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Stoppy Sulking Pixie

Ok so if you remember (assuming you were listening!) yesterday I mentioned that today would be swimming!

Fraggle had given me some advice on how to improve my front crawl so off I went full of enthusiasm ready to master front crawl! 40 mins later I sulked out of the pool annoyed and frustrating and failing to master the front crawl!

See like a lot of casual swimmers I "thrash about making a lot of splashes!" when doing crawl and this means my HR sores and I die at the end of 1 length needing 3-4mins recovering at the side of the pool before I attempt to swim another length in any stroke!

Fraggle pointed out that if I place my head in the water properly (like look at the bottom of the pool rather than half under) then slow down, breathe out when in the water the breath in as your head leaves the water (I know what I mean even if you don't!) then it will be easier! Sounded good and practice breathing in the house went well!!

I get in the pool - this is it. I can do this! Oh yes here we go ... cough cough splutter splutter. Hmm not quiet to plan!

Problems encountered:
I wore a swim hat cos I hate getting water in my ears - it was tight very tight after 30 mins!
I wore goggles cos I hate getting water in my eyes - they steamed up!
I was concentrating so hard on breathing that when I went to do the lifting head bit I stopped kicking!
I couldn't stop myself from "finishing" my out breath when my head was out of the water!
......
I did manage twice to do 2 fairly OK lengths which took 34 seconds each - slow but good for me!

I just got so fed up though! I would do 5 strokes (I assume 1 stroke is counting each time the same hand hits the water) or sometimes 4 before I tried to breath in because I was trying to "finish" my out breath under the water!

I'm not a natural swimmer it seems - or a patient one!

Is this just something that needs pratice or is it technique? Answers appreciated!

I'm glad to be back running tomorrow!

Comments

beanz said…
I suspect if you really want to do it - and then a tri [whispers beanz] it would be worth having a few lessons

I suspect I do not do front crawl very well, but I am trying to build up from one in four to one in three .... just like run walk
10:12 PM, August 02, 2005
Cath Delaney said…
So you ARE Tri training then..?

;o)
6:26 AM, August 03, 2005
Evil Pixie said…
(slaps Cath)
Just to clarify the situation
I AM NOT DOING A TRI!!!!
It's just I realise that cross training is good and helps prevent injure (and uses more calories thereby helping lose weight!)
NOT A TRI!
:-P
7:17 AM, August 03, 2005
XFR Bear said…
Of course you're not doing atri.



You're training to do a tri ;o)

Um - seriously - it takes practice. If you had two good lengths, keep doing what you did then for longer. Simple eh? No - it isn't - it's very easy for things to deteriorate - that's why it takes practice.

five strokes does seem a lot before taking a breath. I personally don't use my legs much as I want to save them for later. It works ok. If you find your legs sinking then press your chest forwards.

Goggles can tend to steam up I find - you can get anti-mist spray (never tried it) or some have anti-mist "lenses". I got some Seal XP goggles from Wiggle that aren't perfect but I like :o)
8:43 AM, August 03, 2005
Evil Pixie said…
well it's nice to hear I have the right idea!
but no not even training for a tri - honest!
9:16 AM, August 03, 2005
Cath Delaney said…
pixie is tri training
pixie is tri training


;o)
9:48 AM, August 03, 2005
XFR Bear said…
just enjoy the different activities for themselves - you can think about doing an actual tri later on.
1:00 PM, August 03, 2005
fraggle said…
best sure for misting goggle - spit in them first :-)
1:42 PM, August 03, 2005
Evil Pixie said…
err thanks Fraggles sounds errr good!
4:34 PM, August 03, 2005
fraggle said…
gross I know, but it *does* work :o)
4:40 PM, August 03, 2005
b-z said…
Lessons is the way to go
8:58 AM, August 07, 2005
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