Wow. Well now the project begins.

Well, I have to say that I must really love swimming and pain in order to do this blog. One month respite and I already am bored of the inactivity of the off season. I mean, I haven't been totally bored. I have joined a club ultimate Frisbee team and I still am in school(which means that life never gives up on hardships) but swimming is so much different than all of that.

I have been swimming for almost as long as I can remember and have always enjoyed it. I was on a swim team in 5th grade and then took some time off swimming just for fun until my sophomore year of high school. That's where it got serious.

My high school has a prestigious swim team. We have been the valley champions in the sport for the last dozen years and it isn't going to cool down anytime soon. We've just been getting better. Since I joined last year, I've witnessed our team breaking at least 5 team records and 1 area record. We are really pretty fast.

So this project is about improving myself in some way. Well based on the information I've given above, you have probably figured out what the basis of my goal is. Yes, it is to do with swimming. But really, swimming has its ups and downs for me. Of all the different strokes that are possible to be swam, I have always been a Freestyle swimmer. But the stroke I've always wanted to be good at was the Butterfly.

Butterfly is considered by many to be the hardest stroke. It involves incredible coordination and both mental and physical toughness. So why would I want to be able to do this if it is so hard? Have you ever seen those pictures of Olympic butterflyers on the back of cereal boxes? They always have this sweet picture of them with their head, shoulders, and arms out of the water in mid-stroke. That picture makes them look AWESOME(reference this link). If I could get a picture of myself under those same conditions, my muscles flexed and my game face set, it would make my entire swimming career worthwhile.

I have other reasons for this as well. My father was a swimmer in high school as well. During his senior year he was a team captain. He swam butterfly and was good enough to qualify for and place 4th in the state competition. I like my dad and think it would be sweet to get good at what he was able to do so well.

So, I have my standards set and goal outlined. So far I only know of a couple things i will be doing to help myself(the list will grow). First, I am going to start doing a lot more dry land workouts such as push-ups and pull-ups to really condition my muscles so as to better my speed in the stroke. I am also looking to find time in pools around(maybe he local community center?). Also, swim practice starts up the week after spring break. These practices will consist of working on kicking, strokes, and dry land workouts as well at a nearby college facility. I hope to get mentoring from my Dad before the swim practices start and when they start try and get a little extra time from the coach.

Until next time. Keep it real. Stay classy.

Brigham