Triathlon Lesson – Swimming 1

Over summer I've raced a few duathalons (run/bike/run) and have really enjoyed the competition. So after lots of pressure from triathlete mates I've set myself the target of taking part in a triathlon (swim/bike/run) next year. Trouble is, the last time I actually swam properly was 1990 at college, so I am a bit daunted.

Anyway, feeling brave one morning recently, I went down to the National Pool and started with breaststroke not wanting to draw too much attention to myself splashing about. I had forgotten how physically hard it was and only just managed to keep up with a pensioner in her classic purple flowered swim cap. After a few exhausting lengths of drinking water and torturing my eyes with chlorine I quit. It took me a few months to pluck up the courage to go back. This time the 25 meter pool was being used and I was forced to get in the big boys pool (Olympic 50 meter). Well it looks OK from the side but once your in the water 50 meters looks a very long way indeed!

The investment of a pair of goggles was great but it only took me a while to remember to keep my mouth shut. Still, I could only manage another couple of lengths before being too knackered to stay alive. Leaving the pool I spotted GB athlete David Davies (Bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics) adding to the feeling I was way out of my league. I really needed help and promptly signed up for a beginner’s course (10 weeks for £52).

My first lesson had about 20 ‘beginners’ of all shapes, sizes and ages. The 2 instructors got us all into the pool and asked us to swimming across the pool using any stroke we liked. About 7 of us could manage this so we became 'advanced' beginners which did give me confidence wonders. In hindsight, the others couldn’t swim at all so perhaps I hadn’t really achieved much.

The basics of the hour long lesson was to have a go at the main strokes and give our instructor a chance to see how bad we really were. This started with front crawl kick. It’s really hard! We were then given floats and flippers which means you can travel twice as quick. I still had problems with drinking the water but I wasn't alone - were all coughing and spluttering as if we were in a doctors waiting room. Anyway, the hour went pretty quick and I left with a spring in my step, feeling more confidant that maybe one day I could call myself a swimmer.

Will post more after my next lesson.
Posted by James