My Swimming Lessons
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The only time I truly feel relaxed is when I use the pool buoy, otherwise it's still a workout that engages every single part of my body! But what he's noticing is me making much less of a splash, since there's actually technique based modifications that can be made to avoid that.
The bending over thing - i mean it happens naturally just doing stuff around the house, grabbing an item on a low shelf, picking something off the floor. I'd be tickled pink too if you've got the nose faucet thing! LOL!
I'm visiting family this weekend, and although I packed my swim stuff, I don't believe I'll be in the pool until Tuesday. Which is such a shame because my brother wants to go to the beach. I've done open water swimming before and let me just say that without the right skills in the water as well as swimming endurance, which I lack currently, I won't be trying that any time soon
The core thing also goes along with some advice I read about trying to isolate breathing to the chest rather than the abdomen. That was when I was trying to find out why I kept sinking. I don't know that it helped that issue but I just hadn't forgotten it I guess. I loved the sarcastic advice I read about muscled people sinking. Yeah all those champion swimmers sinking all over the place with all their muscles. LOL. And then, of course, the fact that in normal everyday life, people see the tiniest bit of definition on someone's body and they're like OMG muscles! Almost made me start slacking off for a minute there until I got real again after looking at the scale and the very feminine softness ALL over my body. :bigsmile:0 -
I love the beach! Playing in the waves though, I've never done any open water swimming. But I plan to, I hopefully will be doing a sprint-triathlon next summer, which includes a 375m open water swim. I want to do a couple before the race, but I won't do it alone, so I don't know what I'm going to do. A man just drowned this past weekend at a very busy beach near here because he got in water over his head. Scary stuff.
That's a good tip on the breathing. I'm discovering that exercising of all types is better with chest breathing. Being trained in music my whole youth I am a solid diaphragm breather, it's a whole new world learning to breath differently.
Maybe I'm not as good a swimmer as I thought! Maybe it's all this fat floating me across the water!! LOL
I don't know what I'm going to do. My pool is closing from Aug 20-Sept 30!!! Renovations and upgrades apparently.
So I thought I would go to the YMCA (it's 40 mins away), but it's closed from Aug 25-Sept 15! ffs. I'm not happy about this. 1 -
Ugh... Had a bad night in the pool. I did manage to fight through and hit a kilometer, but it was HARD. I don't know if it's the humidity, or not eating right today but I was fighting to breathe. Every breath didn't seem like enough air and every exhale felt like I wasn't expelling all my air. It was exhausting and brutal. They guy in the lane next to me said it was the weather causing it. Ha... I think it's more just that I'm out of shape but thanks Mr. Training for an Ironman. If Mr Ironman gives me an excuse I'm taking it!! lol
OH!!! Although my nose doesn't run like a faucet (lmao), when I bent over to pick up my shampoo water did run out! I was soooo surprised!! Then I laughed and looked like a fool in front of the teenagers. sighs
Another thing occurred to me tonight. I do spit water out at the end of the lane, just a little, but I do. So I paid attention to Mr Ironman and he spit out water at the end of the lane too. 2 out of 2 Canadians say it's normal, so go ahead and spit out that water!! lol
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Hahaha well the Americans have the rules posted so I better watch out! Spitting, blowing the nose ETC are all forbidden. And then we're "encouraged" to shower before the pool and "nobody should swim alone"
Yeah I wonder about that alone swimming too sometimes, but I arranged my swimming schedule so I'm heading there when it's not busy. I'm definitely not ready for lane sharing, and there's people that come to the pool set all those floatie toys down and just want to relax. I don't want to be disrupting them with the little tornadoes I create while swimming. Plus when I swim in the late evening I don't have to bother with sunscreen.
Seriously - closing for renovations smack dab in the middle of the summer??? Did they coordinate with each other they're both closing!!! Although - for the first time today I noticed the pool water was way too warm! Had to climb out once or twice just to cool off, and recovery wasn't as quick. Maybe summer really isn't peak swimming season - well it has to be in cold Canada??? What are they doing??? Maybe ask them what's up with that!
