My Swim Stuff Journey
So, I heard the names Lynn Ritter and Kirk Ritter somewhere, maybe talking about swimming or coaching, I dunno. It got me thinking about my own little experiment trying to get faster in the pool a while back.
I decided one day, right, that I was gonna get serious. Like, really improve my swimming. Not just splashing around. I figured, how hard could it be? You just swim more, swim faster. Easy.
Getting Started
First thing, I went out and bought some new gear. Nothing fancy, mind you. Just a decent pair of goggles that didn’t leak immediately and one of those tight swim caps. Felt pretty professional putting that cap on, I gotta say.
Then, I started hitting the local pool. Planned to go like, three, four times a week. Early mornings, before work. Seemed like the dedicated thing to do.
The Actual Swimming Part
Okay, the first few times? Rough. I’d jump in, all fired up, ready to crush some laps. Five minutes later, I’m gasping for air, feeling like my arms are made of lead. Fitness level was apparently way lower than I imagined.
I kept at it though. Thought maybe my technique was the problem. So, I tried focusing on how I was moving my arms, kicking my feet. Tried different breathing patterns. Honestly, I probably looked pretty silly, trying to copy stuff I half-remembered seeing somewhere. Felt super awkward, like I was fighting the water instead of moving through it.
- Tried doing specific drills I’d heard about.
- Focused on kicking only, holding onto a board.
- Tried pulling only, with one of those buoy things between my legs.
Progress? Well…
I even started timing myself. Got a cheap waterproof watch. Scribbled down my lap times on a notepad I kept in my bag. The numbers didn’t really change much. Maybe shaved off a second here or there, but nothing major. It was kinda discouraging, actually.
Reality Check
One morning, this older fella who was always there, swimming smooth as anything, saw me struggling. He didn’t say much, just watched for a bit. Then he casually mentioned I was trying too hard, splashing too much. Said something like, “Relax into it, son.” He also told me consistency was more important than killing myself every single time.
That kinda stuck with me. And hearing names like Lynn Ritter and Kirk Ritter again reminded me. Those folks, the real coaches and serious athletes, they have whole systems, right? Science, data, years of knowing exactly what works. It’s not just about wanting it or buying a new swim cap.
My big plan to become a super swimmer sort of faded after that. I still swim, but it’s more relaxed now. Just enjoy being in the water. It taught me something though – real performance, the kind people dedicate their lives to, is a whole different ballgame. Respect to them for figuring it out.
