Group Swim Training - Mar 18

Our group swim training is here, and I am hoping all the practice I have been getting the last couple of days pays off today. We started out with a 200 yd warmup which was frankly a breeze. Part of the reason for this was I was wearing my fins, and it was helping me get more streamlined that I normally am without it.

The main course for the day was doing two half mile runs with 30 sec rest in between. I thought it was going to be fun, until the coach told me there were no fins allowed! :(

I guess, so much for my trying to slide through, but he did have a point, that there would be no fins in the actual race. The next interesting part was that we were supposed to beat our times from our run last week. My time then was 45 mins for the entire mile (22.5 mins/ half mile), so I had to beat that.

The first 1/2 mile run was kinda interesting. I had read couple of articles that Coach Ray had sent out earlier in the regarding how to change your center of gravity by having your arm stretched out at nearly all times, and was literally practicing doing that. It took a little getting used to, but I think I had improved my form and my legs were lot more raised than they generally are. I think this run was not a good measure of how I can do, as there was too much traffic in my lane and I was getting a chance to catch my breath. I did however complete the run in 20 mins!!! That is a complete 2.5 mins faster than last time! :)

The next run, I switched to the fast lane with Bora and had him take the lead and followed him through the entire run. I did not stop for a break at all and stayed on Boras tail with a max lead of 3/4 of a lap. I completed the second run non-stop with all the best I could in 19 mins!!! That is 3 mins better than my last time!! I am making progress!! Yayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of things have changed since the last couple of practice days. The first is that I am trying to move my center of gravity further up my body to keep my legs higher. The second is that I have started to kick the way you are supposed to, as opposed to what I was doing before which was actually hurting my feet.

Its quite amazing how in a few weeks, I can not only see progress, but also feel it. I will try to focus on getting my strokes and rotation more regular in my next personal training sessions and hopefully be getting better times next week.

I realize that working on one or max two things at a time help try to focus on those, than trying to worry about the whole enchilada, much as my coach would like me to.

Anyways, I am totally excited about the training today and will most definetly be sleeping really well tonight! Adios!! ;)