Swimming Ducks

'Respect the Distance' is not exclusive a term for running a marathon. It applies to swimming too, and I am sure it does to cycling too.

Today, we continued to perfect-ise, or rather correct our strokes and time our secondary arm's pull only after the entry and full stretch of the primary arm. 

I thought visualising it while swimming was hard, but doing it was harder. This time our assignment was to swim correctly in a series of 8x200m. I have done this drill on my own before, but void of timing myself. This time around, Coach Eric gave us a time frame of 5 minutes for us to finish and rest, before the next drill starts. I calculated my time to drive to KL Convention in time for DATUM '10, then spit in my goggles, wash and get ready.

The first half, I went too fast without compromising the strokes too much and finished my laps in the 3:30s. It felt good, although this time we had to use our buoys which prevented me to kick. Being a runner that I am, I felt like a fish without my tail. But, the breathing was fine, strokes were flawed a little. I have pushed it a little too much, that I suffered the second half. 

My triceps were burning (sekarang pun rasa lagi) and I lost my pull power. Without powerful pulls, and void of kicking to propel me forward, my strokes were compromised. My time later averaged in the 4:15s. 

Contrary to what I would like to believe, I am not ready to face the waves.

But the 8 sets felt like forever, I wanted to bail out, but I felt it is very important to soldier on to acquire a certain level of endurance in swimming. But all sets finally finished and I am glad I did it all the way. At least today I finished a total triathlon-distance swim... not too shabby... circa 31 minutes.

And as we have a little more time, Nik Arief suggested to Coach to show us the somersault move, for us to cut valuable time when racing in the pool (Chin Woo Biathlon for instance). I for one, wanted to do this and look very der pro, one... and it does cut the time and cut the possibility of curi ayam at the pool wall. 

First, I watched the seasoned swimmers do it... and I did what En. Nik advised me to do - to skodeng them pro swimmers. Coach Eric explained there are 2 kinds of approach, one that I remember is to bring both arms to the back of the feet as we see the stop marker on the pool floor. This will automatically bring the feet up, head down for the turn, and as we flip, we push against the wall and continue swimming (Mak aiiiiiii!!!)

The other I was not too sure. I was busy imagining how am I going to do the first option!

We were all sent to a section or corners to practice the flips, and after awhile, all came up holding our heads as the water rushed through our noses, straight into the head (or brain?). Some painful shots there!

So we learned how to stop the water from coming in. Either we blow (through the nose) real hard during the flip, or do a snout-like face by bridging the upper lips, pressed against the nostrils, and blow gently (Mak aiiiiii!!!). But doing it is much simpler and almost effortless.


o well, better start training!


Tomorrow... hitting the trails again, woohoo...