Maho TI Open Water 2013/Day 1 continued

It's a little after 6:30. The wind is kicking up. We hear of a "swell" coming. That means there's a storm out there somewhere. Honestly, I'm going to let the folks in charge worry about that. We deal with what we're given as far as weather!
Now as far as swimming. It is downright odd, to me, to be a coach and always feel I have so much more to learn. I understand that that is both good and, frankly, realistic. But it also sometimes makes me doubt what I DO know and what I AM good at doing. I suffer from cello snootiness sometimes. And while I have some of that in swimming, I really tend to fold when faced with ideas or directions from folk with more experience than I have. And this includes people who think they know better but don't, necessarily. That's not so much the case here, fortunately. But I do tend to feel torn sometimes. Am I after grace? Am I hoping for speed while knowing I'm not an Olympian, of course. Why, when I aim toward speed, does it translate into effort? My stroke rate goes up, although I tend to contain that fairly well. But do I go substantially faster if I increase my effort? No. If I'm stuck at around 3:20 for a comfortable 200...why can't I get that to a 3:00? Is that a NECESSARY goal? Of course not. But I see much, well, rattier looking swimmers, frankly, and they can do it. And yes, my age and older. So--is it silly to want to be faster? Shoot. Why not under 3:00?

I get this stuff going through my head. And then I find, today--that now my tree hug, wide arms are too wide. I used to cram in too close to my side. And now I'm actually bringing my elbow--good lord--too far forward?!?!?! Is that even POSsible? Gads! It IS! I dislike hand lead so much and I'm so flexible that I can overdo that. But then I've given away the power of my hold/catch. Dave Cameron had me hold my am overhead and try to punch his hand away. "Don't pull back at all before you do it," he instructed. Nothing. Zip. So I have a concept going here as to why I haven't had that power that I think I should have. I should be able to move quicker with the forces available to me without busting my tail just whacking away trying to magically just make it happen. I really hope I can unlock a next step here.

Then there is the plop left foot (out of the water). I've had that for awhile, too. It's in my two-beat kick. But enough on this for now. I hope I really can get past some confusion that has eaten at this proprioceptively and athletically challenged being--me. And how can one play the cello well when one is so distrustful of one's placement in space? Hmm. I try to help my students get that trust. I hope to learn more about my body through swimming to swim better, coach better, teach cello better, play cello better...and not have to watch my feet when I walk. Dr. Kraskin, where are you? Glasses.

OK...so on to the pavilion for a more formal group get together. I tend to cringe about the meet and greet things because of my Essential Tremor stuff. At least this year I know more people so I'm less worried about speaking.