The Back ‘Stroke’ Story
I've always gravitated more towards the breaststroke. Historically it was due to my lack of prescription goggles as I wanted to see where I was going but when I dislocated my shoulder in 2017, it felt like the safer choice. The lizard part of my brain said “nope”, so the mental barrier to even trying a front crawl got bigger, and with time the barrier foundations got stronger and taller. I gave myself the excuse for not even trying because there were positive benefits to head-up breaststroke.
Communing with Nature - A Benefit of Breaststroke
I remember pootling around the Uswim course in Salford Quays on my own. Many people around me were serious triathletes training for their event. Head down, front crawl and occasionally they would swim into me. But there I was, at my own pace, doing my swim when out of nowhere a small fish jumped out of the water and then plopped back in right in front of me. I found this a rather special moment because I alone experienced it. It made me feel honoured in a way. Nature said hello for a split second and then was away again.
Back in The Lakes, I get to witness ducks and geese flying overhead. It always amazes me how flying geese sound like they need a good helping of WD40 as their wings creak so much! I get to witness nature around me with the breaststroke and it makes me happy. I marvel as the light changes across the fells. The clouds break for a moment and the heavenly beam spotlights a certain part of the fell bringing out the vivid colours against the dull greyish hue from the cloud cover. It’s magical.
So why bother improving front crawl?
Simply put, I want to be safer in the water.
Not too long ago I was swimming in the sea and I got caught in a rip tide. It was a very subtle affair and it wasn't until I was trying to get back to shore that I realised I was in trouble. I panicked. The more I tried to get back to shore, and didn't, the more effort I put into my breaststroke, the more panicked I felt. While my party seemed to be easily swimming back, I could see I wasn't progressing. The more I tried and got nowhere, the more I panicked (even though I was trying to stay cool!) It wasn’t long before I was getting very tired.
When I reflected, I knew I needed to swim along the shore, not towards it. But the white noise of panic took in. Thankfully though, I was in a group that had a qualified open water lifeguard in it, so when the "Do you need help Jen?" came, I instantly said "Yes" and she got me back to shore.
How I got back to shore was by holding onto her tow float that was attached to her and kicking my legs as you would with a front crawl. In no time at all she got me back to dry land.
A couple of thoughts from that day:
- Oooh, if I had been on my own that could have ended badly.
- Glad I was in a swimming group with a qualified lifeguard
- I really need to improve my sea swimming knowledge
- I should get front crawl lessons
Private Swimming Lessons at Ullswater Swim Place
I chose to look for private 1-2-1 swimming lessons as I wanted to get the most out of the sessions. This was how I found Colin Hill at Ullswater Swim Place. A sound investment, and after one session, I could see the benefits.
Here’s how that first lesson looked:
I arrived at Another Place Hotel where Ullswater Swim Place is located. Walking up the gravel path I reach a wood structure. Inside I found a smiling Colin who greets me and asks how I’m doing, and what I want to accomplish. Talking about my aspirations he nods as his lesson plan forms. I know I’m in good hands. Here are just some of Colin’s many achievements:
- He has swum the English Channel in 10hrs 30mins
- Winter/ Ice Swimming World and UK Age group champion for 450m
- He was the first UK male to officially complete an Ice Mile
- Former British Age Group Triathlon Champion
- Completed several solo two-way swims of Windermere
- Winner of the 25km Madeira Swim Race
Basically, the man knows his stuff!
After our initial goal-setting chat, we go through to the other room where the endless pool awaits and the lesson begins.
The pool set-up is really neat. The room is compact but it packs a punch. The pool can set a current so even though you aren’t going anywhere, the movement of the water gives you something to swim against. There are strategically placed mirrors in the pool so you can actively correct yourself during the swim following feedback from Colin.
The other great aspect of the lesson is that Colin has strategically placed cameras around the pool so every aspect of your stroke is captured. After a bit of swimming, he stops you and talks through that swim with the video evidence to highlight what he means. This part of the lesson is what I found most beneficial as with the next attempt at the stroke you have the video in your mind's eye, Colin's words in your ears and your eyes can see your reflection in the mirrors, so you can adjust your stroke accordingly. Post lesson, Colin then sends you the videos so you can look back and it can be helpful to review prior to a practice session in your local pool.
What I found so interesting about the lesson was the need to really just chill out and slow down, especially my overactive brain. In the past when I tried to swim front crawl, the breathing and timing were all out. As you can see from my wind milling on my first attempt in the video, it just seems chaotic and unproductive. This highlighted to me again how swimming can be so meditative.
