Competitive Athlete
“Competitive athlete” was never, ever a phrase I thought would apply to me. On Saturday August 24, however, it will (nominally at least). I’ve been roped into competing in the Komae swimming competition. It’s a small, local meet a few stops away on the Odakyu Line, a short-course affair in which I’ll be swimming in the 25m and 50m freestyle events. Should be a hoot (for all the right reasons, I hope).
Back in the winter I started swimming regularly with the Setagaya Masters team which swims at the pool I usually go to. I see some of the members there every day (one veteran, Saito-san, has become my de facto coach) but on Wednesdays and Fridays a different bunch of members swim and we do intervals. I love intervals.
Last Friday we did a warm-up set using pull-buoys (so no kicking) of 300M + 200m + 100m. Then we did 3 sets of [(2 × 100m) + (4 × 50m)]. Each leg of a set is swum against the clock, so when you hit the wall you have until the second hand is on the 12 to catch your breath before you push off again (which makes for a great incentive to get there as soon as you can). This was my first time to do intervals and I was in serious pain afterwards. In fact I was in serious pain until Tuesday because on the last two fifties my legs cramped something terrible. Tonight we did the same routine and I’m feeling fine. Lots of pain, yes, but it’s that good post-workout pain in my shoulders and back rather than the awful crampy pain that stays with you for so long.
The fascinating thing about swimming (and all athletics, I guess) is what a head trip it is. It’s at least as interesting as any drug I’ve tried and much more so than most. Your speed through the water has almost nothing to do with how fast you thrash around; technique is everything. When you do a lap with decent form and find yourself moving through the water at a good clip with a moderate stroke rate and relaxed breathing the effect is absolutely psychedelic.
The other nice thing about swimming that shouldn’t be neglected is that it provides the opportunity to pretty much escape from gravity for a while.
•••
Posted to Oh, the Humanity • 2002.08.16 (Fri) • 22:23
Comments
Post a comment:
Send This Story to an Enemy
• • •
