The Butterfly Lane

CONGRATULATIONS Evan Ekman; he is now a BUTTERNUT! :applaud::banana: :chug: Evan sent me a PM informing me that he swam 600 continuous yards of fly this morning to qualify as a Butternut. www.grinswim.org/.../butternuts.html

Thanks Elaine:chug:

Thanks Elaine:chug: How was it, Evan? Did you find that it actually got easier once you past the 200 mark? For me, the first 200 was the most difficult. I became more relaxed after that, got in a (slow!) rhythm, and I felt like I could just keep going on. Was your time faster or slower than what you thought it might be? Just curious...

Time is a concept that is lost when you do that much fly!!!

How was it, Evan? Did you find that it actually got easier once you past the 200 mark? For me, the first 200 was the most difficult. I became more relaxed after that, got in a (slow!) rhythm, and I felt like I could just keep going on. Was your time faster or slower than what you thought it might be? Just curious... Not bad. I had done a 400 a couple weeks ago so I had a feel for what I was getting into. Honestly the stroke is very different than a racing stroke (at least it was for me). I took your advise on the glide and swam at a pace that wouldn't create the hypoxia we often feel when racing a 200 fly. Great respect to those of you going the super distances fly.:bliss:

Not bad. I had done a 400 a couple weeks ago so I had a feel for what I was getting into. Honestly the stroke is very different than a racing stroke (at least it was for me). I took your advise on the glide and swam at a pace that wouldn't create the hypoxia we often feel when racing a 200 fly. Great respect to those of you going the super distances fly.:bliss: It is very different, and it's how I feel most comfortable swimming fly. I would much rather swim distance fly than swim an all-out 50 fly with a quick turnover. That's why my 200 fly is so :cane:.

Try breathing more every other stroke for the fly. :drowning: :whiteflag:Thanks for the suggestion, but no can do. It wasn't until I gave up breathing every other stroke that I was able to swim longer than 50 yards of fly. Just like Michael Phelps, I NEED AIR on every stroke! The change helped so much that I was able to swim 2,000 yards of non-stop fly and became a Butternut: www.grinswim.org/.../butternuts.html (Scroll down to "Elaine Krugman")

I am working on switching my fly from a shoulder driven to hip driven stroke. As I break the stroke down I seem to notice that I have an down-kick when my hands enter into and a up-kick when I pull through toward the hips. This works for a nice long 200 but I'm not sure it's correct especially since I am trying to build a faster fly through focusing on fast 25s and 50s. I've looked at videos and some folks look like they are kicking the entire time. I've tried this but feel rather wiggly and off tempo when I do it. Should an up/down kick occur in the front and then again on the pull through?

Every stroke breathing helps with my rhythm. and I also need air!

How was it, Evan? Did you find that it actually got easier once you past the 200 mark? For me, the first 200 was the most difficult. I became more relaxed after that, got in a (slow!) rhythm, and I felt like I could just keep going on. Was your time faster or slower than what you thought it might be? Just curious... Have not gotten back to be able to do 200 yard fly. Able to do 100 yard fly, breath mostly every stroke for 100 yard fly.