K joined NEWT a few months ago and while I was considering it I never got round to it. Despite feeling rubbish at the time and with two weeks out of the pool I went along to the swimming class on the 8th where they do a monthly assessment for new members. This assessment is basically a 400m time trial to assess what swim lane you should start in and to give you a basic assessment of your swimming.
Previous readers will be more than aware that my swimming is enough to drive a swim coach to despair but there we go.
I told them in advance that I could go all out and do somewhere around 10:15 or take it easier and do 11 which would put me in the slow lane regardless. I did the TT in 10:30 or so (didn’t wear a watch) and was then given a talking to by the coach. Explained my situation but I’m not sure they listened that much and then went down to the far lane to join in the training session proper. A few lengths there and another coach gives me the same grilling.
I’m already made up my mind as to my swimming, I’ve tried properly many times and not gotten out of the claustophobic state and I’m OK with that. My joining the club will probably rest on whether they are willing to let me swim my way or insist on trying to make me do it “properly”. For various reasons I’ve not been back to a NEWT session in the fortnight since and I’m hoping K will have a word and gauge where they stand on my swimming.
In actuality much of their swim training isn’t going to suit my long distance goal so only one of the two weekly sessions is of use to me. I’d like to join the club but don’t want to join only to never attend. Will make a decision in the next week or so.