I finally got to get back in the water tonight! First time swimming since late August when I did an open water swim with Coach Kelly. And I haven't been in a pool since mid-July when I put my membership at the Y on hold. I signed up for the highest level tri swim clinic they offer. I'm not an awesome swimmer, but I can hold my own in the pool. And I took the level three all last season, so I was fairly certain, even with a few months off, that I was going to do ok.
So, I knew in advance my young tri friend Erin is in the class, and we both got to the locker room at the same time. There were no other female's in the locker room. She commented that she hoped we aren't the only two people in the class. And neither one of us had any clue who the teacher was. We walked out to the pool, and there were 4 or 5 men waiting for the class to start. Not young kids, but men, who all looked older than me (and I'm old) .Uh Oh! From previous classes, I know the guys always kick my butt, and I know Erin is faster than me, so I'm thinking I am in the wrong level for sure. We all got into the water, and the instructor, who's name has left my short term memory, had us do 50 for a warm up. Erin and I left those boys in our wake! And we continued to do so the entire class.
The instructor taught us several drills, that we will incorporate into our endurance work outs after this week. She was very good. I can tell after just one class that this is way more geared toward triathlon training than last season. But, I can also tell you, no matter how many times she has us do side swimming, or the six kick switch, my hips ain't moving when I go back to doing the regular crawl. I tried. And I told her I know I'm not doing it. She said at least I can admit it, because everyone else always insists that they are rotating.
Here's the thing people. I've been swimming for over 30 years (told you I was old!) and up until today, nobody has ever told me I need to rotate my entire body in the water. Not at my swimming lessons on the beach when I was 3, not when I was on the swim team when I was 12, and not last season when that boy who was born the year I graduated from high school was teaching the tri swim classes. Never. So, I think you would have an easier time teaching my parent's 13 year old arthritic dog to fetch than you would getting me to turn into Elvis while I swim. This old dog isn't learning a new trick! And don't even get me started on breathing on both sides...
So, I knew in advance my young tri friend Erin is in the class, and we both got to the locker room at the same time. There were no other female's in the locker room. She commented that she hoped we aren't the only two people in the class. And neither one of us had any clue who the teacher was. We walked out to the pool, and there were 4 or 5 men waiting for the class to start. Not young kids, but men, who all looked older than me (and I'm old) .Uh Oh! From previous classes, I know the guys always kick my butt, and I know Erin is faster than me, so I'm thinking I am in the wrong level for sure. We all got into the water, and the instructor, who's name has left my short term memory, had us do 50 for a warm up. Erin and I left those boys in our wake! And we continued to do so the entire class.
The instructor taught us several drills, that we will incorporate into our endurance work outs after this week. She was very good. I can tell after just one class that this is way more geared toward triathlon training than last season. But, I can also tell you, no matter how many times she has us do side swimming, or the six kick switch, my hips ain't moving when I go back to doing the regular crawl. I tried. And I told her I know I'm not doing it. She said at least I can admit it, because everyone else always insists that they are rotating.
Here's the thing people. I've been swimming for over 30 years (told you I was old!) and up until today, nobody has ever told me I need to rotate my entire body in the water. Not at my swimming lessons on the beach when I was 3, not when I was on the swim team when I was 12, and not last season when that boy who was born the year I graduated from high school was teaching the tri swim classes. Never. So, I think you would have an easier time teaching my parent's 13 year old arthritic dog to fetch than you would getting me to turn into Elvis while I swim. This old dog isn't learning a new trick! And don't even get me started on breathing on both sides...
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