There’s nothing better than watching an athlete “get it”.  Their eyes light up, they get a big grin on their face & they often say something like “Oh my goodness!  NOW it all makes sense!”  That’s the fun part.  The hard part, however, is staying with it long enough to “get it”.  That wonderful experience – when the clouds of confusion part & the sun of understanding shines through – takes time & commitment.  As we coaches always say:  Consistency is the key to success.

This is why I’m so happy to feature Harald Duell.  He has 100% bought into the idea that consistency is the path to improvement.  Every Tues. & Thurs. for the past 2 yrs he’s shown up at Swim Training ready to learn.  And all that dedication is paying off!  Great job, Harald!!

In Harald’s own words:

“Swimming in Swim Training Back-to-Basics feels like learning to walk anew twice each week.  I am continually challenged (and often confused!) by the end of most sessions.  But this is my 2nd season…and I sense a difference!  I am increasingly aware of my breathing & how my body moves.

Breaststroke had always been my favorite stroke.  And after learning updated technique, it is all new again!  I’ve worked hard to adjust where my elbows should be & my breath timing.

The helpful thing about Back-to-Basics is that it isn’t just swimming laps back & forth.  We work on a skill & then stop & discuss how it feels.  This gives me time to verbalize my sensations – like closing a feedback loop – which is key to my learning process.

But it’s certainly not easy.  The path from seeing & hearing to doing is a long one.  It would be so easy to get frustrated & quit.  But I can’t go back to the way I used to splash around…it feels all wrong now.  More importantly, sometimes I feel a glimpse (when the stars are aligned) of what it feels like to be in ‘the flow’.  That flow feeling is as addictive as it is frustrating.

There is something therapeutic in learning & relearning a skill.  My ego screams:  ‘Where is the short cut?  Where is the easy street?’  But then I have never been one for taking the easy route.  The challenge of the new & different is always calling, even at 5:30AM two times per week!”

If you’re ready to get more comfortable in open water, click here to learn about Swim Lessons & here for info on Coaching options.