Reflections

It was my first “big” swim meet – ever. There had been a smaller one 4 months ago with about 25 athletes, but this one had more like 75, which I suppose is not as big as some of the nationals, but the atmosphere was electric nonetheless – more officials, more spectators, more swimmers, more events, more everything.

For the first time I became acquainted with the “psych sheet” -- a list of swimmers and seed times published a couple days before the meet. Each swimmer gets to see competitors’ names and projected finish times and hopefully gets “psyched” to swim even faster at the meet. My times were generally in the middle of others in my age group. I marveled at some of the published times for other athletes: 59 seconds for the 100 yard freestyle, 58 seconds for the 100 yard butterfly …clearly these were former collegiate All-Americans or Division III swimmers. Also, the ages of the swimmers ranged from those in their early 20s to athletes in their 80s – a testament to the conventional wisdom that one should be able to swim practically until the day he/she passes away.

The events I signed up for were the 500 yard freestyle, 100 yard Individual Medley, 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, and the 100 yard butterfly - YIKES. I was hanging my butt out there and taking a risk with that last event – the “fly” :). What if I couldn’t finish? Would my seed time be ridiculously behind even the 80-somethings? Better yet, though, what if I could finish?? :)

I just learned the butterfly stroke 2 months ago and it came with a lot of work, determination, and patience – big surprise. In the beginning I knew absolutely nothing about the technique and when our coach would give us an “IM” (Individual Medley – butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) set, I would inwardly groan and outwardly sigh – I was clueless about how to even start with the “fly”.

Thankfully grumbling about something and doing nothing about it never lasts very long with me. If I had to list my own “Seven Habits of Highly Destructive People”, chronic griping followed by lack of action would be at the top. Sitting around “waiting” for someone or something else to do something when the keys are in my hand actually repulses me; few things are more revolting than not taking responsibility for my own actions.

One of our coaches, Liz, suggested doing a fly drill and this helped immensely. It consisted of a dolphin kick and working in just one side of the arm technique. Though awkward at first, I tried just the kick with fins on and it felt surprisingly good. Several practices later I had the one-sided arm technique down and my dolphin kick was now a graceful undulating motion – my hips, not my knees, would initiate the action and my entire body would follow. My head would naturally surface and I could actually take a breath – sweeeeet.

A few weeks later I tried adding in both sides of the arm technique for a full butterfly stroke -- and barely made it 1/3 of the way down the lane. Use yer head, my brain said. Right! Try it slowly and remember the undulating motion. I had trouble figuring out timing between breathing and my arms coming out of the water. Finally Hap said your arms and head should never be out of the water at the same time, meaning I should be tucking my head down to re-enter the water when my arms are surfacing.

That was the final piece of the puzzle. One morning I went down the lane with the full stroke and before I knew it I was touching the wall. It was HARD but I did it!! YEEEEHAW!!

25 yards of AGONIZINGLY HARD turned into 25 yards of MODERATELY HARD, then 50 yards of HARD followed by 50 yards of I CAN DO THIS – followed by 75 METERS of MAN, THIS IS OFF THE CHARTS BUT I CAN DO THIS…followed by dude, this makes freestyle look EASY…

Suddenly my staying power and ability to “grab” more water in freestyle was boosted, and 5 seconds came rolling off my 100-yard time.

So when I looked at the list of events for the meet, I saw “100 Yard Fly” and thought if I’m ever going to make friends with my head, now is the time. I knew enough to appreciate the sheer effort required to finish any event using this stroke – it’s all brute strength and besides being reasonably efficient in the technique, one must parcel out the energy required to be able to just finish. It’s all too tempting to go out too fast and have nothing left in the tank at the end. Even the pro’s are vulnerable.

But it’s like this in any event – does your mind rule your body – even when it hurts? Even when you’re tired? Even when you so want to quit?

I stood on the starting block, bent over looking down into the lane, and I could see my reflection in the water. I looked at no one else in the adjacent lanes – it was just me and the clock. In the final precious seconds before the “gun”, I thought did you ever think you would be standing up here actually competing, and in an event most triathletes – heck, most Masters swimmers – won’t attempt?...

…you’re just standing up here and you look GOOD. Take a long look at yourself… Think about where you’ve come from. Steve’s up there thinking man, that’s my wife and she looks HOT…you know it!! Now get out there and do what you came to do – suffer and move the line!!

The tone sounded and I dove cleanly into the water. I could see Kristin, my swim buddy and fellow super sonic triathlete, clapping at the end of the lane. By the end of 50 yards my arms ached but my head was totally in the driver’s seat. One more turn and the end was in sight – I can so do this!!

I finished nearly 20 seconds under my seed time – double personal bests (one for just getting out there) :).

I’ve grown to LOVE the water. I plan on swimming for the rest of my life and, God willing, being one of the 90+ year-old athletes still gliding down the lane.