I think the teenagers were just glad to see an adult relax and have fun. Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it 1 -
I practiced some more flip turns by the way. According to the interwebs, I need to approach the wall faster (without slowing down swim rate, even to take a breath), and flip faster which means less time for water to get up my nose. I'm making contact with the wall and pushing off but ending up on my back and mostly just surprised it actually works. At first I thought it was a bust because I was winding up low in the water, but that happens and that's why people either dolphin kick their way back up or do the streamline thing until they're swimming again. Will keep practicing - if nothing it's a way to mix up a session!
About the water temperature - wow. I'm used to exercising in a cold cold gym drinking cold water with ice in it. This is gonna be interesting!
Btw they say the tough workouts help us appreciate the awesomely amazing ones even more. Seems you got your tough workout out of the way this week, whoohoo!0 -
Looks like I lost whatever was helping me not sink while breathing every two strokes. Couldn't do it, was taking on water each breath. Will keep at it - hopefully I get that rhythm back
Made a new friend at the pool but I wish he wouldn't have talked so much! But good news is it was gonna be a short workout anyway. Standing there I was definitely freezing, but once moving like the other day, it's like boy I wish this pool were colder. He too told me to relax (grrr!) but he swims beyond unbelievably slowly to the point where I can't understand how he stays afloat - says just gotta relax a lot. He thinks I should swim at a slower pace which I'd love to but I sink. Basically I'm tiring out and need to rest sooner than if I weren't expending so much effort, but to be honest, that has been my workout style for years, so maybe old habits really do die hard, but I suspect this is how I need to swim for now until something else clicks0 -
Mean to say, if I actually kick while using a pool buoy, I can use just one instead of two? :bigsmile: My instructor had told me to just not kick, so I wasn't and kept sinking with only one. But if I kick, I get the break I need from working so hard with the kicks (just a small assist), and it actually trains me to get into a smooth kick rhythm.
I did breathing every four strokes for my last workout. Seemed pretty okay. I notice I'm still having to lift my head up to breathe, which is fine for now. There's a touch your tummy rotation/breathing drill I tried to incorporate, plus the make sure you're looking down drill and the relax your head so you're not trying to keep it in any specific position drill. Forget the App Store. Whatever you can think of, there's a drill for that. My goodness.
So I'm looking forward to buying a nose clip later today. It seems I just have crap lungs since I struggle even during dry land workouts. Didn't want to buy a nose clip right off because I heard some things about becoming dependent on them and never really ditching 'em, but so be it.0 -
Swam one lap with the nose clip, which just didn't fit well at all to begin with. Then after the first lap it wouldn't stay on at all. I did get an idea how swimming could be with it on, though, so I might try to buy another one. That's almost $24 down the drain: $2 for the nose clip, and $22 impulse buy bikini top. Turns out the top has too low of a cut (didn't properly try it on in the store). I'm thinking I could salvage it if I sew some fabric into it, kind of like those modesty camisoles they make for low cut tops.
Been practicing flip turns some more - I can get to the point where I'm turned around ready to do more freestyle, but I'm at the bottom of the pool and have no buoyancy or power to get to the top and keep swimming. More research more practice... And sure could use a functional nose clip
Oh right, I realized that the "busiest" time is the best time to go swimming! There were over a dozen people at the pool on a sunny sunny day with a solid three out of four lanes available! So here's what's involved in hanging out at the pool:
Having a chat on the side of the pool with friends and family
Laying down leisurely reading a book
Floating in the pool while chatting with your spouse
Dipping your toe in the pool, going, "uh uh" and walking away
This is amazing! I thought I had to know how to swim to use our 4 foot deep pool, and it turns out I didn't!0 -
Two more sessions since. Sunday morning actually had a pool of swimmers. I've been seeing some videos about busy pools and the beach, and even with "a lot" of people in my pool we're still talking 8 to ten at the most. Probably the membership cost, to be honest, and then from there the subset of people who actually enjoy swimming and/or being at the pool
Oh right so as I was practicing one of the gentlemen who spoke to me earlier said I was getting so much better! Whoohoo! Then he saw me attempting flip turns and said uh uh don't do that, too early for that and walked away. After that I gave it some thought, attempted a couple more flip turns and actually did it! I had to pause after doing the flip to think about where my legs would contact the wall, getting my arms in position and actually doing the push off. Well that makes what's his face 1 for four:
Said I should just swim and forget about breathing, even though breathing while swimming was my primary goal
Offered the two kickboard option which got me nowhere since it's my lower body that sinks and upper didn't have much of a problem - ok, not really such a terrible idea, since that gave me the idea to use two pool buoys to keep me swimming when one wasn't yet enough!
