The Deep End

Believe it or not, the last time that I swam the front crawl from the shallow end to the deep end was in a swimming class several years ago -- when I had an escort, my swimming teacher, who pushed and pushed and knew my game.

The game? I would always agree to try the front crawl if I were going from the deep end to the shallow end. Why? Because I knew that my breathing would sustain me until, at least, the black line where, if I got of sync with breathing, I could put my feet on solid ground again. Buoyancy and treading water never even entered the equation but drowning was certainly on my mind.

I've been trying to get myself to swim from the shallow end to the deep end for some time now and I usually get to the deep end but using a variety of strokes.

The water in the pool that I usually go to is quite chilly. I stand around for a while until I convince myself to submerge and, since I'm submerged, it's makes since to start off doing the front crawl which I do until I get to the black line then I pull up and resort to the back crawl, side stroke or elementary back crawl.

I think that I felt relaxed enough and confident enough after yoga that I just decided that I was going to "finish what I started" and get from one end to the other and I did it. It felt so great and huge to make it across that black line doing the front crawl and I feel freer in the water now. My sidestroke (from left side) is also getting better.

If I can tap into that feeling of achievement and happiness right now, it would be great because I am in one foul mood for a Friday. Not even sure where it came from and what it's about but I could definitely benefit from getting in a pool and working this out...

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Gratuitous quote:

You listen to me you mook. You’re in the deep end of the pool at least act like you can swim.

from Epi 14, Season 4 of Prison Break, Scylla buyer to Don Self (24:00)

Reality Testing

The climbing crew is all over the place. Patti is dealing with some wall situation. It's Chris' son's birthday. Joe climbs as his schedule allows and Becky -- not sure what she's doing. All that to say, climbing will take place tomorrow; I shifted gears, called Anita who swims with me and doesn't mind going on Saturday or Sunday.

I took my bike along too because today was gorgeous and I couldn't resist hitting Grant's Trail after swimming.

I often feel like I need to say something like namaste before I get in the pool. Despite my struggle with front crawl breathing et al., the pool provides untold peace. In addition to working on front crawl breathing, I also worked on doing the sidestroke on my left side.

By the way, I so want this Halloween-inspired swimming suit available at Swim Outlet. Then, I could really assume my identity as Super 'Drea. ☺ After all, I do change (quickly) into a lot of costumes. Really, you should see how fast I get from work to Kate's class and how I change clothes somewhere in between.



And guess what? I just happened to win a $100 gift certificate from Swim O.

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MESSAGE:

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My shoulder feels great. I lifted my bicycle out of the basement and onto the bicycle rack with no problem and I also encountered no nasty tugs when I did the sidestroke. I wanna thank the academy my massage therapist who has been significant regarding my shoulder success.

In other news, I felt that reality testing was in order.

I have been quietly freaking out about the number on the scale rising. Ironically, my friend was uncluttering and came across some pictures of when I was really living large...

I took a few pictures which set my mind at ease to a certain degree...

If you exercise with others, does the scheduling ever get complicated?

Hope you're having equally stunning weather in your town and that you were able to exercise outside.

You are exercising, aren't you???

A Groove Of Sorts

In order to avoid becoming a cliché, I did 26 laps instead of the usual 20. I had actually planned on doing 22 but got into a groove of sorts. It took me about one hour and a half to finish. I am so slow. If there were a turtle in Chinese astrology, I would be it.

I concentrated on my front crawl breathing and on doing the sidestroke on my left side. The sidestroke is one of my favorite strokes and I feel confident about the moves on my right side but it's amazing how awkward and uncoordinated I feel on the left. While I'm not aspiring to sidestroke elegance, I would like to feel less clumsy.

The two in the videos below look so precise as did yellow cap doing the front crawl in the pool today. I am the opposite of precise but it is well.






Phillip Toriello explains the sidestroke like my swimming teacher did. I like the explanation of picking an apple off the tree. Instead of putting the apple in a pocket on your hip, my teacher said to put it in a basket around your stomach area. At any rate, it's an example that I can visualize.

Swimming Takes Me Away

I wanted to go to an outdoor pool but the weather wasn't warm enough. I headed to Mehlville's 7:30 p.m. open swim even though I knew the water might be cold there as well. To my surprise, the water wasn't frigid.

Instead of slicing through the water, I felt as if I was weighted down -- maybe by a rather long day at work.

Between watching this father teach his two boys to swim and listening to chatty Kathleen, I got in only 11 laps but I was satisfied and relaxed afterwards.

I practiced my sidestroke and my front crawl breathing seems to be a little better.

This sign amuses me.



As a new or non-swimmer, I certainly wouldn't want to go to the pool with an irresponsible adult.

Past Tense

I worked week-old stiffness out of my neck at the Kennedy Rec Complex.

