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.
This is a key distinction. There IS an underwater segment in swim racing, up to 15m. The key to getting value in your practice is to practice the precise skill you need to do well underwater, rather than just doing underwater laps any old way, which is what our Masters coach had us doing.
Quite correct! (I couldn't agree with the lung capacity idea either. I know my aerobic endurance needs a lot of work and it won't happen without more long tough sets on tough intervals.)
Unfortunately, as you know, the listed masters practices have to accomodate a wide range of swimming preferences/abilities and thus are not always what you yourself would choose to do. But, like you, if it doesn't interrupt a set or cause a lane problem, I will substitute something I need to work on. And I very frequently do backstroke on freestyle sets because of my cranky shoulders, which allows me to focus on SDKs anyway.
P.S. Back on topic, swimming has taken over my life and I've only been at it 17 months.
This is a key distinction. There IS an underwater segment in swim racing, up to 15m. The key to getting value in your practice is to practice the precise skill you need to do well underwater, rather than just doing underwater laps any old way, which is what our Masters coach had us doing.
Quite correct! (I couldn't agree with the lung capacity idea either. I know my aerobic endurance needs a lot of work and it won't happen without more long tough sets on tough intervals.)
Unfortunately, as you know, the listed masters practices have to accomodate a wide range of swimming preferences/abilities and thus are not always what you yourself would choose to do. But, like you, if it doesn't interrupt a set or cause a lane problem, I will substitute something I need to work on. And I very frequently do backstroke on freestyle sets because of my cranky shoulders, which allows me to focus on SDKs anyway.
P.S. Back on topic, swimming has taken over my life and I've only been at it 17 months.