Swimming as a form of Meditation
I thought you could only get the meditative state through the head-up breaststroke where nature helped and enriched you. I was so wrong. You can get that with head down front crawl as it is much more of an internal personal meditation. You and you alone are controlling how you react to the water. Slow and steady movements and breathing are so much more productive than reactive panic. It struck me so much how learning to do the front crawl can help you in everyday life. I laugh now as I have used it as a metaphor for my life. I was living like my wind milling front crawl. Was it comfortable? No. Was it productive? No. By chilling out and just breathing, you get so much more out of life. It also made me reflect on those triathletes who often swam into me at Uswim. I have been guilty in the past of thinking they were all just about the PB time and not about being in the moment. It’s great to get that understanding and appreciation of what they were achieving and yes, they are attempting exactly what I was doing with my pootling along breaststroke.
Demolishing Mental Blocks
My summer challenge was to get to a point where I demolished that mental barrier that was dead set against the front crawl and was able to swim confidently and with purpose. I practised in the local pool and feel really happy and proud of my progress. But a new mental wall is being identified for demolition… claustrophobia - or more accurately aquaphobia!
On a recent trip to a Uswim session in Manchester, I thought I would give a front crawl practice a go. I was staggered by the instant panic I was filled with when I put my head in the water and saw nothing. I’ve known about my claustrophobia for many moons but initially, it hadn’t factored in when I started this challenge.
As with anything in life, progress starts with a step. The desired outcome probably won't come from the singular step but it’s in the right direction. Colin told me that it’s about slowly acclimatising yourself to the sensation, much like one would do with the cold. In the pool, obviously, it’s fine as the water is clear and well-lit. You know what is around you. But the mindset needs time to readjust. Start off with a little head in and just build up your time from there.
Cross Ullswater Challenge Swim
Leading up to the swim I knew that I probably wasn’t yet 100% ready with my challenge. The breathing rhythm was still escaping me and my overactive brain hadn’t shut up. Still, off I went. I arrived at Another Place Hotel but this time I went to the Sheep Shed. This is a building closer to the water where hotel guests can use wetsuits and get changed before their water activities. There is a great piece of artwork in the foyer. Two feet peaking out of the water, which called to me “Crack on and dive in!”
The thing that really blew my mind when I started to get changed was that the concrete floor was warm. It’s the little things, apparently. This little touch was so welcoming and weirdly reassuring before my challenge, that I thanked whoever had that bright idea.
Stowing my stuff away, Colin and I walked down to the jetty where we got ready. Colin in the boat, me in the water. He went through the safety briefing and hand signals that may be in use during the swim. All was done to make sure I was safe and secure in my challenge.
How did I do?
Well, it wasn’t perfect, to say the least. The weather was overcast, raining and with a bit of a wind that made the water moderately choppy. The water temperature was a tropical 16 degrees. My crossing was peppered with breaststroke and front crawl.
Throughout I was doing battle with my overactive brain which contributed to me reverting back to breaststroke for a rest and a little cough more often than planned. Colin said that if I got up to 40 strokes of front crawl then I would be in a nice flow, but evidently I still need to work up to that.
From the safety boat, cheerleader Colin gave me a running commentary on how I was doing for a first proper go in open water with a front crawl. He was complimentary of my effort and I’m grateful for his guidance over the past 3 lessons and the crossing. My technique did change. Looking at the video my head alignment for my breath-taking, was very off. The whole experience taught me that I have much to improve upon, but the key now is that I have the confidence to build on the solid learning that Colin taught me.
By relearning to swim an effective front crawl stroke, I will become resilient in the water. I will be able to change from breaststroke to front crawl with ease and more importantly, with confidence if the need arises. As I always say, knowledge is power. Through the effective tutoring from Colin, I now know how to swim more productively but I also have the added benefit of knowing myself a little bit better than before.
Benefits of Adult Swim Lessons
- Fight the fear. You might be thinking “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. It’s time to relinquish that train of thought. Fear is simply not completely understanding something. Given the right teacher, knowledge can be gathered and the fear will start to decrease. You can do this! Everything starts with one small step.
- Safety. I’m not saying that you have to do a front crawl all the time. But it is a faster stroke and being able to get to the shore or someone in need quickly can be beneficial.
- Stop missing out. Thoroughly experiencing the joys of open-water swimming is something that we’re passionate about and want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy. Swimming is such a great exercise. Burning calories, rehabilitation, reduction of inflammation, improving mental health and self-confidence, that’s only a small list but the actual one is much longer.
Good luck and please let me know how you get on!