Be your own best coach and believe in yourself. Coaches have their place, but I had my best results preparing for an Ironman swim by finding the perfect program and starting all over. It worked like a charm.

I don't believe coaching is the way to go. At least not coaching in the traditional sense. I strongly feel that 'self-coaching' makes much more sense.

Swimming can be very frustrating when you just can't seem to do what someone is asking you to do. In most cases, coaches will skip much of the true basics that are extremely important in your efforts to learn how to swim.

There is a very good chance that learning the wrong technique for swimming will be with you for a very long time.

We have what is called 'muscle memory.' Your muscles will remember what you have asked them to do. So, if you learn an improper swim stroke, your muscles will make the same mistake over and over again, and it's very difficult to change those habits once they become entrenched.

So the key is to learn to swim the 'right' way from the very beginning. That is what you want your muscle memory to remember.

You need to find a program that is easy to follow and does not require a coach. A program that will start you at the very beginning and build your stroke from step 1.

I know of one such program I've used and it's called "total immersion." All you have to do is find the book, and it will take you step by step through the proper 'learn to swim' technique.

No coaches. Just do all the drills properly. Do exactly what the program suggests and you will amaze yourself at how quickly you will be able to swim.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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