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
I am definitely a phony swimmer, and were I to attempt fly, it would definitely be a faux fly. Around here, it just doesn't seem to be something which is taught to anyone over the age of 10, and I missed my chance a few decades ago. Does that mean I should hide in the corner wearing a pointed swim cap during IM sets? ;)
Don't worry inklaire, it was never taught to me either. I am also a few decades past ten and am only starting to learn it now. It just takes perseverance: getting past that 'this is absolutely impossible stage'. Once you have built up adequate strength to swim a 25m it starts becoming fun. Trust me on this one. My main problem now is to stop myself from swimming fly every practice. I keep telling myself I need variation but lately my practices have become exclusively free and fly affairs. Truth is I find breastroke boring (probably because I don't do it well enough) and water gets down my nose in backstroke!
Don't give up!
Syd
I am definitely a phony swimmer, and were I to attempt fly, it would definitely be a faux fly. Around here, it just doesn't seem to be something which is taught to anyone over the age of 10, and I missed my chance a few decades ago. Does that mean I should hide in the corner wearing a pointed swim cap during IM sets? ;)
Don't worry inklaire, it was never taught to me either. I am also a few decades past ten and am only starting to learn it now. It just takes perseverance: getting past that 'this is absolutely impossible stage'. Once you have built up adequate strength to swim a 25m it starts becoming fun. Trust me on this one. My main problem now is to stop myself from swimming fly every practice. I keep telling myself I need variation but lately my practices have become exclusively free and fly affairs. Truth is I find breastroke boring (probably because I don't do it well enough) and water gets down my nose in backstroke!
Don't give up!
Syd
