Okay, so, I’ve been trying to get better at swimming lately, specifically working on my speed. And let me tell you, it’s been a journey! I’ve always loved being in the water, but I’ve never really focused on going fast.
I started by just getting in the pool a few more times a week. You know, just trying to build up some endurance. I figured, if I’m gonna go faster, I gotta be able to last longer, right? So, I started with just swimming laps, not really caring about time, just getting used to being in the water more often. I began to swim more and more often, feeling good.
Then, I started timing myself. Nothing fancy, just using the clock on the wall at the pool. And man, was I slow! But, hey, everyone starts somewhere. I realized that swimming for speed required me to improve my swimming posture, so I started to try to adjust my swimming posture.
Trying Some Drills
After a few weeks of just swimming laps, I thought maybe I should try some actual drills. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I just watched what other people were doing.
- Kickboard drills: I saw some people using kickboards, so I grabbed one and tried that. It was tough! My legs were burning after just a couple of laps. But I could tell it was making them stronger.
- Pull buoys: Then, there were these things called pull buoys that people put between their legs. I tried that, too. It felt weird at first, like I was going to sink, but it really made me focus on my arms and my upper body. I felt it was really hard to keep balance.
- Fingertip Drag Drill: One of the drills I started with was the fingertip drag drill. Basically, you swim freestyle but consciously drag your fingertips across the surface of the water during the recovery phase of your stroke. It felt awkward as heck, and I’m pretty sure I looked ridiculous, but it actually helped! It made me more aware of my arm position and how I was entering the water.
I kept at it, doing these drills a couple of times a week. They were definitely harder than just swimming laps, but I could feel myself getting a little bit stronger each time.
The Breakthrough
Honestly, there wasn’t one big “aha” moment. It was more like a bunch of little things adding up. I started noticing I wasn’t getting as tired as quickly. My arms and legs felt stronger. I could feel myself pulling through the water better.
And then, one day, I looked at the clock and realized I had shaved a few seconds off my lap time! It wasn’t a huge difference, but it was enough to make me feel like all that hard work was paying off. So I pushed myself a little harder every day, I kept on practicing those drills.
It’s still a work in progress. I’m definitely not the fastest swimmer out there, not by a long shot. But I’m faster than I was, and that’s what matters. I’m enjoying the process, and I’m excited to see how much more I can improve. This is such a great feeling!
So, if you’re thinking about trying to get faster at swimming, my advice is just to go for it! Start slow, be patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s a challenge, for sure, but it’s also really rewarding.
