A swimming progress report...
Tonight I attended my second swimming lesson. I can feel improvements already. After my initial assessment I was told a few basic things I should concentrate on so I went back to the pool over the weekend and got some more practice in. After an hour in the pool I felt my breathing was better (though far from perfect) and my stroke was better. It took me around an hour to swim 250m (in 25m blocks, 5 minute rest between each 25m) but that's better than what I normally do (normally given up after 75m).
During tonight's lesson everything definitely seems to be better than last week. I have a real problem with kicking and breathing. The breathing is partly due to a neck injury but the kicking is just a pure lack of stamina. More practice, practice, practice.
My instructor looked at me strangely tonight when I asked for one thing to concentrate on during the week. When I teach (mathematics or programming) I always find it helpful to give the student a small task to practice with. It reinforces everything. With the strange look in her eye and nothing coming out of her mouth, I said "It's good teaching practice, come on, give me a task!". Eventually I was given something to practice. Am I being too difficult ? I don't believe so. It's my money and I want results !
Let's see how things go over the next few weeks. If I'm not getting the attention I'm paying for then I might change classes.
2 Comments:
In regards to the kicking watch the Olympic swimmers in a few weeks time. It's actually surprising how little they kick. Instead of the furious leg thrashing the rest of us do, they move their legs almost rhythmically at a leisurely pace.
I've no idea whether or not this is something a novice should try to emulate but I've always found it interesting.
I need to look at both my freestyle and backstroke. I *think* my freestyle is relatively OK. I've been told my backstroke kicking is too fast so this is one thing I'm already concentrating on. I've asked my wife to come along next week and video tape me so I can review it for myself.
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