Swimming

[london1967]

Some of you may recall that at the end of January I took up swimming and that it was quite a struggle.
I have had so far 12 non-individual lessons (I signed up for the course at the Central YMCA again in April).

Well now after almost 4 months, I can do breaststroke and back crawl (and according to the instructor, my back crawl is excellent. My secret is that I picture myself lying flat on my back in bed! LOL)

Sadly, front crawl keeps eluding me.
It requires just too much co-ordination for me and I haven't mastered the breathing technique at all.

But perhaps it's not entirely my fault, according to Wikipedia.

The front crawl has been in use since ancient times. In the Western world, the front crawl was first seen in a swimming race held in 1844 in London, where it was swum by Native North Americans, who easily defeated all the British breaststroke swimmers. However, the English gentlemen considered this style, with its considerable splashing, to be barbarically "un-European". The British continued to swim only the breaststroke in competition.

Perhaps I'm just too European! LOL!

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In other somewhat sport-related news, today they announced at work that during the Olympics we'll be working revised hours starting at 7:30 am instead than 9 am.
This is because it's going to be very busy on public transport at peak times. 
Knowing how fragile the transport system is, I expect nothing less than a meltdown!

Comments

[tilia-tomentosa.livejournal.com]

LOL it's all Greek to me.... wait, I'm better at Greek than at swimming. ;)

Good luck surviving the Olympics! :)

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We'll need it!

[delko.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm a swimmer, competed in High School and College. Also played water polo (really rough and physical sport).

The thing to do:

Stand in a nice level of water, like half way from your nips and tummy.

Bend forward and just work on your breathing. Out from the nose, in through the mouth. Just bend forward, and concentrate (THIS IS CRUCIAL) on just moving your head, you should not lift your neck, it should just be your neck moving to the right and then back down.

Practice this, it gets easy once you relax a bit (kinda like other things, lol!)

Once you get the breathing down, start using your arms while still standing. Move to a little deeper water and just get used to the mechanics. KEEP your head still and just concentrate on moving your neck. You WILL not get you entire mouth out, but you will be able to grab a breath.

When you start moving through the water, the legs will take you some time to get going, but you can do the crawl with just your arms and an occasional kick.

I have taught many folks, you can do it! (And it's an amazing workout, that is low stress to your joints!!!)

[jeffurrynpl.livejournal.com]

As someone who just does some sort of freestyle swim while holding my breath as long as I can and occasionally looking up to get more air I have to ask: how do your ears not get filled with water? Last year I managed to get otitis media when I hadn't been swimming. I love to swim but I've never learned how to breathe and I hate getting any water in my ears.

[(Anonymous)]

If you have no ear problems it should not be an issue. I wear an ear plug in my left ear. If you have any ear problems look into getting plugs or seeing an ear doc. A swim cap also helps.

Work on your breathing. Every time your right arm makes two turns you should roll your head up, grab a breath in you mouth, and exhale through you nose.

Concentrate on not letting your head up, but just rolling your neck, it makes a huge difference.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Surprisingly I don't mind water in my ears when I do back crawl.
It's the face in the water that bothers me!

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for your tips. They are much appreciated!
I'm certainly going to try!

Good for you Franco!

[ursine1.livejournal.com]

Glad to read that you overcame your fear of swimming and have been making good progress.

Chuck

Re: Good for you Franco!

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Chuck!

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

My secret is that I picture myself lying flat on my back in bed!

Does that mean you do it with your legs in the air..?

[london1967.livejournal.com]

LOL! Not quite, as I said 'lying flat'! ;-)

[bobalone.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your swimming success. I don't like the "Australian" crawl either. The back stroke is nice, isn't it...particularly if you are staring up at a beautiful sky. I usually do the side-stroke if I have to cover any distance. Enjoy. (Too bad you can't swim to work during the Olympics.!)

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Bob. Still a long way to go to feel confident but it's certainly progress.

[wwcitizen.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to videos and reports of the public transport system in London during the Olympics, actually. I find the Tube to be ultra convenient, clean, and pretty on time (compared to many other cities' public transport systems). I remember Paris during the bi-centennial month of July 1986 - I was in school there then for the month. The metro was PACKED most of the time, but WAY PACKED on and around Bastille Day for 2-3 days. Like sardines in a can.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

I try to avoid catching the tube as much as I can, and will do ever more so during the Games!
I travel by overground train and then bus or bicycle (one of the 'Boris' bikes).

Great icon!