Len-6: Yesterday and today
Len-7: 1 backstroke drill. How to minimize snaking (balentong):
  1. Faster turnover - Just focus on a higher left arm.
  2. Head level - Don't raise too much to breath.
  3. Legs straight with the body.

Why Swim?

Len-6: Can't remember if I went swimming last Friday, but I thought I did! Did a half length backdrill. Some thoughts on why I try to swim daily:
  • Scoliosis - Swimming is great for the back.
  • Bad left knee - Can't do much sports requiring running/ jumping.
  • Aerobic conditioning - Need some exercise for cardio for the hypertension.
  • Cheap - At Php1,500 for a year's free use of the pool? What a deal!
Len-6: 2 half length back drills. Tried to be fast doing right breathing. Hard to imagine how I could go fast with bilateral.

Tired from Frisbee

Len-5: Gave a short sermon to Agnes for the gang. 2 half length drills for backstroke. Misplaced the sunscreen box and had to retrieve it back at the car. Pool was greenish again. Didn't do any dolphin kicks. Lower back is still sore from the frisbee throwing activities yesterday at the park. See picture at right. That's Karen throwing a disk and she's pretty good!

High Noon

Len-6: Today, a new sked in swimming and it's at lunch/ noon time. Set alarm at 11:40am. Hardly any time for anything else. Options to save time:
  1. Wear trunks at office and don't shower at pool.
  2. Remove shirt at pool bench, put on sunscreen and jump.


Water at noon is really GOOD! Visibility is much better too! There was a rowdy group this lunch time. May need a radio if I'm alone. Use the hip more. Briefs-style trunks pro: lesser tan lines. Feel of underwear at office instead of shorts.

Noontime Pros and Cons

Len-4: Again used swimcap. I had to leave pool early because of strict tardy policy. I'm thinking of moving swim sessions to lunch/ noon time.

Pro:Con:
Water is just warm, niceSuffer sunburn
Free for showerNeed to leave early for meetings
Time to visit schExtra gas
No rushing in the AMMay skip if there's lunchout
No crowd at lockersMore sunscreen usage

Back drills today were more relaxed and more balanced (no stroking). Just head leads and then hand leads with side switching. Only 2 back drills half-lengths.
Len-3: Water was cool and I used a swimcap. Next time, leave the ears open.
Backdrills: Start head lead. Shift left and right. At halfway, use hand lead, shift left and right.
Sighting: Going home to the corner ladder from opposite corner, did 2 sightings.

Flip Turn Attempt

Mostly drills: Did a few backstroke drills going to side, streamlined head leads. Showing left and right shoulder. Not much water gets in nose. Also attempted a flipturn. Not good at all. Need to simulate stroke after kicking from wall. Kick, stroke, pull down arms, tuck head and small dolphin kick. I have lower back/ hip soreness every night. This might come from the undulations from dolphin kicking off the wall? If so, do I need to stretch back more?

Backstroke drills next time:
  • Kick on side botom arm streamlined forward.
  • 6 and switch or 6 kicks then pull.
  • 6 and 3 or 6 kicks then 3 pulls.

Freestyle - Keep head streamlined in water. Do NOT tuck chin. Don't sway head.