CHILDREN'S LESSONS

Just a quick update on my progress. I've been spending about 30-40 min. a day on the drills before going to the rest of my daily workout and I'm amazed at the difference! I'm swimming so effortlessly (and fast!).

If I can get the improvement in back stroke that I have seen in the free I'll be very pleased. I'm seeing a 10-15% improvement in speed and I'm not working nearly as hard. I swam a set of 12-100's this morning at 1:30-32 on a 1:55 interval and averaged 18 spl (some were 17 some were 19). It wasn't too long ago that I couldn't do that set in yards! And I never really had to work to hold either the count or the time. I just felt like I was gliding across the pool!

Between the clinics, workshop and your coaching, my swimming has improved so much over the past few months. I've always enjoyed swimming but this has taken the struggle out of it and made it much more fun (and much faster).

Cathy and I both wanted to thank you for an amazing experience learning to swim. You’re an incredible coach, and we are both excited to apply what you have taught us and see where it takes us.

Before we took your classes, I told Cathy that I wanted to learn how to swim gracefully like some of the people I see swimming so effortlessly. After you left the pool today, another swimmer (she has been swimming her entire life) stopped me. She was interested in your coaching because she was amazed at how "terrific" of swimmers Cathy and I were. Of course Cathy and I got a kick out of that, especially since we have only had four lessons and just started learning the basics. But it did feel good to know that we are on the right track! Once again, THANK YOU! You're the best!

TRIATHLETES

I had been swim "training" for several months in preparation for Ironman Coeur D'Alene at the end of June, but not really improving much. I wasn't worried too much about making the distance of 2.4 miles, but my technique was terrible and I was always very tired after swimming laps in the pool because of all the energy I was using due to poor technique. I finally decided that I needed some outside help and signed up for the FLOW workshop that a friend had recommended. By the end of the day, I felt much more efficient in the water - I was definitely "FLOWing" compared to my previous efforts.

I followed that up with the FLOW Transformation Series to further work on the drills and to transform it into actual swimming (along with many solo session on my own). My stroke count went from 26 strokes per length down to 15. I was able to glide through the water instead of "dragging" myself through the water. I also when from kicking vigorously with my legs to hardly using my legs at all - very important for the upcoming Ironman where I needed to save my legs for the bike and the run.

I wish I would have started this real training several months earlier, but I was incredibly happy with the results I achieved in a compressed timeframe - I completed the swim portion of the Ironman in 1:16, which was way better than I expected. In previous sprint distance triathlons I had competed in, I was one of the last people out of the water. In the Ironman I was solidly in the middle of the pack, and with the improved technique I was feeling good going into the bike transition. That allowed me to move up in the bike and run segments, which were my stronger areas, to finish in the top 25% of my first Ironman.

I have recommended these classes to several friends who want to improve their swimming and be more competitive in triathlons.