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
Parents
Former Member
Syd,
I try to do fly every practice too. 4 lengths of fly is about all I am good for. After a hard 25 I know exactly when the lactic acid burn hits me during my backstroke on the second 25 of an IM. The stroke absolutely kills me unless I specifically tell myself to ease up.
I like your alternating fly free 25s sounds doable. Frankly my ulimate goal would be to complete a 100 fly. Just that is an achievement in my book ( I taught myself fly at age 20...) Wish me luck.
All I can say is: persevere. At first it feels outrageously tiring. But, as time passes, it becomes easier and easier. The improvement is almost imperceptible at first but then, after a month or so, suddenly you find yourself skipping across the surface of the pool. Then you know you have found your rhythm. Now all you need to do is to increase your distance and speed and refine your stroke.
Syd
Syd,
I try to do fly every practice too. 4 lengths of fly is about all I am good for. After a hard 25 I know exactly when the lactic acid burn hits me during my backstroke on the second 25 of an IM. The stroke absolutely kills me unless I specifically tell myself to ease up.
I like your alternating fly free 25s sounds doable. Frankly my ulimate goal would be to complete a 100 fly. Just that is an achievement in my book ( I taught myself fly at age 20...) Wish me luck.
All I can say is: persevere. At first it feels outrageously tiring. But, as time passes, it becomes easier and easier. The improvement is almost imperceptible at first but then, after a month or so, suddenly you find yourself skipping across the surface of the pool. Then you know you have found your rhythm. Now all you need to do is to increase your distance and speed and refine your stroke.
Syd
