I hope confetti tossing is allowed here...
I started swimming on October 12th of this year. The first time out, I would do one length (25 yards) of *** stroke and need an oxygen tank at the end of the pool. Trying a freestyle lap got me about 1/4 the way across before I felt like my lungs were going to blow.
So I kept with it. I do endurance building things M and W and then 'marathon swims' on Fridays where I am adding 50 yards each week until I get to a mile. (72 laps). I had to do nothing but freestyle recently because of my groin pull, and have been taking it easy. My goal was to start with one minute between a 25 yard lap of freestyle and decrease that time 5 seconds per week until I was at 0. This week, I was supposed to be at 25 seconds. Anyhow, today, out of nowhere, I went for my first freestyle lap, got to the end of the pool and said to myself, hmm...I'm not tired...so flip and keep going! So I flipped and went back the rest of the way! I didn't have to stop!
I couldn't believe it! If I hadn't gotten creeped out by the covered deep end of the pool and its creepy drains and creepy lane lines hanging into the water looking like dead legs, or other body parts, I think I would have been able to go farther - I tend to swim as fast as I can out of the deep end which wears me out. I was the only one in the pool or I wouldn't have creeped out. Long phobic story that dates back to my childhood, spared for another day and another topic.
Anyhow, I am very pleased that I have made such progress. Swimming rocks and it has made my chiropractic adjustments less frequent, my muscles stronger and longer, and a leaner me - with a resting heart rate of 53 now. WOO HOO!
(Letting my Roomba vacuum up the confetti now)...
-Marian
Former Member
Doing flip turns for breastroke is unusual, do you touch with both hands and then flip?
Yes, I get to the end, cross the T, extend, I usually actually don't touch the wall but I flip then push off, both arms extended in front of me, hands together, and once I rise to the top again, I begin my stroke.
Flip turns are fun; they are like a treat to celebrate the end of each lap.
Originally posted by mbriones
Yes, I get to the end, cross the T, extend, I usually actually don't touch the wall but I flip then push off, both arms extended in front of me, hands together, and once I rise to the top again, I begin my stroke.
Flip turns are fun; they are like a treat to celebrate the end of each lap.
Just be aware that if you do breaststroke in competition, you are required to touch with both hands at the end of each lap. If you don't, you're disqualified.
