Friday Evening SCAQ Swim
March 9, 2018
It finally happened: I swam with fins. On Wednesday, I was chatting with the coach before practice about how I felt about swimming butterfly (sloppy) and I looked at her and said “I think it’s time. Can you bring a pair of size extra small fins to the Friday workout?” She said “Yes. I can.”
And she did. I put them on, jumped in, and started zooming through the water. Like a torpedo. I felt so fast, like an arrow shooting through air. Well, like an arrow shooting through water. I haven’t done anything fast in ages, so this was a remarkable feeling. Wow. Just wow. I was swimming 1:20 100 freestyles…1:20!!!!! At best I can keep a 1:40…but 1:20 felt amazing!
I noticed them the most when I had the kickboard. They really worked my hamstrings and glute muscles. The coach said if I kept using them, I would notice that my back of legs and butt would look more toned and smoother. So I hope that actually happens, because these fins are mine.
They are a bit of a drug, though. I can’t let myself use them on freestyle that often, primarily just for kicking. I will also use them on Wednesday evening workouts when we do different strokes. I’m really hoping they help improve my butterfly and backstroke techniques. Both strokes could use the help. Breaststroke is another story: sounds like there are breast stroke specific fins. Of course there are!
I’ve been on the no-fins high horse for so long, but I was so wrong. Sometimes, it feels really good to come down. And speed up.
The Workout:
- 300 warm-up
- 2 rounds: 100 free, 50 kick
- 2 rounds: 50 free, 100 kick
- 200 free, 2x100 free, 2x50 kick
- 150 free, 2x100 free, 2x50 kick
- 100 free, 2x100 free, 2x50 kick
- 6x50 sprint