Hey, I just did a lap of butterfly!
Ok, 4 lengths, but let's split the difference and call it a lap. ;)
Back when I used to compete, I never did figure out the butterly. It was my only slow stroke. Just never got the rhythm down.
So when I started training again in September, I stuck to the other 3 strokes. Tried fly and didn't remember it at all. Couldn't do it. Not even a single stroke.
Anyway, I'm reading Mastering Swimming and there's a section in there on how to learn fly, starting with pulsing, then pulsing with kicking, then pulsing and kicking with sculling, then adding the complete pull.
In one week, I learned it. Today I did my first full length!
The trick was to find the point where the breath starts. Once I realized that I had to come up when I was both in the power phase of the pull and on a down kick, the rest worked itself out because I had done the exercises that Montgomery and Chambers described, so my body was doing what it should be doing once I found that sweet spot where my pull and kick were coordinated, and it was automatic from there.
Of course, I was splashing like a puppy in a bathtub, and I got tired pretty quick, and got a little cramp in my leg, so I know I need to do some major work on my form before I can incorporate fly into my regular workout, but hey, now I can do the stroke!
Thanks, Jim and Mo!
Parents
Former Member
Congratulations! That's a huge achievement...not many people can do even one length let alone 4!
Bask in the glory of butterfly - you are in rare company!
Thanks, y'all. I appreciate the encouragement.
In the back of my mind I'm thinking about this guy, Ronnie Sharp, who was on my team as a kid (he was older). Short, stocky, red-headed fellow, could negative split a 500 fly.
I doubt I'll ever do anything like that, but I'm setting my goal to at least compete in the 50 some day.
It does stretch/work some muscles that the other strokes don't. I can tell that today.
Congratulations! That's a huge achievement...not many people can do even one length let alone 4!
Bask in the glory of butterfly - you are in rare company!
Thanks, y'all. I appreciate the encouragement.
In the back of my mind I'm thinking about this guy, Ronnie Sharp, who was on my team as a kid (he was older). Short, stocky, red-headed fellow, could negative split a 500 fly.
I doubt I'll ever do anything like that, but I'm setting my goal to at least compete in the 50 some day.
It does stretch/work some muscles that the other strokes don't. I can tell that today.
