Hi, if there is a beginner's forum, I apologize for posting in the wrong one. Would a mod please move me if needed?
I just wanted to find a place to learn and post about being a new middle aged swimmer.
I'm 43, in great shape and have always swam with my head outta the water, old fashioned. I work out at the local YMCA and watch with envy as the guys swim freestyle.
I finally got the nerve to ask about instruction. I have this 20 year old guy now who is giving me private lessons.
Yesterday was my first day.much akin to a rebirth, or teaching a stroke victim to walk again was probably what it looked like from poolside. I am NOT used to blowing out my nose in the water.
He was patient, VERY patient with me. Got in the pool with me.
It went well, I felt so incredibly stupid, uncoordinated and just plain childish. But..haha..I liked it. I like to learn.
I didn't try to swim distance, just work on form. To be honest, I went home, closed the bathroom door where wife and kids couldn't watch and practiced. YEP, stuck my big head into the full lavatory sink and blew out my nose. I dont' have fear of drowing, I know I'm not gonna suck in a bunch of water, but having to "PUSH" air out is un-natural, at least for me.
I went back this morning without him and worked by myself on standing and stroking with tossing my head to the side. I'm gettin there. I either push out too much or not enough. This lifeguard gave me a "buoy" thing to place between my legs to keep my butt afloat while I worked on breathing. It worked some, but was hard to get past the feeling of having something floaty between my legs. :p I feel good about learning and how it's going, just childish and slow.
I look forward to one day, no time soon, gracefully and effectively freestying just to the other end of the olympic pool.
I'm in no hurry, just want to do it right.
I actually was looking for a beginner's blog when I found this site.
I'm not looking for advice, at least not now. I'm afraid I'll get confused. I just wanted to connect with you swimmer guys and gals.
Excuse my lack of swimmer lingo also.
Mark
Thanks for listening and encouragement welcome. :)
Since you are in great shape, you are a good part of the way there. Given your height (you mention that you are 6' 4" in another post), your potential as a competitive Masters swimmer is excellent.
At 42 and very out of shape (5'10" 250 lbs), I started lap swimming in June of 2005 at a local pool on my own. I had never swum a lap before and could barely complete an awkward lap (25 yards) of "freestyle" without stopping. I slowly worked up to 1000 - 1500 yards 2 to 3 times a week by the end of the Summer. I worked up enough courage to join a Masters program in September. The only stroke I could do was the freestyle. I never imagined I would even like swimming much less joining a serious program with people who had been swimming all of their lives. With much encouragement from the other swimmers and my swimmer wife (and I cannot emphasize the positive spirit of these people enough) and an outstanding, patient and knowledgable coach, I have accomplished the following (all of which was beyond my wildest imagination):
January - Swam in my first Masters Meet including the 50 and 100 butterfly (didn't get disqualified)
March - Swam in my second swim meet including the 100 IM (didn't get disqualified).
May - Swam in my first Masters Nationals (and didn't finish last in all of my events)
Current - down to 210 lbs (so much for the myth that you cannot lose weight swimming). Swim 4 to 5 times a week 3500 - 4000 yards.
It will be frustrating at first, especially if you try to compare yourself to anyone else. Focus on your own progress. Be aware of how your body reacts and be careful not to overdo it.
This sport has been my savior...bad knees, overweight, high blood pressure and cholesterol, depression...you name it.
No matter what...stick with it and I'll be looking for you at Federal Way next year.
I can relate and still esily recall the things that you are going through, but at the same time the problems seem very far away. I used to tell my wife..."I will never know how to breathe right..." or "It just doesn't make any sense".
I think breathing was the biggest stumbling block for me. It is the key to relaxation, because once you stop thinking about breathing you will relax. Try not to get caught up thinking about too many things at once. Focus on developing a rhythmic breathing pattern, first. I found that a kickboard can help you with this, because it limits movement in other parts of your body that can cause you to sink. Correct breathing makes all of the other stroke components easier to work on.
Keep letting us know how you are doing. This is definitely a building blocks process that requires patience.
