Swim Lesson #4 comments

Kelly

Very good to see you and despite not swimming as much as I would like, you are making good progress - you are very coachable! I was most happy with the beginning of a real FLOW in your stroke. You are now controlling your body AND doing it less mechanically...more fluidly. As everything in swimming directly/indirectly affects the body position, small corrections now bring great results! Your head is much lower in the water and your head/spine line is looking fish-like.
Initially, you were entering too early in the front (near your ear), but we made the correction to allow the high elbow position carry further to the front before getting wet - this resulted in several important advances:

- hands going back UP to YOUR balance spot of +/- 5"
- arms reaching more straight into your corners, not crossing into the middle
- hips able to rotate easier around your whole body line

The next aspect we unlocked was a slight hesitation of your hands when they initially touch the surface. You are now reaching THROUGH the surface and out into your balance corners - this did amazing things for your fluidity... I hope it felt good. It allowed you to have a more natural cadence resulting in more speed - no extra effort.... ****Your left side is the most to blame!!

Although the Finis snorkel will take a nose plug to work for you, please pick one up and work some time into your swim withe snorkel - the whole purpose is to take your mind COMPLETELY off of needing to breath and onto the stroke dynamics. This is a powerful effect and is used by athletes through the Olympic level.

The SWIMITTS are REALLY great for you - keep it up. Interestingly, I gave them to a young stud this morning at the Y. This kid is in his 30s and we bother each other, as we are both a bit competitive - he can swim... Swam through college... I could tell he thought they were silly and did not give me much after swimming a few 200s with them on... BUT, when he took them off and swam his final 200, he stopped and told me that he was REALLY FEELING IT. He liked them.. cool. They work. They will continue to stretch you out and deepen your understanding of the catch dynamics. Use them for ANY distance (even long) and then remove them immediately (as we did) and continue swimming THE SAME WAY.... Allow them to work on you!

Last, I want to advance you and keep you challenged and motivated... Please get in the pool without Masters once and a while and have a Kelly Swim Day. Practice the corkscrew. This drill will make you a much better freestyler and keep your muscles loose via protagonism and antagonism. The pivotal point is the moment of transition - keep a tight core and a long reach. Feel the streamline and the body rotation during freestyle and match it when doing upside down freestyle. Enjoy this drill... At least 100 meters per session....

Keep the faith, girl...