As many of you probably know I am trying to tick off as many things on my bucket list as I can. One of the more difficult challenges I set myself was swimming 1km.This equates to 50 lengths of the pool at my local gym. The first time I tried was about 18months ago and I completed it quite easily so that wasn't much of a challenge, but I had poodled along doing breast stroke so I decided that couldn't count and that if I wanted to complete this challenge I would have to swim the km doing front crawl. Now this was a challenge as I couldn't manage 1 length (20m).
From then on every time I went swimming I tried to increase the number of lengths but it was slow going. After a while I was doing 2 lengths quite regularly but then I would have to stop as I was out of breath. I just couldn't get it right. The breathing and the leg kick were all wrong. I knew I was trying to swim far too fast rather than a more relaxed style. I have to admit I gave up the idea but then at the beginning of 2013 I tried again. This time I watched You Tube videos, read about breathing techniques and slowly but surely I managed to increase the distance so that I was alternating 4 lengths of front crawl with 4 lengths of breast stroke. Then at the beginning of Feb I was doing 6 lengths of front crawl to 2 lengths of breast stroke. The big breakthrough came at the end of last month when I decided to try and do 200m (10 lengths). It was hard going but after 100m I finally settled into a rhythm and finished up swimming 17 lengths. I thought I'd cracked it. Each time I go to the gym I always finish with a swim but I never repeated that distance until today.
As I was going for a walk later today I had a shorter work out in the gym and decided on a short swim. After about 10 lengths of various strokes I noticed I had the lane to myself so I thought I ought to do a few lengths of front crawl just until someone else came into the lane. But after 10 lengths the pool was still fairly quiet. I then settled into a more rhythmic style. Not the most co-ordinated or technically correct style but nevertheless it was front crawl. After 20 lengths I was ecstatic. It was the most I had ever done. Still no-one got into my lane. 25 lengths, then 30 lengths. Could this be the day? With 15 lengths to go one of my ear plugs came out. Should I stop to retrieve it? No.no my brain was telling me. Yes,yes my ear was shouting at me but I carried on, fearful that someone would jump into my lane and put me off my stroke. Then after 40mins of continuous swimming I had finally completed my challenge. What a great feeling as I dragged myself out of the pool. I never thought I would manage to complete this task but as they say 'if at first you don't succeed then try,try again'.
 |
| (Not me!) |
As I was going for a walk later today I had a shorter work out in the gym and decided on a short swim. After about 10 lengths of various strokes I noticed I had the lane to myself so I thought I ought to do a few lengths of front crawl just until someone else came into the lane. But after 10 lengths the pool was still fairly quiet. I then settled into a more rhythmic style. Not the most co-ordinated or technically correct style but nevertheless it was front crawl. After 20 lengths I was ecstatic. It was the most I had ever done. Still no-one got into my lane. 25 lengths, then 30 lengths. Could this be the day? With 15 lengths to go one of my ear plugs came out. Should I stop to retrieve it? No.no my brain was telling me. Yes,yes my ear was shouting at me but I carried on, fearful that someone would jump into my lane and put me off my stroke. Then after 40mins of continuous swimming I had finally completed my challenge. What a great feeling as I dragged myself out of the pool. I never thought I would manage to complete this task but as they say 'if at first you don't succeed then try,try again'.
Wonderful! I have taught myself the same thing, little at a time. I have only made it for 30 minutes, but I could probably do longer if I set myself a challenge like you did. Kudos to you, and congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I'm so glad you persevered and achieved your goal. Wow, I must say I am extremely impressed. You GO GIRL! :)
ReplyDeleteWell done. You must be quite fit.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!! Swimming has always been difficult for me, but wow - you nailed it!
ReplyDeleteWell done, I must admit 1Km would proably tax me today as I have not been swimming for years. I swam 7 miles down the Thames once something I would not want to do again.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are a tough one! Great you made it, well done.
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!!! :o)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations ! What a performance ! I have no ambitions anymore, I just do everything for fun. I swim with pleasure my lines up and down, the head far out of the water (I hate water in my face) and then there are always people to chat with ! Aqua gym is nice too and helps to keep me in form, just as the yoga gymnastic. But there is no competition at all, not even with myself,lol ! Not quiet true we had to do a shoulder stand in Yoga, most of the women didn't manage it but I did and I was very proud ! At nearly 70, not so bad !
ReplyDeleteI take my hat off to you! We go for a swim 3 times a week but do mostly walking in the pool. Good exercise and easy on the back :). You deserve a KK.
ReplyDeleteI swim in the ocean near my home, but do not go out too far, because of whirlpools and rip tides. Then there are always the Lakes. I learned to swim at "Lily Lake", a short 30 min walk from home - back in the day when all neighbourhood kids would take a bottle of water and sandwich and be gone for the day. Congratulations of your completing this item - it sounded so challenging during the read and is quite an accomplishment. I am first time visitor and enjoyed what I have seen, browsing through your posts. I shall return - have a wonderful day.
ReplyDelete