Don't do flip turns
You're doing so much better!
So yep that's 1/4 or maybe 1.5/4
Oh I sewed in the thing and salvaged the bikini top. It's great. Need to buy more but we're talking five dollar ones heheheh
Monday swim another guy asked me "is it getting any easier???? Well as much as you're practicing you'll get it soon!" I'm starting to wonder though if swimming is one of those "it never gets any easier but you do get better at it" type workouts. Still, I hear of relaxed easy serene swimmers and I want mine dammit.
One thing I haven't really done enough is actually go to the pool when I'm fully rested. Monday through Wednesday is actually after a full work and workout day. Thursday/Friday I try to work longer days and then go swimming after. Saturday is a workout day and I go swimming right after. Pool also closes at 6 on weekends. Sunday was typically a rest day but I'm usually waking up with some version of DOMS. I did an early morning weekday swim once. Nope. No logic there, just nope.0 -
Another what the hell day. Pool was closed due to weather concerns. So the forecast may have said there would be a thunderstorm, but do you see any damn clouds in the sky? Hear anything???
Way to rip me off yeah yeah yeah safety 0 -
Swim yesterday was nice. Getting stronger. I started doing this exhale just before inhaling thing that now that I think about it, I might have read about it sometime back but thought it was impossible. I'm exhaling through my mouth in the water the whole time, but when I come up it's a quick and forceful, if you will, exhale and then inhale. Very helpful when the water is turbulent around me as it's apt to be (beginner swimmer) - the exhale kind of gets the water out of the way so I can then inhale
I've done a few more successful flip turns just at the wall, and used to think the next step was doing a flip turn at the end of a pool length. But I could try it the other way first by flipping then doing a pool length. Just to play with the order since the actual turn is fairly physically or perhaps just mentally demanding.
Nose clip search continues, none of them stay on my small nose and the price tag is up to a legit $30 now since I've bought about 4 or 5 clips now both in stores and online. Well one of them is not a nose clip, it's a nose plug. I got the large and already suspect it I probably should have gone smaller!
Sinus Saver Nose Plugs0 -
You make me smile. lol It's funny how much we think about swimming while swimming, eh? Is it because our heads are under water? When I bike, my mind drifts to so many other things, but when I swim, it's all about swimming. Maybe our brains do that so we don't drown. haha I think that's why I like it so much. I'm soooo impressed you're progressing on the flip turns! You're braver than I am!
I just swam a kilometer in less than 45 mins! I'm so happy with that right now. By next summer I want to be able to swim 400 meters in less than 10 mins. I don't know if that's even possible. But I'm going to go for it!!
I think a nose clip would drive me nuts. I like to breath out through my nose. I think I read somewhere to do that. I'll need a swim cap before the snow hits. Leaving the pool with soaked hair in -30C weather doesn't sound fun. Problem is I'm allergic to latex, so I'll likely have to pay a premium. Ugh. I also need a new bathing suit! Between loosing weight and swimming so much, mine is actually starting to sag. I better buy a good one this time. Problem is, I live in the middle of nowhere, and I'm not sure about buying one online. I mean it's a bathing suit... how will I know it'll fit? ffs0 -
But hey, that's a great problem to have with the weight loss and everything, whoohoo! Congrats! I'd also wonder if you could have the current swim suit taken in, but then you wouldn't be able to use it while it was being altered. Last option would be to grab a needle and some thread and do some alterations yourself! If you want to do the online shopping, you may have to get well and familiar with return policies and hopefully it doesn't cost too much to return items that don't fit the way you want. A couple years ago my sister must have had an entire small store in the house, she bought so many clothes online at once with plans to return the ones that didn't work. She had us try some too in case we liked them and I snagged two tops that way :bigsmile: They weren't free, but beat the hell out of going to the store or ordering them online myself
Congrats on your swim time! Sounds like you're progressing nicely towards your goals and setting some great new ones. Would love to be able to start counting the laps, too
I actually started out exhaling through my nose, but couldn't get control of my breathing until I started exhaling through my mouth. I've played with the nose exhalation here and there but I can't seem to control it as well, and when I do both nose and mouth, I get exhausted so much faster. But again, even in my cardio and weight classes, I'm always stopping to blow my nose. Being in the water just takes it to a whole 'nother level where I'm doing the same at the end of every lap. It seems I could do so much more without that restriction
Actually, during my swim yesterday I thought about lots of stuff that was stressing me out. It seems things flowed much better when I was distracted and didn't have time to not trust my body in the water. By the time I was done I had line of sight to fixing all my issues. Again another word of wisdom from the interwebs. A 15 year old kid had said whenever he had a problem he'd go into the pool and for sure he'd have a solution when he was done swimming! I don't necessarily want to think about problems all the time, but hey, great use for pool time sometimes!
