For my first time swimming on Saturday I decided to try out the Cardiff International Pool. It was awesome! Swimming in a 50m pool, gave a more realistic feel of swimming in open water, especially as the depth is 2m all across! I think I'll be going there for my Saturday swims and I think I've managed to convince my girlfriend Louise to come with me. So we can have a workout in the 50m pool and have go on the slides afterwards! :)

Might even be able to do another training session in the week, if Lou is up for it.

I impressed myself doing one length in 21 strokes, I didn't just coast along using only my feet, but I felt a real rhythm of doing my strokes, catching the acceleration through the water and before I knew it I was touching the other side of the pool. Such a good feeling!

Swimming Crazy

Through guilt of not updating this part of my training more reguarly and not being able to go swimming today as I had to get stuff for valentines day (my fault for not being more prepared) I thought I'd write a little more on how my swim training is going.

It's going well, but slowly! I'm feeling like I'm gliding through the water rather than if you could chuck some persil in with me I could do your washing while I'm about it. It's a little frustrating as I can only keep form for 50m at the moment before resting for 30secs and then doing another 50m. There is an old guy (50 something) that swims at around the same time as me churning the water up doing about 2 sets of 20 lengths at a consistant pace of 25 strokes per 25m. Now compared to my 13 to 14 strokes per 25m it must seem effortless to him, especially when I time it to run alongside him :) I keep up with him but I have to stop after 50m, the book I'm reading advises to not practice any sloppy swimming and that fitness will come from practising. I see the sense in this and I can see that I am using less effort to get through the water - patience is something else I need to practice!

I know it will all come together with consistant training, talking of which I'm adding another swim session on to my schedule so I'll be doing 3 a week.

The sessions I've been doing consist of a length of swimming with one arm in front of me and using only the other to propel me forward, making me longer in the water, swimming on my side and feeling my way through the water, I do one more length switching arms, so if I swam the first with my left in front and propelling with my right, I'd swim with the right in front and propel with my left on the 2nd. I then do 5 reps of 50m to make a set, completing 3 sets in total and then 2 single arm lengths to warm down.

Streamline!

Yesterday I had a breakthrough with my technique, it was hard work and I could only keep strict form on 2 lengths (50m). It might also have helped that I was wearing my Speedo trunks as my other swim shorts were in the wash which helped me be more streamlined in the water. I'll definitely be buying a pair of more modest swimming trunks as I don't want to scare anyone at the pool :)