Re: Training for the Busselton Half Ironman next year
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:31 am
Why don't I just get swimming lessons?
Well, I can actually swim freestyle. Not as effectively as I demand of myself but I can actually swim a lap. After more than 10 years of no swimming I jumped in the pool to "do laps" and expected I would just pick it up straight away because: I have had formal instruction in freestyle previously and about five years ago I did some open water swimming and did quite well.
I did two sessions of laps before I realised I need to work on some fundamentals. I felt tense, frustrated and up and down the pool, lap after lap felt like I was fighting the water. The problems with my swimming were:
* position in the water - head too high, hips and feet too low. This resulted in my dragging my legs along like anchors which made me slower
* feeling very tense (for reasons that will be explained). I don't think that someone tensing up in the water will be able to swim effective freestyle.
* general lack of rhythm. If you watch swimmers on TV you will notice there is a rhythm to freestyle. I have mastered the rhythm of breast stroke and side stroke but I have never mastered the rhythm of freestyle.
* breathing. I was puffed out by 25 metres to the point where I had to stop to catch my breath. The reason is that I was forcefully blowing the air out of my lungs while my head was under water and then forcefully sucking air in when my head was out of the water. I tried the same thing on dry land and was out of breath in 30 seconds.
My fundamental problem in the water is balance. I can keep my balance doing breast stroke and side stroke but not freestyle. I have always had a problem with balance. Growing up I had years of swimming lessons until mid high-school and excelled in breast stroke and side stroke. I came second in the finals for breast stroke at high school. Anyway, I always had a problem floating on my back and I almost failed swimming lessons because of it. I did everything the trained, qualified and experienced instructor told me to do but I still could not master such a basic skill. In the end I passed because the instructor could see I was doing everything I was told but still could not balance properly in the water. On that shaky foundation I was taught freestyle and passed the lessons but did not master the stroke.
What I need to learn is balance, relaxation and breathing. Learning balance is not something that can be rushed which is why I don't want to go to a swimming instructor to learn it. I would feel rushed and against the clock. I am also carrying a lot of baggage from swimming lessons while growing up which does not help me to relax in the pool. Another reason for me not to attend swimming lessons to learn basic skills. My breathing is just a matter of being more mindful and relaxed. I don't need to suck in and blow out and hyperventilate.
So, I spent an hour in the pool last night with some basic drills: vertical balance and horizontal balance front, back and side. While doing all of the drills I relaxed and breathed gently. When I sank I didn't fight the fight the water, I just breathed out gently and kicked back up to the surface when I hit the bottom of the pool (I was in the deep end too ). Actually, that was quite fun! So, how did it go? I didn't start out well. I have bad posture and I think it is translating to the pool. My vertical position was off, on my back my hips were too low and on my front I was dragging my bum along under the water.
Because I was conscious of being relaxed I stayed relaxed whatever happened. I also breathed a lot more gently and didn't get puffed out from breathing so forcefully. My position in each of the drills improved over the session and by the end of the night I was able to pretty much float ok vertically, on my back and face down. I was relaxed and enjoyed myself for the whole session so I was happy with how it went. I also left some baggage behind in the pool.
A couple more sessions like that I will see my coach at the squad I want to join to get professional advice about whether I need swimming lessons, stroke correction or squad.
Well, I can actually swim freestyle. Not as effectively as I demand of myself but I can actually swim a lap. After more than 10 years of no swimming I jumped in the pool to "do laps" and expected I would just pick it up straight away because: I have had formal instruction in freestyle previously and about five years ago I did some open water swimming and did quite well.
I did two sessions of laps before I realised I need to work on some fundamentals. I felt tense, frustrated and up and down the pool, lap after lap felt like I was fighting the water. The problems with my swimming were:
* position in the water - head too high, hips and feet too low. This resulted in my dragging my legs along like anchors which made me slower
* feeling very tense (for reasons that will be explained). I don't think that someone tensing up in the water will be able to swim effective freestyle.
* general lack of rhythm. If you watch swimmers on TV you will notice there is a rhythm to freestyle. I have mastered the rhythm of breast stroke and side stroke but I have never mastered the rhythm of freestyle.
* breathing. I was puffed out by 25 metres to the point where I had to stop to catch my breath. The reason is that I was forcefully blowing the air out of my lungs while my head was under water and then forcefully sucking air in when my head was out of the water. I tried the same thing on dry land and was out of breath in 30 seconds.
My fundamental problem in the water is balance. I can keep my balance doing breast stroke and side stroke but not freestyle. I have always had a problem with balance. Growing up I had years of swimming lessons until mid high-school and excelled in breast stroke and side stroke. I came second in the finals for breast stroke at high school. Anyway, I always had a problem floating on my back and I almost failed swimming lessons because of it. I did everything the trained, qualified and experienced instructor told me to do but I still could not master such a basic skill. In the end I passed because the instructor could see I was doing everything I was told but still could not balance properly in the water. On that shaky foundation I was taught freestyle and passed the lessons but did not master the stroke.
What I need to learn is balance, relaxation and breathing. Learning balance is not something that can be rushed which is why I don't want to go to a swimming instructor to learn it. I would feel rushed and against the clock. I am also carrying a lot of baggage from swimming lessons while growing up which does not help me to relax in the pool. Another reason for me not to attend swimming lessons to learn basic skills. My breathing is just a matter of being more mindful and relaxed. I don't need to suck in and blow out and hyperventilate.
So, I spent an hour in the pool last night with some basic drills: vertical balance and horizontal balance front, back and side. While doing all of the drills I relaxed and breathed gently. When I sank I didn't fight the fight the water, I just breathed out gently and kicked back up to the surface when I hit the bottom of the pool (I was in the deep end too ). Actually, that was quite fun! So, how did it go? I didn't start out well. I have bad posture and I think it is translating to the pool. My vertical position was off, on my back my hips were too low and on my front I was dragging my bum along under the water.
Because I was conscious of being relaxed I stayed relaxed whatever happened. I also breathed a lot more gently and didn't get puffed out from breathing so forcefully. My position in each of the drills improved over the session and by the end of the night I was able to pretty much float ok vertically, on my back and face down. I was relaxed and enjoyed myself for the whole session so I was happy with how it went. I also left some baggage behind in the pool.
A couple more sessions like that I will see my coach at the squad I want to join to get professional advice about whether I need swimming lessons, stroke correction or squad.