At the conclusion of my first 100 yards during my first Masters
Swimming workout, the coach told me I needed to smooth out my freestyle stroke and
that I was cutting off my reach too early.
Just the kind of feedback I was looking for.
I’ve been hitting the pool consistently for the last five
months in an attempt to develop my technique, strength, and endurance enough to
be able to swim 500 yards in the Gold Nugget Triathlon in May. I started from scratch back in October (the
last time I attempted to swim something other than the doggy paddle was in 6th
grade) and it took me three months just to get to the point where I could swim ten
laps continuously without gasping for air at the end of each pool length. Then I’d hit a plateau. Though I’d taken a couple of private swim
lessons in the fall, most of my instruction was coming from YouTube. My technique needed work.
It was most auspicious, then, when I received an email from
Carl Young who works for the Valdez Parks and Recreation Department announcing
the formation of a community Masters Swimming program. The plan was that the group would meet for an
hour on Saturday afternoons and would follow structured work outs based on
skill level. It’s important to
understand that “masters” refers to age not ability.
I showed up for the first session uncertain of what to
expect. My friend, Karen, met me there
and we joined one other woman in the two lanes designated for beginners. Several other folks filtered in over the next
few minutes and filled up the intermediate and advanced lanes. Carl instructed us to get fins and kickboards
and then to get to work on our 300 yards of warm up. Karen and I practiced circle swimming, and,
after a couple of initial collisions, we got in synch with each other’s paces.
Carl, our coach, met us periodically at the end of our laps
and gave us each specific instructions to improve weak points in our kicks or
strokes. I got assigned finger-drag-drill
and 6-by-6 drill to improve my arm extension and form. We kept moving for most of the 60 minute
session by following a set of drills that was written on the pool’s white
board.
As 1pm approached, Carl directed us to line up and get ready
for sprints.
“Swimmers on your mark,” he yelled. Then, blowing his whistle, he piped “Go”. And, off we went splashing, pulling, kicking
towards the other end of the pool.
Breathing hard, we looked to the coach for a reprieve, but he just hollered
out for us to get ready for the next one, blew the whistle, and sent us all hurdling
down the pool for another set of sprints.
More Information:
Keep an eye out for announcements about upcoming Valdez Masters Swimming clinics (last half of April) and meets. Dues may be forthcoming as the group completes its formation and as it becomes
part of the U.S. Masters Swimming program.
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