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
Your instructor may have been telling you that you had a runners kick and trying to get it accross to you the toes should point. The foot should be relaxed, ankle relaxed, kick from the hip and not let the knees lock.
Don't be too hard on the instructor he or she may see things we can not see in the written word.
Thanks. She's a very nice girl and a talented swimmer and a lifeguard. But the feedback I get from her is very generic.
I think she learned to swim so long ago that she doesn't really know how to break down what she knows.
While she has given me some basic skills in the water, I'd say you folks on this forum have contributed at least as much to my improvement over the past few weeks.
Originally I probably wasn't pointing my toes very much -- but that's because I was tense and nervous. So I started forcefully pointing my toes.
I think what's going on is that I was using my legs like wooden paddles rather than rubber fins...
I'm really eager to try some kicking laps later today with this leg-relaxation in mind, and also the tip from someone else to point my arms ahead of me rather than at my sides when I'm not doing the strokes. I'm probably 7 and a half feet long with my arms outstretched and toes pointed... I think taking up that position in the water will feel really good and promote good body position.
Your instructor may have been telling you that you had a runners kick and trying to get it accross to you the toes should point. The foot should be relaxed, ankle relaxed, kick from the hip and not let the knees lock.
Don't be too hard on the instructor he or she may see things we can not see in the written word.
Thanks. She's a very nice girl and a talented swimmer and a lifeguard. But the feedback I get from her is very generic.
I think she learned to swim so long ago that she doesn't really know how to break down what she knows.
While she has given me some basic skills in the water, I'd say you folks on this forum have contributed at least as much to my improvement over the past few weeks.
Originally I probably wasn't pointing my toes very much -- but that's because I was tense and nervous. So I started forcefully pointing my toes.
I think what's going on is that I was using my legs like wooden paddles rather than rubber fins...
I'm really eager to try some kicking laps later today with this leg-relaxation in mind, and also the tip from someone else to point my arms ahead of me rather than at my sides when I'm not doing the strokes. I'm probably 7 and a half feet long with my arms outstretched and toes pointed... I think taking up that position in the water will feel really good and promote good body position.
