Two weeks ago I was invited to take part in the #swimathon #blogsquad training session with Duncan Goodhew. Being chosen two years in a row as one of Swimathon’s official bloggers is a real honour for me, and last year I did not get to meet Duncan as I had no babysitting.
This year there was no way I would give this session a miss, especially as you might remember I am trying for the 2.5km challenge swimming front crawl. If you follow my updates on twitter @Fitness4Mamas, you might have seen that last Friday I swam that distance already, and now will be focusing on improving my time.
“Duncan Alexander Goodhew MBE (born 27 May 1957) is a British swimming athlete. After swimming competitively in America as a collegian at North Carolina State University, he was an Olympic swimmer for Great Britain and won Olympic gold and bronze medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.” (wikipedia.org)
I was very excited and also nervous about meeting this amazing athlete. But I did not have to as he was so much fun and a very down to earth guy.
After having a few photos with his gold medal and the other Swimathon bloggers we jumped in the pool and started swimming. That was the point when I was extremely nervous as Duncan was closely watching our technique and then giving us advice how to improve it.
I was pleased when he said my technique was OK, but also suggested a few tips, and then we started putting them into practice.
There are these little things like finishing the stroke properly with a little push and splash that gives you a bit of extra speed. Rotating my body is something I have not been doing really, and it does makes lots of difference to the speed.
One thing that he stressed was to try to have your body level with the water level, and kind of look down so your bottom and legs lift and are not hanging down and slowing you down. There were a few other things, but these are the main one I have started focusing on in my swimming and really believe they do make difference.
It was a fabulous session, not only for meeting the man himself and the rest of the #swimathon15 #blogsquad team, but also for having so much fun.
I think Duncan is absolutely right about loving water, and the more you do the more it gives you back.
Next year I would love to take part in the Swimathon with my almost 8 year old Isabelle. She is very keen, and she has suggested it. I am very pleased as that’s exactly what I have been trying for, to lead a good example and so happy she loves water like I do.
So who is up for it with me? have you signed up yet? Here is the link! Come on, I know you want to!
By the way, just a little reminder, that I am supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care charity and would love for you to show your support and donate a few pounds. Every little helps!
http://my.swimathon.org/sponsor/MirkaMoore
Thank you!
Wow wow! I would LOVE to have him (or anyone come to think of it) assess my front crawl – it’s so hard to know what you’re doing right or wrong when you’re swimming isn’t it. Love the tips he gave you and what a moment eh? Congrats on everything you’re doing with this Mirka, inspirational! x
P.S. Thanks so much for linking this up at #sharethejoy !
Fabulous post & tips! I’m so jealous – I’m not a bad swimmer but I would love to have someone like Duncan take a look at my technique. I would have been very nervous too though…
How wonderful, I met Duncan at school as a kid and he was such an inspirational guy. Mich x #Sharethejoy
He really is, isn’t he? So pleased I met him, and also I can share his advice with my readers.
How fantastic you’ve already reached your target! Duncan was one of the swimming stars of my childhood, what an honour to get his tips. One question……how do you manage to look so good in cossie/hat/goggles?!!!!!
Ha ha ha, are you kidding me? I hate wearing a swim hat. I don’t think I look good, just natural, no make-up, but who cares in the pool? Most importantly it’s all about the swimming and supporting Marie Curie! THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION X
That looks a great training session and an inspiring one at that – it’s lovely to discover that great athletes are down to earth isn’t it, and to get your hands on their medals too! Good luck #sharethejoy
I know, what a feeling touching his medal! Ha ha ha, cannot wait for mine from #Swimathon15
Amazing hun and what a legend Duncan is, you are so lucky, and fab he thought you had good technique and offered some tips, so proud of you x
Thanks darling, so proud of myself, and agree so lucky! Blogging has opened so many doors for me! Love it!
Well done Mirka, you’re inspirational!! I wish I could be better in the water, I didn’t learn to swim until my teens and I am still not a strong swimmer at all, I can’t do the breaststroke at all and I tire quite easily doing the front crawl. It’s because of this that I have been insistent that the Beans learn to swim, I don’t want them to feel nervous like I do when entering the water.
On a slightly different note, I still remember Duncan Goodhew and Sharron Davies took one of my cousin’s swimming classes when he was at school and he was in awe of them.
Keep up the good work x
Thanks Sabina! Good on you encouraging your little ones to swim, such a great activity and skill for life!