The Effortless Swimming Podcast

Imagine teaching yourself how to swim, never having a coach, never training in a pool, just figuring it out by watching others. That was Alex Roman's reality for most of his life. He swam to survive, but certainly not to thrive. But one day, a swimmer effortlessly glided past him in the open water. And it sparked something, curiosity, what made them so fast, and what was happening beneath the surface that he had never considered.

That moment sent Alex on a journey of discovery. One that transformed him from a struggling swimmer with inefficient technique, Doing slower than two minutes per hundred into someone now who competes at national meets and swims a 50 meter sprint in under 30 seconds. His improvement wasn't just about training harder.

It was about training smarter. And in this episode, Alex shares the pivotal moments that fueled his rapid progression. The techniques and the drills that made the biggest impact and why understanding the science behind swimming changed everything for him. If you've ever felt stuck in your swimming or wondered if it's possible to make huge gains as an adult, this episode is packed with insights that could change the way you approach your own training.

So let's dive into it.

10:58 What Are The Big Things That Should Be Improved?
13:38 Tuning On How Your Body Feels
25:35 Controlled Chaos
30:55 The Importance of Warm Up
36:28 Building Strength
37:42 Getting Feedback
39:53 Drills

Welcome to the podcast. This is a rebroadcast of another podcast called the Human Endurance Podcast with two friends of mine, Bruna and Fabi. I was a guest on there recently, and I wanted to share this episode with you because I feel like a lot of key things were covered that if you're a swimmer or a triathlete, this is going to help you improve.

Whether you want to get better at open water swimming, making sure you fuel correctly, how you should train, what are some common mistakes and foundational skills 

01:28 Meet Brenton Ford: Founder of Effortless Swimming

11:24 Common Mistakes and Foundational Skills for Swimmers

18:56 Improving Swimming Technique and Training Tips

29:16 The Importance of Drills and Effective Training

39:45 Skills in Open Water Swimming vs. Pool Swimming

44:02 Increasing Stroke Rate vs. Distance Per Stroke

47:47 Choosing the Right Wetsuit

58:15 Fueling for Long Swim Sessions

01:03:14 The Journey of Effortless Swimming

01:15:12 The Future of Swimming

01:20:38 Fire Questions

Have you ever felt like you know what to do, but you're just not sure how to make it happen? Whether you're an athlete looking to unlock better performance or a coach wanting to make lasting impact. Today's episode is for you. Our guest is Nick Winkelman, author of The Language of Coaching, a groundbreaking book on how the right words can transform how you move.

Train and perform. Nick has worked with elite athletes and coaches around the world. And today he's sharing the secrets of using cues, analogies, and storytelling to spark real lasting change. In this episode, we'll cover how the words you hear or tell yourself can supercharge your improvement. Why using the right cues can make your stroke smoother, your technique sharper, and your training more effective, and the power of storytelling to break down barriers, shift mindsets, and help find your edge.

And it's not just for coaches. This is about understanding your own journey. Nick's insights will help you spot what's holding you back and how to focus your energy where it really counts. Whether you're looking to shave seconds off your swim, find more confidence in the way that you're moving or performing, or learn to enjoy the process of getting better.

This episode is packed with a heap of takeaways that you can use in the pool and beyond.

The Start Of Language of Coaching
How My Role As A Coach Is Making An Impact
Internal And External Cues
How Often Do You Repeat The Analogy?
Nothing Seems To Stick
Storytelling Technique
Writing The Book

I'm thrilled to bring back Bobby McGee, a legendary endurance coach with a knack for unlocking an athlete's full potential. But before we dive in, let me tell you a story about one of Bobby's transformative experiences.

Imagine this, a room filled with some of the world's top Olympic coaches from sports as diverse as gymnastics, field hockey, and bobsledding. Bobby found himself immersed in conversations that challenged his perspective and sharpened his skills. And it wasn't just about technique or training plans. It was about understanding people on a deeper level.

And this experience opened Bobby's eyes to the power of emotional intelligence in coaching and performance. It's something he's applied ever since. And in today's episode, Bobby shares some of the lessons he learned in that room. How understanding yourself and your coach can unlock new levels of performance and trust, and why mastering pacing strategies is crucial for success, and how fine tuning your mechanics can help you move more efficiently.

It's a fascinating conversation filled with a lot of actionable advice, and whether you're a swimmer, a runner, a triathlete, I've got no doubt you'll take away a lot from this episode with Olympic run coach, Bobby McGee. Let's get into it.

Coaching Concepts
Athlete Profiling: Understanding Each Individual Athlete
Emotional Analysis
Building Trust
Coaching Philosophies
Coaching Olympic Level Athletes and Mid-Range Athletes
Hardness Factor
Thrive Mentality
You've Got To Have That Killer Mentality
Identifying Inefficiency
Looking More Into Conditioning in Swimming
Breathing Technique In Running
Stroke Length and Stroke Rate
Pacing and Energy Conservation
Visualization

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Dudley Duncan, a seasoned coach and author of The Art of Swimming and The Game of Racing. Dudley has spent years refining his approach to swimming and he's sharing some incredible insights that will help you improve both your mindset and your technique in the water.

We cover stroke mechanics, the power of visualization to boost your performance, and strategies to build confidence so that you feel stronger and more capable every time you swim. Dudley also talks about how to balance hard work with mental toughness, giving you practical tips to stay motivated and achieve your goals.

Whether you're training for a big race, or just looking to swim smoother and faster, this episode is packed with ideas to help you take your swimming to the next level. Let's dive in.

02:22 How Did You Get Into the World Of Swimming
05:40 Philosophy in Developing Personal Growth of Swimmers
08:02 Setting Standards
09:00 Pulling People Back In The Line
11:28 Pushing Athletes To Their Limit
14:20 Philosophy in Developing Good Technique
19:59 Kayak Analogy
21:43 Drills
26:42 Visualization
35:22 Developing Confidence
38:13 Dealing with Failure
40:48 Advise to New Coaches