The Fastest Age

Connie, maybe the scuba diving you did when you were younger is helping now because you have a comfort in the water. Being able to relax in the water is a big part of being able to do some of these things. I think that is very likely. Perhaps, I'm not a true later bloomer ;) I am volunteering at the Y this week teaching their little Splash week introduction to water safety. One of the hardest things to get youngsters to do is relax. Try floating when every muscle in your body is tense. It doesn't work. I have to tell them I want their arms and legs floppy. Some tense up, some just keep thrashing. Then others just get in, feel at ease and do it. When I speak to the parents, I find these are the kids that the parent has gotten in the water with and played with, so the kid equates water as fun and is relaxed. Yeap! I've always been very relaxed in water. I feel better in water than I do on land. So translate that to me trying to learn backstroke turns, which I only succesfully did in the last 6 months. Coach tells us we are going to work on backstroke turns. Having watched tons of age group practices I know the first step is to know your count, then learn the timing of when to turn over, stroke and flip. I know all these things, but my head is saying, yeah, but after I flip I am going to be on my back, under water and have used up all my air on the flip. So right away before I even start to execute the turn, I am uptight, using more air than I need, and subsequently have a near drowning on the turn! Time has started to erase these problems and I can now streamline at least halfway across the pool on my back underwater. But it is because I am so stubborn and refused to give in. And I now know I won't drown in 4 foot of water! I tend to halt my breathing (exhaling) for just a little bit during the part of the turn where I know the water is not gonna get up my nose, then i have little more left to exhale when I'm on my back. Also, I try to ration my exhaling. At the begining of the turn my exhalation is much more shallow, then it gets more forceful when I'm on my back. It takes practice, and ignoring the little bit if water that does get up your nose on occasion. Yea, long time ago I learned to not panic from that out of breath feeling. it;s still uncomfortable, bytm hey,if thats the worst thing, I can deal. I seem to have a knack for streamlines. few times I've challenged some of my 6'4" experienced male teammates to a glide contest, and theyre' amazed when I at least tie them, if not beat them. Yeah, I think diving helped. When I was a 13-14 yar old kid, I was able to breath dive overa minute. I never paid a lot of attention to my speed, but i did to the length of time under water. When you are taught to relax in the water as a child, then these things don't plague you as much as an adult. I wholeheartedly agree!!! As I kid, I never remember the time I wasn't in water. I did have a burning desire to be on a swim team even then, but my parents weren't, lets say, very involved parents, being on the team would have taken their involvement, so it was a no-go. I did get to the olympic trials level in another sport though... (not a very physical sport) but nonetheless, training hard and consitently, and listening to your coaches and those in the know comes naturally. And yea, I have the mental toughness it takes. For me personally, it' the physical that is an unknown.

Connie, maybe the scuba diving you did when you were younger is helping now because you have a comfort in the water. Being able to relax in the water is a big part of being able to do some of these things. I think that is very likely. Perhaps, I'm not a true later bloomer ;) I am volunteering at the Y this week teaching their little Splash week introduction to water safety. One of the hardest things to get youngsters to do is relax. Try floating when every muscle in your body is tense. It doesn't work. I have to tell them I want their arms and legs floppy. Some tense up, some just keep thrashing. Then others just get in, feel at ease and do it. When I speak to the parents, I find these are the kids that the parent has gotten in the water with and played with, so the kid equates water as fun and is relaxed. Yeap! I've always been very relaxed in water. I feel better in water than I do on land. So translate that to me trying to learn backstroke turns, which I only succesfully did in the last 6 months. Coach tells us we are going to work on backstroke turns. Having watched tons of age group practices I know the first step is to know your count, then learn the timing of when to turn over, stroke and flip. I know all these things, but my head is saying, yeah, but after I flip I am going to be on my back, under water and have used up all my air on the flip. So right away before I even start to execute the turn, I am uptight, using more air than I need, and subsequently have a near drowning on the turn! Time has started to erase these problems and I can now streamline at least halfway across the pool on my back underwater. But it is because I am so stubborn and refused to give in. And I now know I won't drown in 4 foot of water! I tend to halt my breathing (exhaling) for just a little bit during the part of the turn where I know the water is not gonna get up my nose, then i have little more left to exhale when I'm on my back. Also, I try to ration my exhaling. At the begining of the turn my exhalation is much more shallow, then it gets more forceful when I'm on my back. It takes practice, and ignoring the little bit if water that does get up your nose on occasion. Yea, long time ago I learned to not panic from that out of breath feeling. it;s still uncomfortable, bytm hey,if thats the worst thing, I can deal. I seem to have a knack for streamlines. few times I've challenged some of my 6'4" experienced male teammates to a glide contest, and theyre' amazed when I at least tie them, if not beat them. Yeah, I think diving helped. When I was a 13-14 yar old kid, I was able to breath dive overa minute. I never paid a lot of attention to my speed, but i did to the length of time under water. When you are taught to relax in the water as a child, then these things don't plague you as much as an adult. I wholeheartedly agree!!! As I kid, I never remember the time I wasn't in water. I did have a burning desire to be on a swim team even then, but my parents weren't, lets say, very involved parents, being on the team would have taken their involvement, so it was a no-go. I did get to the olympic trials level in another sport though... (not a very physical sport) but nonetheless, training hard and consitently, and listening to your coaches and those in the know comes naturally. And yea, I have the mental toughness it takes. For me personally, it' the physical that is an unknown.