I love OW swimming. Nuthin' like getting out there and swimming a half mile before turning. Yah, it sucks when the beach is busy and I have to dodge jerks in the swim lane. But most of the time, it just feels good to get out there and swim.

Now, I'm stuck in the fish bowl. Not quite as enjoyable, since it seems like stroke, stroke, flip... I do like the feel of swimming. Plus, after my swim, I get to go run!

At times I relly enjoyed going to the pool and listening to the slight splash as my hand entered the water and then the feel of the wake passing my thigh as I pull my hand passed.

Then I had my shoulder surgery. I couldn't swim, I couldn't even lift my hand above my head. the shoulder has slowly started to release and I have regained most of my ROM. (Range of Motion)

Funny thing is I started swimming again. Just 100's at first then 200's and now I'm swimming 500's. The one thing I notice is I'm enjoying the water. I'm feeling it, not fighting it. I've slowed a bit, but I swim 16 strokes for a 25yd pool so my stroke is better.

It sounds to me like your fighting the water. Next time you have a swim session leave the tools at home and just bring your goggles. Don't worry about time or stroke count or about your breathing pattern, just swim. Feel the water rush over your head and down your back. Feel the water pressure against your forearm as you pull back on the stroke. Inhale as deep as you can on each breathe, even if it means being turned and gliding for that extra second. Don't think about anything and listen to the sounds of the pool. The kids playing in the shallow end, the divers splashing into the diving area, the guy next to you doign kick drills. Just listen and swim.

Sheldon

I really enjoy swimmimg laps, now that I know how, and can breathe, but I can see the problem with tri swimming. It is a horse of a different color all together!! I seem to get beat up and knocked around! It is hard to find a space to actually swim in!

i was/am a complete fishie. swam almost every day for 10 years. swimming laps is the best therapy i can have. these days i train twice a week.

i have always had some days where i just feel like i'm thrashing around going nowhere. i don't think it makes much difference to my speed, or how i look to other people, it's just the way it feels to me. i have no idea why it happens; doesn't seem to be related to my frame of mind, tiredness or anything. i just don't feel right in the water some days.

as sheldon said (so much more poetically than me!), just go with it, take your time, and keep your strokes long. when you put your hand in the water, imagine 'catching' a piece of that water ahead of you, and pulling that one piece right along till it's behind you.

take your time, keep it long and relax. and look over at a fishie person swimming nearby and know that they're probably having a day where they feel like a crazy thrasher!

I started liking swimming when CS told me I don't need the KICKBOARD!

Then I got faster! And had fun! Confident! I like my kick drills now...they help!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tithers:


Then I got faster! And had fun! Confident! I like my kick drills now...they help!<HR>

faster, down right FAST... Tithers can swim for sure.

S