5 hrs of swimming… What the fuck…

I have been so fortunate to be invited by Rasmus Henning to join the Danish national team swim training. So far I have been there 4 times starting last Friday. My swim load in the past has on a great week been 1.45hrs... Last week I swam 5 hours! I wouldn’t say I feel beaten. My upper body has adapted well. And for the first time I have had coaches looking at me in the pool and telling me what to do and more importantly what to do different. And all ready I feel a great difference. I need to raise my lower body in the water which will be the most difficult thing to change. Usually my lower body just hangs after me like my body is separated in two parts. Like the coach said to me: “You swim like you’re paralyzed from the navel and down…”. I’m not strong in my lower back/lumbar so it is hard to keep the lower body high in the water. I need to keep my head and actually my entire body steady instead of moving it so much. I go too much from side to side and that may come from my breathing routine as I may go too far back and almost look behind me when I breathe. That is just a few of the things I need to change. To change them I have also started to work with a pull-bouy and swim feet which I find as a sport in itself. But a very effective way to train and change bad habits. All though I need to change many things, I am comfortable that I will learn it and I have no doubt that my goal for 2010 to do the swim in sub 0:57hrs will be reached. That will mean I will be out on the bike course earlier – I will be able to go to the front or as close to it earlier in the race – The risk of bringing someone with me on the bike is lower – And obviously my overall performance will be improved :-)