It’s Over

It’s over. And, I still can’t believe how it all ended so quickly. Wasn’t it just exactly a month ago that we first met? It definitely was not love at first sight, but I knew in time I would take a liking to him. He made me feel cheerful, adventurous, and buoyant even. He challenged me to get my feet wet and go beyond untested waters. Sure, there’s a lot of fish in the sea, but he was the only one who taught me how to swim like a fish.

Okay, let me end there. That last sentence was pretty bad.

By now, you should have guessed that I’m not talking about a man (my hubby should be heaving a sigh of relief now) but about my Total Immersion swimming lessons with Nonoy Basa. Yesterday was the last day of my 8 TI sessions which I took with Dondi, a triathlete lawyer who I met in this class.

- Nonoy guiding Dondi through rythmic breathing -

The past month was an awesome learning experience for me at the pool. We started out with drills, drills, and more drills that initially made swimming more of a mental task than a physical one: keep your head down, stick your thumb out, lead with your shoulder, relax your hand…that was only the beginning of a long checklist that I played out in my mind as I did my skating drills. With so many things to remember, I thought I would forget to breathe!

After mastering one drill, we would progress to the next. With each session, it was a little bit easier to perform the drills—thank God to muscle memory! And, by the 5th and 6th session, we were finally doing laps using the TI technique. Yipee!

On the last session, Nonoy also attempted to teach me how to dive and tumble but, after snorting up half of the water in the pool, I gave up and rationalized, “We won’t need this for a triathlon in open water anyway, right?” Thankfully, Nonoy gave me one free extra session yesterday wherein I had my last chance to have a TI coach fix my form before I went out on my own.

Now that the classes are over, I know I’ve got to swim just as often to become better at this sport, build my endurace, and last but not the least, remember all the things we were taught! Wish me luck.

- Dedette, Nonoy’s past student taking a refresher course, Dondi, and Nonoy taking a break -

- With Nonoy and Dondi for our 2nd to the last session at San Juanico pool -

- The Bull Swimmer (?) with Dondi and Nonoy: It was great fun, guys! -

* For child/adult swimming lessons, call Aqualogic Swim Co. at (0917) 858 AQUA or visit their website.

Posted on 03.05.08 to 01 Bullish Insights. Tags: Nonoy Basa, Swimming, Total Immersion. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 19 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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19 Responses to “It’s Over”

1. I start lessons with Nonoy on March 9. Excited na ako! Yey! I hope it’s not too cold!

   DATC said on Mar 05 08 at 8:46 AM Reply
   

2. ms jaymie, please e-mail to me how much did you spend for this course. thanks

   kingofpots said on Mar 05 08 at 9:53 AM Reply
   

3. Hi Jaymie,

   Im planning to make this a family activity. Will this workout to be fun?

   Mark said on Mar 05 08 at 10:15 AM Reply
   

4. wheeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! may kasabay na ako magswim!!!!!!!!!

   marga said on Mar 05 08 at 10:19 AM Reply
   

5. You’re right jaymie, i’m down to my last 2 sessions, don’t think i can let go. sniff, sniff… pero galing no? whole new way of swimming, regards kay dondi.

   Levy said on Mar 05 08 at 10:38 AM Reply
   

6. The Bull is a now a swimmer. The AAVA Independence day Tri had a beginners Triathlon last year. You may want to train for that one.

   Regards Mark

   Mark P said on Mar 05 08 at 2:51 PM Reply
   

7. Congratulations TBR!!! Well done! Now teach me the technique… hehehe joke!

   takicutie said on Mar 05 08 at 3:28 PM Reply
   

8. DATC, during our last lesson, the water was noticeably warmer despite the cool wind. You’re lucky—it feels like summer is here!

   Baldrunner, emailed you already

   Mark, I’m not sure if Nonoy will teach adults and kids at the same time. I believe the sessions are completely different. For us, they focus on drills and the proper form. For the kids there’s a lot of games and toys just to make them feel more at ease in the water. Feel free to ask Nonoy though.

   Marga, yes! Punta ka alabang? hahahaha

   Levy, yes super galing! I only hope I can remember everything that was taught.

   MarkP, you read my mind! I’m thinking about it…and praying for a bike at the same time. haha

   Taki, baka malunod ka pa kung ako ang magturo sa yo. haha

   bullrunner said on Mar 05 08 at 6:51 PM Reply
   

9. No, no, no, Bullrunner… you don’t want to join the Beginner’s Tri… What you want to join is the Sprint Tri.

   Trust me… as a runner, and now a swimmer, the Beginner’s Tri will just make you wish you had joined the Sprint Tri. Besides, there’s considerably more satisfaction doing the Sprint.

