I think swimming is consuming my life and I've been doing it for less than 3 weeks
Former Member
At first, I was on vacation and I saw my girlfriend swim a few laps and thought, "Gosh, I should really take some lessons and learn how to do that."
Then it was, "I should really do some online research to complement my lessons."
Then, "I might as well start participating in some of these swimming forums."
Then I needed more time to practice, so I started going to rec swims. I'm now getting a SECOND instructor for a different perspective in addition to my on-my-own rec swim time.
And all the time I'm not in the pool, I'm watching videos, reading forums and articles, learning about top swimmers, going out to buy goggles (tonight), and generally wanting to get back in the water and practice...
All this and I can barely frakken swim a length in anything other than backstroke! Jesus. I'm taking "addictive personality" to new levels here. What on earth did I do with my life before three weeks ago?
And what implications does this have for the rest of my life? The first 23 years on dry-land are looking more and more like a write-off in comparison to the satisfaction I get from being in the water -- when it isn't in my nose, ears, mouth, and eyes, that is.
I spent a lot of time on dry land practicing my dancing and these days, I teach it. Because my dancing is automatic -- I "just do it" without thinking -- I can't really remember what it was like NOT to be able to do it.
In the same sense, I've had a lot of people say to me, "You're just learning to swim now? I can't imagine what it would be like NOT to be able to swim." I think I can relate.
Parents
Former Member
Alphathree,
Slow down and take it easy and try to enjoy it. Learning to swim correctly is not something that is learned in weeks, months, or sometimes years. You need a good coach. Short of that, you need to find someone who swims well (and you probably can tell because of your research), and have them work with you. Swimmers are good at helping those with poor stroke because we know how hard it is on a person who swims "badly." If you see a "good swimmer" in the water, talk to them.
Not everyone is a good coach; many think they are, but I have met more "coaches" who teach the four strokes totally incorrectly. I think they must have "read" it somewhere rather than had good stroke development in their life. Keep doing your research and watch those online videos. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
Also, regardless of your dryland conditioning, you have to get into swimming conditioning. It is a totally different thing with breath control, stroke timing, body balance. The better swimming conditioning you are in, the better your stroke may become because it won't be so "difficult."
If you want to get into swimming conditioning but are afraid your stroke will develop incorrectly until you get some good advice, try doing underwater drills. There is a drill called Under/Over. If you have not heard of this, let me know and I'll try to explain it in 10 words or less. These are anaerobic and build a swimmer's lungs to almost equal that of a small pony. Also, freestyle speed kick with a board. Do 25's. Maybe one fast 25, one slow 25, etc. You can certainly improve your swimming conditioning with kicking drills until you find someone who can truly help you.
Is there a master swimming program in your area? They almost always have workouts for those less experienced, as well as lanes dedicated to those swimmers. When I had my shoulder surgeries, I had to join those lanes for several months as I could not use my arms.
Swimming is like golf, it is technique and it takes time to find that proper technique for you.
In the meantime, keep asking those great questions here as you have been doing. As a lifelong swimmer, I am in awe that you are not only interested, but are trying to find ways to improve your water skill. Regardless of what anyone else around you might say. Swimming can be beneficial to you for the rest of your life. I am 58 and I can tell you, I will be swimming until my heart stops, even if someone has to help me onto the starting blocks when I reach age 85. And when my life is over, I want to be buried in a two-piece Speedo and put in a tupperware bowl and set adrift in the sea.
Oops, sorry this is long.
Like Nemo, Keep on Swimming :groovy:
Donna
Alphathree,
Slow down and take it easy and try to enjoy it. Learning to swim correctly is not something that is learned in weeks, months, or sometimes years. You need a good coach. Short of that, you need to find someone who swims well (and you probably can tell because of your research), and have them work with you. Swimmers are good at helping those with poor stroke because we know how hard it is on a person who swims "badly." If you see a "good swimmer" in the water, talk to them.
Not everyone is a good coach; many think they are, but I have met more "coaches" who teach the four strokes totally incorrectly. I think they must have "read" it somewhere rather than had good stroke development in their life. Keep doing your research and watch those online videos. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
Also, regardless of your dryland conditioning, you have to get into swimming conditioning. It is a totally different thing with breath control, stroke timing, body balance. The better swimming conditioning you are in, the better your stroke may become because it won't be so "difficult."
If you want to get into swimming conditioning but are afraid your stroke will develop incorrectly until you get some good advice, try doing underwater drills. There is a drill called Under/Over. If you have not heard of this, let me know and I'll try to explain it in 10 words or less. These are anaerobic and build a swimmer's lungs to almost equal that of a small pony. Also, freestyle speed kick with a board. Do 25's. Maybe one fast 25, one slow 25, etc. You can certainly improve your swimming conditioning with kicking drills until you find someone who can truly help you.
Is there a master swimming program in your area? They almost always have workouts for those less experienced, as well as lanes dedicated to those swimmers. When I had my shoulder surgeries, I had to join those lanes for several months as I could not use my arms.
Swimming is like golf, it is technique and it takes time to find that proper technique for you.
In the meantime, keep asking those great questions here as you have been doing. As a lifelong swimmer, I am in awe that you are not only interested, but are trying to find ways to improve your water skill. Regardless of what anyone else around you might say. Swimming can be beneficial to you for the rest of your life. I am 58 and I can tell you, I will be swimming until my heart stops, even if someone has to help me onto the starting blocks when I reach age 85. And when my life is over, I want to be buried in a two-piece Speedo and put in a tupperware bowl and set adrift in the sea.
Oops, sorry this is long.
Like Nemo, Keep on Swimming :groovy:
Donna
