As a kid my father and my coach always wanted me to swim the fly but I always resisted. Only once was I ever persuaded to swim the 100m fly. I went out hell for leather in the first 50 and even turned in front but the wheels came off in the second 50, in a bad way, and I ended up limping in the last 25m swimming one arm butterfly! I never tried again!
Now after a 20 odd year abscence from swimming I find myself actually wanting to swim fly and enjoying it when I do. It's a beautiful feeling when the fly is executed well: smooth, rhythmic and exhilarating. When you hit the zone in fly it is an even better feeling than hitting the zone in crawl. It is an addictive feeling.
How did I get into fly? Well it has only been recently really, but I started to do a set of 25m at the end of every practice. I started off really slowly: 10 times 25m at 30 sec's alternating fly and crawl. Slowly I have built that up to 40 times 25m at 30sec and more recently I have been adding a set of 10 times 50 fly at 90sec. Next I plan to cut the repeat interval down to at least a minute on the 50's and then add some 100's. I can't wait to try the 100's but I don't want to try before I am really ready for them.
I always laugh when I see SwimStud's "Fly: Just say no!" because that is exactly how I felt but I have to say now, a practice without fly is a a practice without my 'fix'!
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Syd
I think the challenge of the butterfly both attracts and detracts swimmers. On the attraction side, we all know it is a tough stroke, and thus being able to do it properly is a feat outright. There's something about being able to swim the butterfly that validates you as a swimmer too.
Of course there are the detractors... those who *think* it is too hard, or who say their shoulders can't take it.
I think most of us don't want that feeling of failure, and end up trying it at some point. Yes, it is tough, but why not challenge yourself right? Kudos to you three for giving it a whirl!
I think the challenge of the butterfly both attracts and detracts swimmers. On the attraction side, we all know it is a tough stroke, and thus being able to do it properly is a feat outright. There's something about being able to swim the butterfly that validates you as a swimmer too.
Of course there are the detractors... those who *think* it is too hard, or who say their shoulders can't take it.
I think most of us don't want that feeling of failure, and end up trying it at some point. Yes, it is tough, but why not challenge yourself right? Kudos to you three for giving it a whirl!
