Russ

Once again I find my alarm going off at 4:15 a.m. I hit the alarm and have my prayer. Next thing I know I am some how pulling my self out of my warm bed and leaving sleep behind for a swim. When I really think about it I just don't understand how I can leave my warm pillow, sheets and comforter for the cool early morning air. Most of the time I don't leave myself enough time to think about what I would rather be doing; instead, like a robot, I turn the alarm off, have prayer, get dressed and start training.

  On swim days I have to drive to the YMCA in order to get my laps in. I usually always show up at the Y around 4:50 or 5:00 a.m. and start my laps around 5:05-5:15a.m.  I don't swim in any particular lane or on any particular side. Mostly it's fun to just mix it up. Usually swimming laps at 5 in the morning allows you plenty of lane options since not many are swimming yet. By the time I'm finished with my training all the lanes are filled and some people are waiting for a lane. 

  On a typical swim day you have people swimming that are faster than you, about your speed and then some that are slower. It poses a problem when I swim next to someone that is about my speed or a bit faster. Instead of sticking to my training I go off on a tangent trying to just keep up with the swimmer next to me. This is not good for several reasons. First of all, I'm going to get the most out of my swim training if I stick to my swim workouts. Second of all, when I merely try to keep up with someone I lose all technique and replace it with something called a spin wheel. See, I have never had a swim lesson before in my life and it shows. When people see me in the water they can tell that I'm not a "swimmer".

  When you walk into the pool you can easily spot all those who have been on a swim team or who have grown up taking swim lessons. They are beautiful to watch. They glide through the water effortlessly, pulling their bodies at great speeds. They are reaching, rolling, and flip turning. They are keeping their head down, their hip/butt kisses the surface of the water and their arms are relaxed above the water's surface and pulling hard beneath the water's surface. The swimmers rule the pool!!! Then you have me.... I stand out in the pool and not because I'm good. I wear a colorful swimsuit called Dolphin Uglies and I also stand out because my head isn't down like it should be, my left arm crosses over my midsection, I don't roll as much as I should, my left arm enters the water flat and my legs kick like mad. Oh and I do not do flip turns. So there you have it...I do not look like a swimmer and that's because I am not a swimmer. Swimming is survival for me.  :-)

   I use to think I was an okay swimmer until I was taught what "real" swimming is suppose to look like. The more time I spend in the pool the more I learn. I honestly never grasped how important technique is in swimming until just recently. In fact technique is everything in swimming. Swimming is a skill; a skill that doesn't come easily to everyone. I have been figuring out that I don't really have the swimming skill but I'm working on it. Thankfully a retired swim coach saw me in the pool and had pity on me. He has been my saving grace. 

  Russ is his name. After my swim one day Russ asked me if I wanted any help. I had no idea that he had been watching me for awhile and that he was very anxious to help me. I jumped on the opportunity and told him I desperately needed help. Over the past fall/winter Russ has been helping me every morning I swim. He has given me so many pointers, so many drills, so many words of advice. I owe him BIG time!!!  Russ is a truly amazing man. He has given me days and hours of his time. Russ not only coaches me from the side of the pool but he will jump in the pool and illustrate for me, etc. My swim stroke has improved but Russ would completely agree with me when I say I have lots to work on. I still don't look anything like the "swimmers" but I look alot better than I use to. Russ has helped me improve my time, he has helped me make my stroke more efficient and he has helped me understand my bad habits. 

  Unfortunately last week I went into the pool, like usual, and saw Russ but he informed me that he would no longer be there in the mornings. He was leaving for a couple weeks and when he returned his schedule was changing. I became instantly very sad cause I know that without Russ I won't push myself like I should and I will lose track of my stroke. Russ has kept me on track. I am completely bummed. The good news is that Russ is going to take time out of his schedule to meet me at the pool when possible. He knows I have a long road ahead of me and he wants to be there the whole way. Russ is my swim coach (whether he realizes it or not) and he will get all the credit for my swim performance the day of Lake Placid Ironman. Russ has never asked for pay for all that he does for me; he helps me out for free due to his love of the sport. If I had money to pay him you can be sure I would pay him well...he deserves it. Some day, some how, I will repay him.

THANK YOU RUSS!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Open water swim practices will be starting soon. Time to get the wetsuit out and ready. By the way, I hate swimming with my wetsuit on. I feel like I can't breath since it's so tight against my neck. But, it's about time I get use to it. Floatation baby!!! Oh yeah!!!
Smiles, Alicia