With my goal of dong an Ironman, I decided I need to learn to swim better. I am a lousy swimmer. So I signed up for adult swimming lessons at the local community center. I have been excitedly waiting for them to start.
Tonight was my first lesson. It was scheduled to start at 7:30pm. I arrived a little after 7, checked in at the front desk and headed to the locker room. I bought a combination padlock this afternoon in anticipation of using a locker. I debated about a combination lock or key lock. With a key lock I would have to carry a key, but with a combo lock, I would need to remember a combination. Well, I went with the combination lock. Anyway, I found a locker, changed into my new Sugoi swimsuit. I spent a few minutes adjusting the straps on my new TYR swim goggles.
I took a quick shower and headed out to the pool. There was a lady teaching some kids swimming lessons. She asked me what I wanted and I told her I was there for the adult swimming lessons. She said I was early and the guy would be there at 7:30. I sat around for a few minutes, then got into the hot tub. I waited in the hot tub till the teacher shower up. The swim teacher was a kid. A high school junior. Thats fine. I am sure he is a better swimmer than me. It wouldn’t be hard.
He asked me some questions, then had me get into the pool to see what I could do. I swam across the pool with a breast stroke. Then I swam back using a crawl stroke. He had me working on keeping my legs straight. He had me holding to the side of the pool kicking. And then breathing. Then he had me swim across the pool using a Pull Buoy. Then he had me going across the pool using the pull buoy and a kick board. Then I used then the kick board.
About this time the single other student showed up. A woman. The teacher kid alternated working with her and me. I was swimming laps doing crawl stroke working on keeping my legs straight and breathing, I need to remember 3 strokes and breathe. After a little while the left, and it was just me. I could swim across the 25 yard pool and I would be left gasping for breath. Then he had me treading water for a couple minutes.
Towards the end of the class, the kid was trying to get me to float. But I don’t float. My bodt fat percentage is low enough, that I sink pretty easily. It got to be 8:30 and I was done. I was tired. Yeah, I run marathons, and bike for 100 miles, but I am not used to swimming. So my heart was cranked after each lap. I am going to have to check into when they hold lap swims. I have to figure out if I should show up and do some laps between lessons or if I should just wait till I finish my lessons. I’d hate to practice poor form. But at least I could be building up he swimming muscles.

Posted by Rob in Swimming on June 3rd, 2008 |