Friday, February 18, 2011

Swimming: Flip Turns aka Clean Sinuses

I went to the pool this morning with the goal of learning to perform a flip turn.  After much splashing and thrashing around I can proudly say mission accomplished.  I don't recall ever having so much water up my nose.  It was like voluntary self inflicted water boarding.  Okay, I've never experienced water boarding, but what I experienced this morning would make me spill all of my confidential information, if I had any, and I don't..... so don't get any ideas. 

The first thing I needed to do was to channel my inner 12 year old and remember how to turn a complete 360 degree flip in the water.  I walked out to the middle of my lane in the pool and unsuccessfully attempted several before getting the hang of it.  I can only imagine what the girl swimming laps next to me must have thought I was trying to accomplish.  I'm sure it was amusing to watch.  Head, feet.....head, feet....head, feet.  Sometimes I would come back up facing the same direction I was going in the first place.  I'm still not sure how I accomplished that.  After that I worked on incorporating the flip into my swimming stroke.  This was simultaneously harder and easier than it looks.  At first, I thought it impossible, but once I got the hang of it I couldn't figure out how not to do it.  It became instinctual after just a few successful attempts.... not unlike riding a bike.  In the end I was swimming to the end of the pool, tucking my head, curling my legs in a ball, flipping over and pushing off with my feel, almost seamlessly.  Unfortunately, the pool I use is only deep enough at one end to do a proper flip turn so I'll be somewhat limited in using my new found skill.  I'm looking forward to incorporating it into my next workout.     

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