Speedo Q&A 3: Quiz Rebecca Adlington! - Triathlon

Alice RW

27/05/2011 at 10:24

Good morning!

This lunchtime (1-2pm) we're very lucky to be able to welcome Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington onto the forums. She'll be answering your questions about achieving your potential in the pool, her own experience of swimming at the highest level and of course, her journey to next year's London Olympics.

Rebecca is currently riding high as Britain's most famous swimmer. Her success over 400m and 800m at the Beijing Olympics - including smashing Janet Evans's long-standing 800m world record - has made her the most successful female swimmer we've had for decades.

We're opening the discussion now Rebecca so can get answering your questions straight away at 1pm (rather than having to deal with a rush of questions at once).

Alice

[Edited - Sean Kelly's not actually here again, that bit of text got dragged through from last week...]

FerrousFerret

27/05/2011 at 10:51

Afternoon Rebecca and Sean,

how far out do you plan training/racing? At the 'long' end of the plan are the targets aspirational or you just looking to trim that extra 0.xxx% (or are the two goals the same)?

Good luck in Shanghai later this year.

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

27/05/2011 at 11:11

Hi Rebecca, congratulations on all your amazing success and good luck for 2012.

My question>

How do you stay motivated and get through all the swimming you have to do, im guessing in the region of 70K a week?

I like many find swimming a bit of a chore, pounding out the lengths is a bit.. dare I say dull, some days. I guess like many of us, you have days when you just have to turn off and get on with it. Have you any tips for how you get through all your swim sessions? do you have a focus/plan for each session, is that the key?

All the very best for next year, tickets permitting ill be cheering at pool side, otherwise ill be screaming at the tele

Edited: 27/05/2011 at 11:12

kittenkat

pirate

27/05/2011 at 11:23

Hello Rebecca,

I join the others in wishing you luck in all your competitions.

My question, what physical and mental attributes separate the very top elite swimmers from the rest of the pack?

What is that elusive 'magic' extra?

Thanks,

Kate

Nicholas Grinyer

27/05/2011 at 11:25

Hey Rebecca. Tis an honour to message a true Olympian!

Question: Whats the best method to get the whiff of chlorine off my skin? Any products that work well for you? It drives me nuts!

ps.Good luck with your 2012 training!

Splosh!

Nick

sal f

27/05/2011 at 12:05

Hi Rebecca,

How's the training going?

Hoping to come along to support you in London 2012. Will find out very soon.

If I wanted to improve my FC would you recommend either a swim video analysis session or to get some private lessons at the local pool?

Thanks,

Steve

Gemma Hardy 3

27/05/2011 at 12:20

Hi Rebecca,

Hope everything is going well.

Do you have any experience of open water swimming? We have hundreds of swimmers taking part in the Great Swim Series for Macmillan Cancer Support this summer and there are a lot of first time nerves! Do you have any advice or last minute preparations that you find useful before a big swim?

Many thanks

Gemma

fluffyface

27/05/2011 at 12:25

Hi Rebecca,

Congratulations on all your success and i hope much more to come.

Whats the best product to use to get the natty chlorine out of your hair after swimming?!

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

27/05/2011 at 12:49

I have a suplimentary question>

After the Olypmics, would you like to join a crack commando triathlon relay team as an honary pirate, we'll let you do the swim leg unless youre any good at cycling

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:10

Hi Bouncing Barlist....

Thank you for your questions!

Yea i do roughly 70k a week. It can be very dull at times as 1-2 sessions are just about getting the metres in and having a recovery session so its all done at a steady pace.

I think the best thing is to have people around you whether its take a friend or at the pool you're at talk to someone or find someone that has the same ability as you and swim with them!

I definitely have a focus or key goal for each session which helps me. I think just keep it varied! Use different pieces of equipment, different strokes and distances as well. I also find that because i dont write my own sessions it helps. Im not sure if you're part of a club or not but if you arent get someone to write a session for you!

I have to say motivation isnt really a problem for me, just love doing it to be honest. It can be boring at times but at that times i try to work on my technique the best i can!

I hope that helps! Take care

Becky

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:12

Hi adidas

A lot of people ask me about my hair. Luckily i dont bleach or die my hair alot so doesnt get ruined.

