First Lessons in Total Immersion

This past weekend saw my first attempts at learning to swim a nice efficient stroke that I can use for a triathlon and I must say I'm VERY impressed. I've read the book through and there are 4 basic lessons with a few drills relevant to each one. The drills progress and each one leads on to the next so that you develop the correct perception and movement.



The first drill involved simply lying on your back but it all about balance. It turns out I have never had balance in the water, but now I do. The way to tell is to lie floating on your back and if your feet and legs drop into the water you ARE NOT balanced. The solution is simple, you need to lie nice and straight and lean on your head and shoulders. Your legs and hips come up naturally and before you know it you are floating with ease to the point where the front of your thighs are actually out of the water. It's an amazing sensation, and a small kick propels you through the water as you are in a perfect streamlined position. With that out of the way I worked my way through the drills to get to the end of the first lesson.



The session filled me with confidence, so on Saturday I returned to the pool to practice the drills some more. I plan to continue practising these drills until they feel completely natural, and then I'll move onto the next lesson. With enough pool time I should be ready for full stroke sessions in a month or so. Even at that point I'll keep with the drills to hone the technique and hopefully I'll develop a good efficient stroke. I have high hopes for my swimming now.



Also over the weekend I continued with my stretching, flexibility and drills for pose running. I'm finding it quite frustrating, as I have to fight the urge to just go through the drills and then get out for a run. I've stuck with it so far though. I'm hoping I'll reap the rewards. It hasn't had the instant hit that I got from the swimming drills though.



Luckily I still have my bike to allow me to get some long active sessions done. Saturday morning I popped out for 10 miles and tried to keep my speed slightly faster than I usually would. I wore my garmin and for the first time in ages the heart rate montior that goes with it. It rarely went above 150 so I could maybe have worked a bit harder, but it will have been a good aerobic session. I completed the 10 miles in 38 minutes so I'm happy enough with that for now. In the coming week I'm going to introduce some interval sessions and hills to my bike training just to work myself a bit harder. I'm still clinging to the hope that I can compete in the Loch Ness Marathon later this year and I'm hoping that all the cycling will substitute the early running sessions I'm missing out on just now. This should be week 2 of a 16 week training program for the marathon.



Today's training:

• 10 mile cycle


• Running drills - including some barefoot on grass.