gears to enhance performance.  We change our stride length in running to adjust for hills, speed or distance.  Arthur Lydiard often advised us to run “like a Chinese coolie” at the beginning of a marathon.  The idea is that a large a stride in a marathon is inefficient.  In cycling, we change gears in an attempt to keep the effort the same when conditions change.

A great deal of time is spent in getting a stroke “right”.  Consider that the “right” stroke is a stroke that can be varied to the conditions and distances we face.  Especially in open water, over a long distance it could be helpful to have variety to help offset muscle fatigue that is bound to happen because we are competitive athletes.

One way to vary the freestyle stroke is to vary where the hand and arm enters the water.  If the mid point of entry is on the same plane as our head off to the side on the left and right, then going farther forward or backwards from the head with the hand and arm entry will alter our “stride” or stroke in the water making it longer or shorter.  Making this change will also throw less and more of our body into each stroke creating different gears or stride length to our swimming.

As with running and cycling there are trade offs to varying the stroke.  Cyclists and runners who learn to use their gears and adjust stride lengths appropriately ride and run farther and faster.  Learning stroke variations is to our advantage as we make progress to becoming better swimmers.