I preface this with the disclaimer that I did searches and did not find what I was looking for in 3 pages with keywords "tread, treading, eggbeater, workout". Re-direction is welcomed.

I have been targeting my weak points lately, and aside from running, I want to get better at treading. In the past month I have been doing Workouts that resemble some form of 5-10 min tread with 1 min intervals as time "on/off" with on being elbows and hands out, off being regular hands in. I speculate (or heard a rumor?) that I should be prepared for 45+ minutes of treading at a pop, lots of hands out, lots of holding/passing various objects. For a skill that is so obscure, yet so crucial, I was expecting to find much more elaborate and detailed Workouts that provide better structure straight from the horses mouth. Any one have some insight?

If this post is a repeat, please spare me any reprimand. PM me and allow me the dignity to remove it myself, thanks.

From the indoc overview:

Treading water

Equipment - None.
Procedure - The exercise begins with the student moving from waist deep water into deep water. On the command "Hands up", the student will raise their hands out of the water and tread water by using their legs only. Correct form is the key to the exercise. The student's motion with the legs should be in an egg-beater fashion, with the legs coming together simultaneously or alternatively. The motion of the legs must also be both rhythmical and forceful to maintain positive buoyancy of the student. The student must ensure their hands above the wrist and their head do not break the water line for the minimum evaluated time.

You will not have to tread water for 45 minutes.

I found this thread among others regarding treading water:

http://www.specialtactics.com/ubbthreads....html#Post54160

There is no specific treading workout...learn the eggbeater or another technique and you'll be fine.

Additionally, the purpose of this site is not to provide "more elaborate and detailed Workouts that provide better structure straight from the horses mouth"...the purpose is to answer questions, dispel rumors, and get the correct information out to folks like you...those who provide Workouts do so with their own free time out of the goodness of their heart using their insight and expertise while (in many cases) doing the job of a PJ, CCT, STO, or CRO...it is up to you to prepare and be ready...this site provides many tools (all free, donations accepted which ALL go to the That Others May Live Foundation) but only you can prepare yourself. Good luck!

TE,

Thank you so much for your response. As always, the users of this forum are grateful for your continued support of our pursuits and ambitions.

I cannot do the eggbeater if my life depended on it. I played water polo for 5 months and worked at it every day and could not get it down. I do the scissor kick for treading and can do it pretty good without hands for a little while.

How many guys at Indoc don't tread with the eggbeater? I know I'll be able to tread for at least 2:30, but I'm still curious.

There was only one guy on our team who didn't do the eggbeater. He did a frog kick type of tread. The egg beater is weird to learn but once you get the idea of how you need to move your legs and feet it's not too bad.

For what it's worth, I never used the egg-beater, nor did the majority of my team.

I'm with TE on this, my tread sucks, and today I worked on it for 30 minutes after our run, crossfit, and strength training, and I just COULD NOT get the eggbeater down.

I can do the eggbeater... backwards... but not the right way, so it just doesn't do enough to keep me up. Here is my 30 minute workout.

2 minute hands in, 1 minute hands out. For 30 minutes. After two rounds I was basically underwater the entire 1 minute. So I decided to say screw the egg beater and do a scissor kick. It was a bit more painful on my legs but I stayed up, with more practice everyday, I think my endurance will build up and won't have any problems.

Hey i can only do the scissor kick and for about 5 minutes without hands of course. Should i learn the eggbeater? or just keep practicing with the scissor kick?