Splish splash

[andygates]

The prospect of a 500 race swim on Sunday still makes my breath come short with fear. But last night's swim session was very, very good (once I found an open pool!). Thirty lengths (woot!) of measured, calm, aware stuff, pausing to catch my breath and work out what felt right and what felt wrong.

Singing underwater helps pace my breathing - otherwise I either huff it all out, or don't vent enough. Plus the bar breaks can be used for breathing timers. Best ones from last night were Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, the A-Team Theme and the Worzel's classic Combine Harvester. The Jaws theme isn't so good 'cos it makes me giggle...

Kick - glide - first breath left.
Those magnificent men in their flying machines
Breathe right
Yom pe pom pom pom, pe pom pe pom pom
Breathe left
They're (ba dum de dum) all (ba dum de dum) frightfully keen
Breathe right
Those magnificent men in their fly-ing machiiines!
*Gasp*

Hellespont, you're next.

Comments

[skean.livejournal.com]

So, your doing bilateral stuff then? I STILL can't get the hang of that.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm trying. Left is my natural breathing side and is where I start my stroke. When I do both, I'm less of a hunchback in body position - otherwise I tend to twist left and up - and it's said to be handy in open water. I'd hate to suffer because of waves fetching up on my breathing side!

Still as slow as a dead dog drifting downstream.

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

Sounds familiar - I've always recited doggerel to myself whilst swimming. Mostly prosaic rhymes about how many lengths I've done.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Out loud?

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

In head. Otherwise water would go in mouth.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Ah, but that's the point - out loud makes for breathing control too.

I sense that this isn't a standard way of doing things!

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see! Even in the head, singing definitely helps with rhythm. Not that I'd be keen on any competitive swim.

[xeeny.livejournal.com]

Best of luck on Saturday dude.

At the tri-club that P & E go to, he made us practice things like 200m bilateral, 100m every 4, 75m every 5 and 50m every 6 strokes. That's fun.