More swimming stuff...

So, the great swimming experiment is a success. The biggest, most important thing is that I've learned to breathe while swimming the crawl stroke.

I don't swim very well yet, and I certainly don't have my swimming and my breathing timed so that I just naturally take a breath when I need one, without interrupting my stroke. But the important thing has happened: I have no worries or discomfort about taking a breath. A little frustration ("damn it, I could have done that more smoothly...") but no feeling of "do this right or you'll suck in water to the back of your throat!"

There was a time when I didn't want to do my swimming/breathing drills, because it was uncomfortable and uncomfortably difficult. That's past. If there was a pool where I could have my own lane for swimming laps, I'd almost be ready to start practicing doing that. (Without my own lane, well, forget it... I'm too slow and not yet at the "moves in a consistent direction" stage :-) )

I've also been doing other drills... elementary backstroke, underwater swimming, and one of my favorites, just lying on my back and kicking to propel myself (relatively slowly) through the water. It's relaxing, it helps develop comfort in the water, and it has to be decent exercise, given how much it tires my legs out :-).

More swimming stuff...

So, the great swimming experiment is a success. The biggest, most important thing is that I've learned to breathe while swimming the crawl stroke.

I don't swim very well yet, and I certainly don't have my swimming and my breathing timed so that I just naturally take a breath when I need one, without interrupting my stroke. But the important thing has happened: I have no worries or discomfort about taking a breath. A little frustration ("damn it, I could have done that more smoothly...") but no feeling of "do this right or you'll suck in water to the back of your throat!"

There was a time when I didn't want to do my swimming/breathing drills, because it was uncomfortable and uncomfortably difficult. That's past. If there was a pool where I could have my own lane for swimming laps, I'd almost be ready to start practicing doing that. (Without my own lane, well, forget it... I'm too slow and not yet at the "moves in a consistent direction" stage :-) )

I've also been doing other drills... elementary backstroke, underwater swimming, and one of my favorites, just lying on my back and kicking to propel myself (relatively slowly) through the water. It's relaxing, it helps develop comfort in the water, and it has to be decent exercise, given how much it tires my legs out :-).