Interesting Training Days
Apr
3Interesting Training Days
Posted by Kevin Doak on Saturday at: 12:43am (April 3rd, 2010)
Its been an interesting few days. Balancing plenty of work has made getting to the pool challenging.
On Tuesday I swam at EMU, midway through practice, a gentlemen in the lane next to me asked if I was on Easterns team because I looked fast. I introduced myself and met Dave. I explained that I graduated 6 years ago but still swam competitively. He seemed like a nice person and asked some really good questions about stroke technique. I spent the next 30 minutes coaching him on his butterfly technique. As usual, I gave him the heads up on the Masters swim program before finishing up my little coaching stint. It felt good to help another swimmer out!
On Wednesday my only training option was a community pool. After 2,000 yards I was approached by a mother and her son (I know his name but we'll just call him "kiddo"). They had seen me swim before and were hoping I could offer some advice on Kiddo's backstroke... Here I found myself in a coaching position for the 2nd time in a week. Kiddo swims for a team but his parents feel that he's training too much with too little technique input. I gotta say, without even knowing the situation, I'm sure this is the case on a vast majority of age group teams. To me, it just seems like a bad numbers game. When one coach has 60 kids in the water, there's no way to focus on a single kid's stroke for more than a few minutes. Kiddo needed some extra help for sure.
I worked with Kiddo for a solid 45 minutes and came up with a few drills off the top of my head to improve his backstroke, I was quite proud of both of us! Kiddo improved his arm position, swam straighter and caught more water in the time I worked with him. Kiddo swims faster and better all while I learned a little about myself!
With the school closings today, I ran a few miles, did some dryland outdoors in the nice weather and then went rollerblading for the first time this year! The first lap around was nice and slow, a leisurely 3.1 miles, I took a few minutes and sat afterward. The second lap was for time :). My best so far was a 14:46 if I recall correctly, it was a few years ago. I was going for a sub 14 minute lap.
I lined up at the start sign and had a watch on me. I took off and dodged strollers and dogs for 3.1 grueling miles. At about 2.5 miles I took a mini break as I coasted down a hill. I swear my lower back has never felt so much pain. Being bent over in that speed skater pose for 9 or so minutes was too much for it. I felt the muscles wanting to cramp up. It was so painful. At this point it was easier to just be in that pose rather than try to straighten my back so I toughed it out. I had so slow it down at times because my endurance and back muscles just couldn't endure the pain. I struggled through the last half mile and crossed the finish line in...
12:13!
I was blown away! That's hauling for me! Are there a ton of skaters faster, heck yes, but who cares?! I really enjoy bettering myself. I'm gonna be even faster this summer. I want to be sub 10 minutes!
Sometimes I can't help but think about how I stack up in the swimming world. On the world scale, I'm sorta pathetic. I lack extensive natural ability and corporate sponsorships which I could use to train all day and not think about supporting myself with a job. Its amazing to think about how many natural advantages some swimmers have. Whether it be large hands, big feet, or the other infinite number of variables that builds a good swimmer, no sport including swimming will ever be an even playing field. I just happen to have a generally lean build and decent body proportions along with some natural ability.
My point is that the only fair comparison is you against yourself. I happen to be involved in a sport that is not judged so I know it's a fair comparison each time. It's just me, the water, and the clock. There's always those random variables like pool depth, water temp, waves, lane lines, starting blocks or pads, but for all practical purposes, it's really only yourself to credit or blame for a great or poor swim. Forgive the rant, just thoughts.
On Tuesday I swam at EMU, midway through practice, a gentlemen in the lane next to me asked if I was on Easterns team because I looked fast. I introduced myself and met Dave. I explained that I graduated 6 years ago but still swam competitively. He seemed like a nice person and asked some really good questions about stroke technique. I spent the next 30 minutes coaching him on his butterfly technique. As usual, I gave him the heads up on the Masters swim program before finishing up my little coaching stint. It felt good to help another swimmer out!
On Wednesday my only training option was a community pool. After 2,000 yards I was approached by a mother and her son (I know his name but we'll just call him "kiddo"). They had seen me swim before and were hoping I could offer some advice on Kiddo's backstroke... Here I found myself in a coaching position for the 2nd time in a week. Kiddo swims for a team but his parents feel that he's training too much with too little technique input. I gotta say, without even knowing the situation, I'm sure this is the case on a vast majority of age group teams. To me, it just seems like a bad numbers game. When one coach has 60 kids in the water, there's no way to focus on a single kid's stroke for more than a few minutes. Kiddo needed some extra help for sure.
I worked with Kiddo for a solid 45 minutes and came up with a few drills off the top of my head to improve his backstroke, I was quite proud of both of us! Kiddo improved his arm position, swam straighter and caught more water in the time I worked with him. Kiddo swims faster and better all while I learned a little about myself!
With the school closings today, I ran a few miles, did some dryland outdoors in the nice weather and then went rollerblading for the first time this year! The first lap around was nice and slow, a leisurely 3.1 miles, I took a few minutes and sat afterward. The second lap was for time :). My best so far was a 14:46 if I recall correctly, it was a few years ago. I was going for a sub 14 minute lap.
I lined up at the start sign and had a watch on me. I took off and dodged strollers and dogs for 3.1 grueling miles. At about 2.5 miles I took a mini break as I coasted down a hill. I swear my lower back has never felt so much pain. Being bent over in that speed skater pose for 9 or so minutes was too much for it. I felt the muscles wanting to cramp up. It was so painful. At this point it was easier to just be in that pose rather than try to straighten my back so I toughed it out. I had so slow it down at times because my endurance and back muscles just couldn't endure the pain. I struggled through the last half mile and crossed the finish line in...
12:13!
I was blown away! That's hauling for me! Are there a ton of skaters faster, heck yes, but who cares?! I really enjoy bettering myself. I'm gonna be even faster this summer. I want to be sub 10 minutes!
Sometimes I can't help but think about how I stack up in the swimming world. On the world scale, I'm sorta pathetic. I lack extensive natural ability and corporate sponsorships which I could use to train all day and not think about supporting myself with a job. Its amazing to think about how many natural advantages some swimmers have. Whether it be large hands, big feet, or the other infinite number of variables that builds a good swimmer, no sport including swimming will ever be an even playing field. I just happen to have a generally lean build and decent body proportions along with some natural ability.
My point is that the only fair comparison is you against yourself. I happen to be involved in a sport that is not judged so I know it's a fair comparison each time. It's just me, the water, and the clock. There's always those random variables like pool depth, water temp, waves, lane lines, starting blocks or pads, but for all practical purposes, it's really only yourself to credit or blame for a great or poor swim. Forgive the rant, just thoughts.