It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

May 11, 2011

Masters Swim = Master Swimmer…..I think not!

Sorry I haven’t posted in a few days it’s been a crazy week so far.  I have had something on the agenda every night this week and will for the rest of the week as well, but that’s ok.

I did my first “two a day” workout in awhile yesterday.  I did a 4 mile speed workout in the am before work, and then a swim workout in the evening.

My friend Michelle talked me in to going to a Masters Swim class last night.  I am very intimated by Masters swim because although they say it is for all levels this is NOT true.  Maybe they mean all levels of really good swimmers.  However, it is a new class that’s offered in my town – and I was hoping since it was new that maybe there would be a few non-swimmers there.  That was not the case.

My friend Michelle is an amazing swimmer!!  She swam in high school and college, so she can go to something like this, jump in the “lightening fast” lane and feel totally comfortable.  Me…hmmmm…well not so much.

When we arrived, we were a few minutes late so they had already started.  There were only two lanes for Masters Swim.  A fast lane, and a lightning fast lane.  I seriously have only been in the water a dozen times since last August, and wasn’t even sure if I could complete 50 Meters without stopping to catch my breath.  This wasn’t going to go well.  We met the coach and he says “Well, we have a 3500 Meter Workout scheduled for tonight”.  Umm….did he just say 3500 meters?  I’m going to be lucky if I can do 1000.

There were 3 guys in my lane, and me.  They were all pretty good swimmers.  I immediately felt like I was totally in the way.  It’s difficult enough to share a lane with 3 other people, but it’s really difficult when they are all better than you.  I sucked it up though and swam, taking breaks and hanging by the side of the pool when I needed to.

About 30 minutes into the workout some other classes at the Aquatics center finished up and some more lanes opened.  So Michael (that’s me) got her own lane J  This made me feel so much better.  A very nice older gentleman named Dave (who was swimming in my lane) jumped in with me and asked if I wanted help with my stroke.  Well, HECK yes I do.  He watched me underwater and gave me a few pointers and within a few minutes I could feel myself gliding through the water a little more easily.  It was great.

That's me #322....Diving right in!
At the end of the night I decided to give it a try and bought a punch card for the class.  It’s every Tues and Thurs night.  I know it will be intimidating, I know it will be difficult, and I know I won’t be able to complete the full workout, but I can’t help but think it will make me a stronger swimmer.  Sometimes you just have to overcome those feelings of inadequacy and go for it!

Giveaway coming later this week.  Stay Tuned!

21 comments:

  1. I keep hearing the benefits of masters class, I have yet to do one. I should though

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  2. I never thought about a masters class....especially since I'm sure most little kids can swim better/faster than me!

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  3. Good for you!!! I've never been to one and am also intimidated. But the key to getting better at all things seems to be to try to hang with people that are better then you. :)

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  4. Good for you for sticking with it! It can be frustrating when you are in a lane with much faster swimmers. If you are able to get in your own lane (or one with swimmers at a similar level) you will enjoy it more. I know I get a lot out of it. Mainly, the coaching pushes me harder than I would push myself if I were just doing laps on my own.

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  5. And I know you can do and will come out of it a much stronger, competent and confident swimmer Michael. YOU we do AMAZING :)

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  6. Way to go Michael! I tried Masters Swim in January and I let my insecurities get the best of me. However, I also needed the flexibility to swim when it fit my schedule. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it at least right now.

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  7. I've just recently started swimming and my oh my .... I have no form. Too many years spent swimming underwater I guess (I'm a scuba divemaster and even before that preferred underwater swimming). We have an olympic caliber aquatic center and it's intimidating just swimming in an open lane let alone as part of a masters class (which my wife does). There are spectators in the seats on the 2nd level and coaches everywhere working with all ages.

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  8. I hear masters class is super helpful, I just don't have one near me. Take full advantage of it!!

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  9. Very good! You did awesome just for showing up, in my book! I'm totally nervous about masters swims.

    WTG!!!

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  10. Getting in was the hardest part...now it will get easier each time and you'll come away a much stronger swimmer for it!

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  11. We don't have Master swim here at the Y bit we have this Masters Swim workout that's posted on the end of the pool. Kinda like, learn from the paper. I would be intimidated by others too! I'm not so fast but I really enjoying swimming.

    I'm glad you posted that pic of you in regular water swimming. You're gonna be my voice of reason that tells me why I shouldnt be afraid to get in the water and go like normal people. Not "go" as in pee but "go" as in swim :)

    Can't wait for the giveaway!

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  12. Good for you. Jeff over at Dangle the Carrot touts the Masters swim and there is an Iron(wo)man in my 'hood that says the same thing so I need to get off my rump and 'dive right in'

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  13. Great job!! I would have found all kinds of excuses not to go. I see the Master's swimmers at my rec center when I run or spin there--makes me glad I'm just a runner. :^)

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  14. I felt the exact same way when I started my first master's class. I was one of the slowest and felt totally out of place. But, I kept going and it got better! Good for you for sticking with it and buying a punch pass! Woohoo!

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  15. the first meetup is always the hardest! Even if you can't complete the full workouts or swim as fast, you can only benefit from swimming with faster swimmers and improve your technique. Keep it up! :)

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  16. Glad you ended up going. I think you REALLY will benefit from the practices.

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  17. You don't give yourself enough credit - you're a great swimmer ... especially compared to me!!! You're my swimming hero!!!

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  18. Good luck with the class! I think for a tri the swim would be my weakest part. I didn't learn how until I was about 12!

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  19. Oh my god - 3500 meters?!? I would have died, haha I saw 1.2 miles last Saturday and thought I was going to die at the end of it, my swim stroke definitely is not as good as my running form, haha Great job on finishing 3500 meters, you are a trooper! You will be flying in the swim in your next triathlon!

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  20. Great job sticking it out! It can be so hard to put yourself in those situations, but it can pay off big time. Sounds like you are getting good feedback and support from the other people there too. :)

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  21. youre a braver woman than me! im still to scared to swim with my tri club, and its just a small group of people that i already know pretty well. im just super self conscious of my swimming. but i know if i would just suck it up and go i would be fine. good job!!!!

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