I did eight laps before being overrun by the furious front crawlers in the designated lap lane.

I thought about Thich Nhat Hanh and mindfulness as I watched the clear blue sky and the clear clouds.

I practiced doing the sidestroke on my left side which turned out to be a clumsy effort and I, of course, practiced the front crawl.

Lately, I've been feeling like this clinging bird on a wire.

All Eyes On Me

I went to The Wreck Center and one of the staff members asked me if I had come to swim. Open swim is over with but you can participate in senior aerobics.

Just how did I get out of the loop? And, no, I had no desire, nada, none to do water aerobics. To add insult to injury, one of the girls who attends swimming lessons piped in we already swam. I could see evidence of the pool as she had little droplets in her hair and on her face. As I was talking to them, Dana waved from the office and told me that she had been waiting for me. She would let me swim since the time had changed abruptly.

I went to the locker room, changed then waited. I saw the sunlight beaming through the windows and I saw the still water; paradise was within reach. I waited and wondered what had delayed Dana.

I finally gained entrance. Dana opened the back door and all of the windows. I had the pool all to myself. After Dana finished her tasks, I was outdone that she chose the highest poolside chair. Are you kidding me? The chairs are so odd and ancient. And I? I felt completely self-conscious. I felt as if Dana was a hawk waiting to swoop down.

I didn’t even want to do the front crawl because, in all honesty, I feel like this little girl has breathing down better than I do.



I felt as if I was taking a final exam and that Dana would be grading my performance. I know that she’s seen me struggle with the front crawl and I know what she expects from the kids. Finally, my arms started aching from relying on the back crawl and sidestroke so I switched up and did the front crawl for awhile.

I try not to get frustrated about this whole FC thing. After all, it hasn’t even been a year since I took my first class and I know that frustration won't help my cause.

As it was nearing 6 p.m., I headed in Dana’s direction so that I could put the divider up. She asked me a few questions about my breathing pattern and offered a few tips. She suggested that I slow down and not take my breath too fast as I turn to the side to breathe. I was looking up at her in that high chair and hanging on to every word.

The Water Is

One of my coworkers, who is an exclusive front crawler, checked in with me today. She wanted to know how swimming was going.

I told her I was pretty much resorting to the back crawl and sidestroke while practicing the front crawl in between. She believes that the sidestroke is much more labor intensive and that I am thinking about the front crawl too much. What can I say? I do have a penchant for details.

Although I don't really look at them anymore, I still have notes taped to my bookshelf:

long legs, floppy ankles
kick from the hip -- not the knee -- use your whole leg

keep your legs straight but not rigid, with your toes pointed out and kick up and down, continue kicking the entire time

I heard the lifeguard as he was giving a lesson to one of the kids which made me remember this quote from Natalie Coughlin on swimming faster and gliding:

Simply reach as far forward as you can, even if it means temporarily reducing your stroke frequency. Stay focused by imagining there's a mail slot in front of each shoulder and slide your hand into it each time.

I don't know why Coughlin's advice struck a chord with me but it did and as I used this tactic today, it actually helped. I also asked the lifeguard if he breathed through his nose or mouth during the front crawl and he said that it was easier for him to breathe through his nose.

There was a new student at the pool today. Once he got in the water, he kept saying "this is tight." He was amazed by the tricks he could do with a kickboard and I was thinking even when I'm uptight the water is tight.

As I was getting out of the pool, newbie asked me how he could do that -- gesturing by moving his arm backwards. I told him that he would have to learn to float first. But I can't go down there, I might get carried away. That's what the lifeguard told him and, although eager to learn, he was satisfied to explore the shallow end for the time being.

What the Inner Child Wanted

I bought a water tattoo. I actually bought two. The other one says backstroke.

It's ironic that I chose this tatt since the breastroke is not one of my greatest accomplishments. I do it Frank Sinatra style i.e. my way. I don't even bob up and down. I missed that class while out of town. My teacher's interest, at the time, was getting me to complete a lap by any means necessary with or without bobbing.

I selected the frog to remind me of how I should be moving my legs. In the end, a young child's needs are not so complex as to require justification.

I swam 17.5 laps or 35 lengths today in less than an hour. I noticed that my swimming is more efficient these days. I also noticed that the straps of my swimming suit or starting to slide again. Either the safety pins have moved from my first adjustment or swimming suit two is further evidence that I'm loosing inches again despite the stuck scale.

For the most part, I resorted to the back crawl and sidestroke with a few attempts at the front crawl.

Tonight's attendees at open swim included four kids, a guy with scuba gear and, of course, the front crawler. In my mind, I refer to her as Leon: The Professional since she's like an assassin. The front crawler is neither unfriendly nor sociable; she just comes in and gets the job done.

And what does a hungry swimmer eat? The lentil vegetable soup that she made on Sunday...