I did breathing on every sixth stroke yesterday. No flip turn attempts, as I was swimming alone and it was dark. There actually wasn't a huge difference between pull buoy and not using it with the relaxed breathing every sixth pace. Breathing was just inhaling on the top, none of that exhale quickly business heheh. I noticed my legs were maybe dropping in the water without the pull buoy. I'd love to fix that, but I then start focusing too much on the legs, don't trust them, I get more frenzied swimming and tire out too fast. Yesterday though, I was less tired, and probably could have kept going but I've mostly been doing a half hour and letting myself get the H out for the day/night.
My nose plugs should arrive today.0 -
Been back twice since
Nose plugs were crap. Too big, too sharp, hurt my nose.
So today I actually incorporated exhaling through the nose as well and it wasn't so bad. And yeah, now I realize I do think a LOT about swimming while swimming, you called it, spring913!
Bought some more swim wear from Walmart. They were mostly 5 bucks but one pair of boys shorts didn't have a tag and I wanted it. By the time the clerk helped me manually get it in I saw it was 9 bucks I have plenty of bottoms and would have let that one go if I knew in advance. Oh well. Wore it swimming today :bigsmile:
Still stopping at the end of every length - thinking it might be time to change that or learn an additional stroke. Yesterday's swim was actually just stress relief. They laid off so many employees at work all in the same day, the most ever I can think of. I woke up from my after work nap shivering in the fetal position (okay it was cold), and decided screw this I'm going for a swim. Felt much better afterwards. I think one of the nice regulars kind of motioned like he was gonna say hello or chat for a bit but I ducked right back under. Just a bad *kitten* day, but I'd say the swimming's helped out a lot to take my mind off things or at least process them.
Today's swim was just about whether or not I could do it at all since I was a bit tired. But the pool is so close to my place that I literally just drive there on auto pilot and then figure out the motivation and other details once I get there0 -
That's one of the main reasons I swim. It's just so damn stress relieving. Sorry to hear about work. We just had a major sorta lay off in May (it's complicated). It was devastating for everyone. I'm the chief union steward, so stress levels were super high. Swimming kept me sane.
I don't think I could do a nose plug. Too constricting for me.
As for stopping at the end of the lengths. I just decided one day not to. I think we stop because there's a wall. It's a physical barrier that causes a mental barrier. I truly believe you can do it. Do a couple warm up lengths, then say to yourself "ok, this time I'm turning around and coming back without stopping at the wall". What's the worst that can happen? You stop and put your feet down. Oh well. Still went farther than one length!
I think you'd like backstroke. Being able to breath freely is pretty great. It's a fairly simple stroke to learn, unlike breaststroke that can be rather complicated. The hardest part is knowing when you're getting close to the wall! lol0 -
Ha-HA! That's what that was! So I watched a number of breaststroke videos and decided I liked this one:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nMoJVla31tc
Couple minutes into my practice this morning I'm like, this isn't a nice relaxing stroke, there's a LOT of effort involved here! Maybe it's relaxing once people become good at it?? Good news is I was able to get half way down the pool and breathing before completely tiring out. The thing he said about "you just push the arms out in front of you" I noticed really takes a lot of power, which I just couldn't maintain. So instead I used a pull buoy and kept the arm strokes relaxing for now. After about ten minutes of that I was kinda done and went back free styling. Couple flip turn tries to round it out and I was done for the day.
