Getting into Fly

Former Member
Former Member
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
    Former Member
    Syd, I swam in my first masters meet last March, after a hiatus of 28 years. It was really great--totally affirming. I did not go nearly as fast as I had hoped, but the feeling of competition helped me achieve the mental buy-in to improve in a lasting way. I swam in two meets, and used the information gained from that to spend all summer drilling in anticipation of the SCY season in 2008. I will probably do a meet or two before the end of this year, then compete more frequently next. I have agreed to meet an old swimming chum at SCY nationals in Austin next May. Masters competition is characterized by a very supportive atmosphere, so far as I can tell. Very different ability levels are welcomed.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Syd, I swam in my first masters meet last March, after a hiatus of 28 years. It was really great--totally affirming. I did not go nearly as fast as I had hoped, but the feeling of competition helped me achieve the mental buy-in to improve in a lasting way. I swam in two meets, and used the information gained from that to spend all summer drilling in anticipation of the SCY season in 2008. I will probably do a meet or two before the end of this year, then compete more frequently next. I have agreed to meet an old swimming chum at SCY nationals in Austin next May. Masters competition is characterized by a very supportive atmosphere, so far as I can tell. Very different ability levels are welcomed.
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