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
Former Member
What brave people you all are. You will not catch me doing a 200 Fly.
Swimmerlady,
Good Luck getting others to swim it with you. I get laughed at when I ask people to swim it with me.
Believe it or not, I may have company. So far I have one Yes and one Maybe. I only asked two people so far. Ya think their shaggin me on?
Good luck with your 200 :banana:
why is it possible for me to complete 200m of all the other strokes except fly?
Because fly requires more energy to accelerate your body to a position that allows you breathe than any other stroke. In no other stroke is breathing so demanding.
Like breaststroke, fly is a relatively choppy stroke. The power from the arms is delivered all at once since both arms move together. Kind of like the difference between a one cylinder and two cylinder engine. Freestyle and backstroke are like two cylinder engines. Naturally smoother because the pause between power phases is very short.
In fly when your arms are recovering in the air only your legs are pushing you, which allows your body to sink. Then your arms have to lift your body so you can breathe.
I can swim a very nice 25 fly, pretty nice 50 fly, and it goes badly downhill from there.
I heard an old song, "Come Fly with Me".
I get very tired after about 6o seconds of fly, here I am the last three strokes of a minute of swimming fly oregonmasters.ning.com/.../geochuck - I just watched it, only two strokes
Never did more then 2 or three 100s in a day, and never close together.
Never had shoulder problems from swimming fly.
... what is the thinking on training for a 200 fly? ....
stumbled across these and thought they may be useful to you:
Training for butterfly, esp. 200m
here is a bigger list of Butterfly Threads & Links that includes the above and another 200 fly thread, but they are all older posts.
...
... I keep going back to the same thought: why is it possible for me to complete 200m of all the other strokes except fly? ....
my first guess is technique issues, but conditioning (specifically for fly) will play a part too.
a lot of it is in your head too.
see:
Penguins Can Fly - Vicki Keith
"...Vicki came out of swimming retirement, and spent 63 hours and 40 minutes in Lake Ontario, completing 80.2 kilometres butterfly, setting 2 world records and raising over $200,000...."
:notworthy:
and yes... those moments of synchronicity will definitely keep you coming back for more.
;)
...
bud--
Thanks for those links. maybe I'll follow up with any Qs I have because--as always with swimming--there seems to be some contradictory advice. The whole thing about 1-beat kicking sounds pretty good though, especially for a 200.
:wave:
I happen to remember that butterfrog thing. I remember that it was Peter's favorite. I think he must have bought the DVD. One froggy kick for duffers only accepted in Master Swimming, one or two dolphin beats for real butterfliers and legal anywhere.
Hi.
New here, but not to swimming. But getting back into fly, as per thread for first time in 10 years or so. I'm always so skittish about shoulder problems that I've avoided it. But now I think it's not such a big problem if you increase intensity, swims, and yardage slowly.
I only swim a true fly set every third workout or so. I've been at it 6 weeks now and today was my most 'intense" set yet: 6 x 75 fly/ez 25 free on 1:45. I mean, it was intense--and longish--for me.
It is a real thrill to get in the zone, huh?
:wave:
Welcome to USMS! I absolutely agree with you. Increase the yardage slowly, do your rotator cuff exercises and, if possible, get someone experienced to check out if you have any problems with your stroke. This way you should avoid shoulder problems altogether. I haven't had any shoulder problems (touch wood) but then I am totally new to fly. I never used to swim it all really when I swam competitively as a kid. I mean I swam it occasionally in practice but not enough to do any damage to my shoulder. My shoulder starts to get twitches when I swim too much crawl or I use hand paddles too much but I have never felt sore shoulder joints with fly. Sore muscles, yes, but not joints.
6 x 75 fly at 1:45.:applaud: Congratulations! You are well on your way!
Syd