Seems like nose plugs for you are like ear plugs for me. I just don't need ear plugs but I've read of a few people going a bit nuts without them. One nose plug review did say you could breathe out with it, but not in. Just have to get the right fit that works first!!!0 -
I like that guy!! I enjoy breaststroke, I like going under the water, it's fun! I'm nowhere near good at it, but I often do it at the end of my swim to relax. I don't even care that I look like a fool while doing it. lol You don't really have to push your arms out that forcefully if you're just swimming to relax. I'm going to watch him a couple more times before I swim on Tuesday, see if I can improve my stroke.0
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I didn't go swimming today. My body has been indicating to me for a couple weeks that I'm overdoing the exercising. I've decided to take a week off then change my routine to include 1 full day off and 1 day with only stretching and walking. So, I stayed home tonight... sighs
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So I went back practiced some flip turns but mostly open turns. Getting a bit lazy with the swimming, as I'm only doing one lap without the pull buoy and then switching to use the pull buoy.
Got my membership extended to match the end of my lease here, September 14! They said since I already paid for a summer membership I could just keep coming no problem. Turns out the membership normally would have ended September 6, so the membership director said she didn't want to Nickle and dime me for what would likely be just a couple days of gym membership. Something about one week normally costs $45...
Anyway. With all the stuff going on at work, there was a temporary modification of my duties but I just felt it was time to do something different. So I left and am right now in the middle of the slowest, laziest moving plans I've ever done
. Here goes nothing 0 -
I didn't go swimming today. My body has been indicating to me for a couple weeks that I'm overdoing the exercising. I've decided to take a week off then change my routine to include 1 full day off and 1 day with only stretching and walking. So, I stayed home tonight... sighs
Hope this has been working well! For some reason, when I first read this, I thought you just weren't going to exercise anymore. Heh, a rest day and one take it easy day, that's more than I do for the most part. I mostly did three or four days exercise and the rest were off. Only with swimming was I doing about a half hour swimming most days. Sounds like you're still getting great workouts the way you want!0 -
I really enjoyed my swim this morning. The old ladies kept bumping me to the next lane over lol. Well the good thing is the lane I ended up finally was the cleanest! No bugs, nothing. I was also very relaxed today, hoping for more swims just like this.
Had some thoughts or an epiphany, if you will about turning in the water. I've been trying to learn flip turns and open turns, etc. They usually begin those videos saying well most people turn sloppily like this but you can be much quicker and much more efficient if you graduate to this better style! Well maybe what I should have learned was the sloppy easy one lol. I just want a style I can pick up that doesn't exhaust me too much so I can continue swimming.0 -
Those nose plugs really were a game changer. I did purchase the medium size since the large was way too huge. Fits much better, although sometimes I still feel it's a bit big when the edge almost feels like it's cutting into my nostril. Anyway I'm working with various insertion angles and last night's swim for instance felt much more comfortable. It basically sits angled where the tip of my nose side is higher than the lip side
Yesterday I swam about ten minutes without the pull buoy. It felt pretty much like with the pull buoy, but I started to feel very tired at the end of each lap, plus the water started to feel very very warm. The pull buoy took some of the work out of it for the remainder of the session. But I kinda like that strategy - do as many laps without the pull buoy then switch over.
Pausing, almost to the point of letting my entire body go limp on every stroke with my arm stretched out is also changing refining the relaxing process. Also I may or may not being doing a two beat kick
I worry about attempting flip or open turns with a pull buoy between my legs, but coming to think of it, the turns don't really require separating the legs, so I'll give it a legit shot next time... 0 -
Did a boat load of flip turns this morning. Honestly it was almost easier without stopping, and the main stop was happening when I'd execute one incorrectly and the pull buoy came out from between my thighs. I still start out thinking I can't do it, and it takes me a while to build my confidence to actually start doing it. I think I already mentioned, but when I do the flip turns, I breathe every fourth as against every six, since the oxygen demand is higher. The exhaustion is way lower, since I breathe right up until just before the turn if I have to, and right after. It was actually someone with a YouTube video that helped me - I asked why I was getting so exhausted after the turns and he mentioned oxygen, and the rest is history. I'm still practicing a five part flip turn learning sequence from GoSwim on YouTube, but by golly I can't get past stage 1. This morning I couldn't even do the standing sommersault holding a noodle. Like my abs were just done, or something. I couldn't get over and kept rocking back. They say it'll help us get better at flip turns even if we can already do it, and I still feel like I've done a couple dozen flukes, so I'm very much into trying!
