Okay, so I’ve been trying to get better at swimming, and I decided to focus on the 200m backstroke. Here’s how it’s been going.
Getting Started
First, I watched a bunch of videos online. I mean, a LOT. I needed to see how the pros do it, you know? The arm movements, the body rotation, the kick… it all looked so smooth and effortless. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy for me, but hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
The First Few Attempts (aka The Flailing Phase)
- Attempt 1: I nearly drowned. Okay, not really, but I swallowed a lot of water. My arms and legs were all over the place. Zero coordination.
- Attempt 2: Slightly better. I managed to keep my face out of the water for a bit longer, but my body was sinking like a rock.
- Attempt 3: I started to get a tiny feel for the rhythm. Still terrible, but I felt like I was actually moving through the water, not just fighting it.
Breaking it Down
I realized I needed to break it down into smaller parts. So, I focused on each element separately:
- The Kick: I practiced just kicking with a kickboard, trying to keep my legs straight and my toes pointed. It burned! My legs felt like jelly after just a few laps.
- The Arms: I used a pull buoy between my legs to keep them afloat and just worked on the arm strokes. I tried to get that high elbow catch and the full extension. My shoulders were screaming.
- Body Rotation: This was the hardest part for me. I kept forgetting to rotate my body with each stroke. I watched more videos and tried to visualize it in my head.
Putting it All Together (Slowly)
After working on each part separately, I started to put it all together. Very slowly. I’d swim a few strokes, then stop and think, “Okay, did I rotate? Was my arm straight? Was my kick consistent?” It was a lot to think about!
I would keep up with my practices, and make sure to record my time to keep myself motivated. Slowly, I began to have a better time!
Still a Work in Progress
I’m definitely not setting any world records, but I’m making progress. I can now swim the full 200m without stopping (and without swallowing half the pool). My time is still pretty slow, but it’s getting better. I’m still working on improving my technique, and I know it’ll take time and a lot more practice. But hey, I’m enjoying the process, and that’s what matters, right?