   I am a self-taught (budget constraints) TI swimmer (thanks to Fully Booked for the TI book, and the internet for the TI video).

   I counted my strokes for a 25m pool before… 20-22!!! Now, on a relaxed pace, I do about 12-14. On race pace, I do a bit more — 15-16 strokes.

   One thing I learned, however, is that, while technique is all important in the water, after a while, fitness counts, too. While I still do stroke-counting and drills, to go faster, I just gotta swim harder.

   Pre-TI techniques, my 950m time was something like 22 or 23 minutes (Independence Day Tri, AAV, June 2007). In October 2007, I lowered it to 18 minutes. I plan to do it in 16-17 minutes this June, and I think it’s doable.

   Natural fish like Fred Uytengsu (and if you think you had a crush on Ayala, I think you’ll get giggly with Fred) can do it in 15 minutes….

   Good luck!

   Alfred said on Mar 06 08 at 8:03 PM Reply
   

10. alis ka naman dyan sa comfort zone mo! mag-makati aquasports tayo!

    marga said on Mar 07 08 at 12:22 AM Reply
    

11. Good for you Jamie. I still have my TI book gathering dust plus with the unfriendly cold weather, i still have not enrolled. I’d still rather run and pick up my James Galloway running book. Did you feel the same way when you started your TI sessions? I feel foot-dragging myself into this.

    Tina said on Mar 07 08 at 2:26 PM Reply
    

12. Hey TBR, this swim classmate of yours who is a lawyer, Dondi, is his last name Gaston by any chance?

    Too bad the swims classes are over. Any Master’s swim classes available in your area? Master’s just means “adult”, it doesn’t mean you have to be a master or a senior to join in.

    Shucks, I have yet to start swimming for the year and I’m signed up for a half- Iron distance event the first week of May. I only train enough to get through the swim and do my best on the bike and run. It’s a love hate relationship with me and the swim.

    rick said on Mar 07 08 at 3:23 PM Reply
    

13. Alfred,

    Marga, I’m willing to drive to Makati or Fort for a run, but for a swim I have to think long and hard. Will Adam Levine be there? hahaha

    Tina, I didn’t have a choice really. Swimming was my only option at that time. I’m glad I took the course, but like you, if I were to choose between a swim or a run, no doubt I’d lace up and run.

    Rick, yes it’s Dondi Gaston. How’d you know him?

    I’m not sure if there are regular classes for adults. You basically have to get a group together or have a one-on-one with Nonoy. The end of the classes were bitter-sweet. I didn’t want them to end but at the same time I’m glad I have more time now to swim at my own time or even better run! I think i’ll feel the same about biking as you do with swimming

    bullrunner said on Mar 07 08 at 4:40 PM Reply
    

14. OMG! So I was right. The name and occupation didn’t hit me right away but his face said it all. He looks like our dad. Dondi is my half-brother. There are four of them in their family, I’ve met three. He was one of the three. I met him once, about 15 years ago.

    This is crazy! I was looking at his face thinking, who does he remind me of? Then it hit me. I was born out of wedlock they were the legitimate kids. It was awkward meeting them but they were real nice. His three siblings are all in the states and I think he’s married.

    If you see him again, freak him out, tell him I said hi. I’ve no idea what he thinks of me but I think it’s great that we are both triathletes. Well I dabble, I’m really a runner.

    Just made my weekend Bullrunner.

    rick said on Mar 08 08 at 2:45 AM Reply
    

15. P.S. Can I post this story on my blog with one of your pics? Cool if not.

    rick said on Mar 08 08 at 2:47 AM Reply
    

16. oh wow rick, I get goose bumps reading about this.

    amazing jamie, your blogsite is keeping people in touch in every sense of the word. btw good to see you again (and finally anton) on the road

    Tina said on Mar 09 08 at 9:38 AM Reply
    

17. Tina, it gave me goose bumps too.

    rick said on Mar 17 08 at 5:28 AM Reply
    

18. I signed up with Nonoy already! Well almost. I am forming a group of 4 in QC and we start evening classes next week. I cant wait! I have been reading the TI book already and I do grasp the concept. (Well the mind-body coordination is a completely different story I’m sure). Wish me luck.

    Tina said on Mar 29 08 at 9:48 PM Reply