But.
For the most part, I feel like I have indeed learned how to swim. I may take some water treading lessons and also try to really learn the other strokes, but at this point it's just a matter of getting better. Whoohoo!!! Yay, Summer 2016!!! And thanks everyone for helping encouraging and contributing, even those of you out there with helpful articles and videos created years and years ago, very helpful!
Special thanks to my pal @spring913 , I hope life's treating you exceptionally well!0 -
@JaneiR36 So are you done swimming for now? I've been off since the pool is closed for 6-8 weeks for upgrades. I can't wait until October to get back at it! I'm scared though, lol. I bet I'll have lost all my conditioning.
Hahha nope. I went to check out LA Fitness and a local park here because they both had swimming. LA fitness had too many intrusive questions, plus I couldn't get past their sign up fee and expensive pay per visit cost - $15 compared to $3 for the park. So I've already swum once at the park pool, and even though they had a swim team practice that no one told me about (so pool availability for public lap swimming might be spotty), I think I'll stick with them for a while especially since I kinda like their month to month format ($30!). It's also indoors, so no closure due to bad weather like I used to experience, I don't think!
So did you swim right up until both pools closed? 8 weeks, wow. If it's an indoor pool though, they'll be open for swimming all year0 -
Back atter this coming Tuesday. The pool has reopened and I tried to go Thursday but ffs, could not find my goggles anywhere!! I know I put them someplace "safe" where I woudn't loose them. lmfao. So, off to buy new ones tomorrow. I'm a little scared getting back in, I'm sure I've lost all my conditioning, especially considering I broke my toe and haven't been biking either. It'll be like starting from scratch for me.
Tagging you cause it's been too damn long since I've posted!!!!!! @JaneiR360 -
Back atter this coming Tuesday. The pool has reopened and I tried to go Thursday but ffs, could not find my goggles anywhere!! I know I put them someplace "safe" where I woudn't loose them. lmfao. So, off to buy new ones tomorrow. I'm a little scared getting back in, I'm sure I've lost all my conditioning, especially considering I broke my toe and haven't been biking either. It'll be like starting from scratch for me.
Tagging you cause it's been too damn long since I've posted!!!!!! @JaneiR36
Hey!!!
I hope you find your goggles! Whew! It seemed like forever, I'm just glad your pool(s) are back open now.
Was actually checking out a new (to me) town today and one of the places I went was the pool. Heh. I couldn't actually see it, but the area is alright I guess.
Heh. Conditioning. I'll have to answer to that pretty soon, myself. I haven't been as consistent as I was this summer for sure!0 -
I'll know tomorrow night how it goes!
I actually went and bought a new pair of goggles and broke down and bought a swim cap too. I don't like feeling confined so it might be interesting. But I don't want to leave the pool in the middle of winter when it's freezing cold with wet hair. So, it's worth a shot.0 -
I've had excellent luck with goggles, none with caps yet so I hope you're doing better than I am! I know what you mean about feeling constrained, though lol. Some days it's not my muscles quitting but my face just getting a little sick of all the "stuff"!!
So my month to month deal expires on the 21st. I haven't been out swimming in about a week, if not more. There's no contract here at all, so either way I'll just renew for another month next time I go. Been practicing butterfly and taking on some chlorine... The ever elusive breathing is the last part I need to get down!0 -
Butterfly was my specialty when I was a kid. Emphasis on KID.... I haven't even attempted it since I was 12. lol You're braver than I. Youtube to the rescue?!?!?!
The cap was a bust. Problem #1 - I'm allergic to latex, so I had to spend a lot on a silicone one. Probem #2 - It doesn't stay put. Problem #3 - the top fills with air and I look like a fool. Problem #4 - my hair was just as wet with it as without. One is arriving tomorrow in the mail, with my new suit. Hopefully both fit!
Aside from equipment malfunctions (my bathing suit is waayyyy too big on me). Last night was friggin fantastic!! All that worry about my conditioning and reverting back to 6 months ago for nothing. I even did 10 lengths of back stroke without stopping!! I'm very happy.
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