Well, I'm gettin better. Since letting my young coach go, I went to the local swimming "godfather". He has been teaching in my town for 43 years. He watched me, said my form was great for a new guy. Wants my elbows up more, heels only out of the water, head straight and turns only r eye outta water and l side of mouth still in water. He wants to see me again in a couple of weeks. I've been practicing today on rolling. He said to imagine I was trying to swim thru a crack ahead of me. just roll to the side. I swam today in my brother's pool and concentrated on the roll. I feel my stroke get longer and gliding when I roll. I note that like he said, when my head stays flat it keeps my butt straight. If I bob up, it throws my butt down. All of these tweaks make it easier and I don't feel like I'm thrashing around as bad. Don't get me wrong. I'm STILL NOT GOOD and cannot swim the length of the Y pool correctly. But.. I swam my brother's regular inground pool today a WHOLE lot easier than just 2 weeks ago. That rolling thing really helped me. I still don't turn my head right. I have and get water in my nose like a kid and snot and blow and carry on. I'll practice on that later. I'm just trying to get one thing at a time right first, then add. I actually feel relaxed enough now to pay attention to other things like kick from my butt.
I'm very proud of myself for sticking in there. Every now and then I feel like I might be doing something right and it would look like that fish lady that swims at the Y every morning.
I was also encouraged by watching the local swim team. That's awesome. We don't have a local Master's I've found out, but I can watch the younger swim team. They're inspiring to me and well, to see youth work that hard is inspirational in itself, outside of swimming. I guess it's special to me because I'm learning and know how hard it is. But, for them, they started early and have that wonderful advantage.
You all have been very encouraging to me and I wanted to let you know whazup.
Thanks,
Mark
Parents
Former Member
Today was a GREAT swimday! I can really tell I'm making some progress. I was able to swim 1/2 the pool and not winded at all. I'm really practicing rolling, and breathing right now. Just with those two tweaks my endurance is remarkably better. I actually felt like swimming to the end, but got cold feet. Never swam that far that easy.:p I did later swim to the end and back without a big problem. I'm still thinking a lot when I swim, but it's coming together and I'm gaining confidence in myself.
My new coach buddy really gave me some good drills: sailboat fs, rolling fs, heads up to watch my hand entry on one drill, and kicking from my hip flexors. I was able to kick the whole pool, that is hard, but I still did it nonstop today and that was new and not as hard.
Just wanted to share with you guys. Also heard that there is a group of men trying to form a Masters here in my town. Oh..and I met the fishlady. ;)
One day, I'll be good enough and not so hedonistic to read other posts where I can lend some info and help maybe. I feel very one-sides right now cause I can't help anyone else. Actually, by my posts it might help you guys to see how far you've come!!
Good day,
Mark
Today was a GREAT swimday! I can really tell I'm making some progress. I was able to swim 1/2 the pool and not winded at all. I'm really practicing rolling, and breathing right now. Just with those two tweaks my endurance is remarkably better. I actually felt like swimming to the end, but got cold feet. Never swam that far that easy.:p I did later swim to the end and back without a big problem. I'm still thinking a lot when I swim, but it's coming together and I'm gaining confidence in myself.
My new coach buddy really gave me some good drills: sailboat fs, rolling fs, heads up to watch my hand entry on one drill, and kicking from my hip flexors. I was able to kick the whole pool, that is hard, but I still did it nonstop today and that was new and not as hard.
Just wanted to share with you guys. Also heard that there is a group of men trying to form a Masters here in my town. Oh..and I met the fishlady. ;)
One day, I'll be good enough and not so hedonistic to read other posts where I can lend some info and help maybe. I feel very one-sides right now cause I can't help anyone else. Actually, by my posts it might help you guys to see how far you've come!!
Good day,
Mark