What a great inspiring reply/post. Thank you very much. Even though I don't know you, GOOD FOR YOU BOY!!!! That's an excellent example of gettin in shape.
I am waking up with sore muscles I never knew I had. Actually, my deltoids are sore. Probably from being so stiff and nervous. I kNOW I have to loosen up and I will, I'm just thinking so much.
I realized this am one reason the breathing is hard is because I'm not tilting my torso a lil. I have been under the impression that my torso needs to stay straight the whole time and not turn. I read an article that said "breathe thru your bellybutton". Not really, but turn to the side like you would. That made it easier. But, of course while I was concentrating on that, my butt sank cause I was distracted from my flipping from the hips...etc. So, I know that it will slowly come together, eventually. The lifeguard said "you ARE getting better, you may not know it." I practice without the coach t/Th.
But I just like being in the water most of all.
I bought my first goggles today.:p Cheap ones to start with. Didn't have a Speedo shop in town.
Thanks to everyone for being encouraging. It means a lot to a new guy.
Mark
One day, I gotta figure out exactly what "masters" swimming really means. :confused:
Lesson 3:
Today was momentous, at least for me. I kicked, the right way, on a board the whole length of the pool. Feet up on top of water. Kick with my butt. That's harder than it looks for new guys.
I read an article about "breathing with your bellybutton" on technique. I tried it, ran it by my coach, and I'm better on the breathing. I was trying to keep my torso straight and turn my head only. This is better and easier. Actually I'm having to think now to blow out more, cause I'm gettin more air in.
started working on backstroke. Boy, that's cumbersome. Gotta think belly up. I HAVE to learn how to blow out my nose while on my back to keep water out. I will.
I'm feeling better about this. I did backstroke prob 1/4 pool and was great to see the flags overhead. First time for that.
Thanks for all you folks encouragement.
Mark
Originally posted by midaged
.
I doubt I'll ever be good enough to be a Master's swimmer. Right now my goal is to just be proficient at lap swimming freestyle.
Mark
Mark, that is what I said too.......6 years ago!
Originally posted by midaged
Thanks everyone. Alex that's an awesome story. Thanks for sharing. It's timely in my life cause I feel like my coach thinks I'm some sort of overthinking analyzing swim-zealot. That's not it at all. Just something I've always wanted to do and....well, I just like it.
I don't have any serious swimmer friends so this board has been helpful in more ways than one.
Mark
I think it helped me that my coach was an overthinking analyzing swim-zealot who was just as determined as me to get me swimming!
Lesson #4. Today, I found out some of my problems was coming from not getting my shoulders up outta the water. Once I corrected this, it was MUCH less work and I wasn't as out of breathe. I actually swam 1/2 the pool the correct way. I had created this "drag" as I skimmed my arms back across the water. I don't know why the coach didn't pick this up. Maybe he did and I didn't hear it due to the hypoxia. :p
I know the coach is a lil frustrated with me right now, cause he thinks I'm trying too hard and comparing myself to other swimmers and I'm new. Thing is, is that's hard for me because once I set my goals on something, I don't back away easy. I do have to pace myself, but I'm not one to "throw the towel in" when it gets hard. He wants me to relax, I do too. But I don't want to become complacent.
I do have to say that now that I've figured out that my arms were wrong, I can breathe better and I am more relaxed.
I doubt I'll ever be good enough to be a Master's swimmer. Right now my goal is to just be proficient at lap swimming freestyle.
Mark
I met a 25 year old girl 5 years ago as she joined the Master team where I used to swim with, she was very slow, so slow that she used to take half an hour more than the rest of the team to finish the training, but she is as determinated as you describe yourself.
After 1 year of swimming with us, and participating in different open water races, she did improve a little. One day she told me she was going to cross the English Channel (from Dover England to France). I was shocked as it was impossible that she could do that, she was not near to be qualified to do it, but I did not have the galls to tell her so as she was so excited and serius about the idea. She told the team and the coach about it, and many felt pity for her as we knew what she was getting into.
Well, one year after she told me about it, she was the second mexican women to cross the channel and her time was 12 hours and 45 minutes.
:) :)