I just make sure i use a good shampoo and i use them treatments/mask things you put on your hair once a week just to give it abit extra condition!

Thank you

Becky

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

27/05/2011 at 13:15

Thanks very much Becky, thats useful to hear your perspective. Good idea to get someone else to write a sessions for me, I do ok when I go to masters sessions etc, its when im on my own that I struggle. As you suggest I find it hard to set and stick to my own plans.

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:16

Hi gemma hardy 3

Thank you for your questions!

unfortunately my biggest fear is the sea so i havent done any open water. I do love watching it and going though. My best friend Keri-anne payne does them and love watching her race.

I think the best bit of advice would be to make sure you have your suit ready and good hat and goggles so you dont have to worry about that stuff. Then just enjoy it!! They are so much fun and you get to swim in some incredible places. I love the Windermere Great Swim as its just gorgeous up there! Nerves are good though, gets the adrenaline going!

Also... remember to look for the buoys so you swim the right course and dont go off path!!

I hope it all goes well and they all enjoy it!!

Thank you

Becky

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

27/05/2011 at 13:17

Rebecca Adlington wrote (see)

Hi adidas A lot of people ask me about my hair. Luckily i dont bleach or die my hair alot so doesnt get ruined. I just make sure i use a good shampoo and i use them treatments/mask things you put on your hair once a week just to give it abit extra condition! Thank you Becky

I also heard wetting you hair before donning swim caps helps prevent the pool water getting in. As a bloke I dont worry about such like

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:20

hi Sal F

Thank you for your post.

Training is going very well thank you, extremely tough at the minute as i try get some hard work under my belt ready for Worlds end of July.

To be honest it would depend on how strong of a swimmer you are. I would say if you're at a pretty high standard then the video analysis would work best and can see all parts of your stroke better. However, if you're not quite at that stage yet i would definitely say take lessons. Im sometimes swimming and think im doing something then my coach will tell me im not doing it right or whatever, its good to get someone else's advice and opinion as they can fully see what you're doing right or wrong.

Hope you're ok

Thank you

Becky

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:23

Hi Nicholas Grinyer

Unfortunately i have to agree with you there Nick, it doesnt smell nice. I dont think i even realise i smell anymore! haha!

I just make sure i shower and use shampoo etc then i spray deodorant and then use about half a bottle of perfume!!!! Just make sure you get one that smells nice!

Thank you

Becky

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:29

hI KittenKat

Thank you for your post and wishing me luck!

I think its difficult to say one thing that is different or gives people the extra edge if you like. From the amazing sports people i have met i have found that there motivation, drive and dedication to be the main things. I know for me i dont mind hard work, i wont ever take the easy way out or miss a session. You give it 100% all the time.

I also think people's attitude and professionalism is important. To keep focused no matter what and never get distracted from what you want to do or achieve. Chris Hoy is one of the most professional athletes i have ever seen or met, and i really do admire him and inspire to be like him.

Im a true believer in that hard work will always pay off.

Thank you for your question

take care

becky

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:36

hi ferrousferret

Thank you for your question. I wish i could answer yours better but for me my coach does all the planning. He writes my sessions, plans my training weeks and he is in control of my targets and goals. Obviously i have my own but my coach will pick out my main weaknesses at the end of each season and the next season/cycle will be spent on improving and working on them.

I never set target times i want to achieve when i come to race. I have major competitions i want to hit and compete at and my main goal is to try and qualify for that certain team. Once i have or havent made the team i then go from there and focus on improving on my times i did that the qualifying meets.

I think its good to have short term and long term targets of some sort to keep you going and to keep a check on how your improving.

Thank you

Becky

HelenJenkins

27/05/2011 at 13:38

I have to say sorry for my spelling or grammar mistakes in all the messages!!!

Thank you for taking the time out to ask me though.

Thank you for the support and good luck messages, means alot to me!

Got 20 mins left if anyone wants to ask anything else!

Thank you x

FerrousFerret

27/05/2011 at 13:40

Quick question then...

I saw on your Twitter feed a photo of the ratheryummy chicken sandwich your mum made you some time back. How many calories do you need to consume per day? Do you try to stick to 'proper' food or do you use protein shakes/supplements