Hey, I think i'm getting faster!

I may have told this story before but it applies here once again.

Some time ago I was getting use to swimming and my workout consisted of a 1000m total distance down-and-back at a local beach park and ususally took me close to one hour, yeah, pretty slow. One day I walked down to water's edge wearing my tri shorts and putting on my goggles. An older gentleman entered the water just before me and began as I did. I swam along my 500m out leg and continually saw the older gent about 20-30m ahead. I reached the 500m marker and saw the older guy keep going (the entire length is 1000m down and 1000m back of you so choose). So I figured he was swimming the entire length and that would be the last I saw of him. I did my turnaround and headed back. About 75m from the beach who do you think swam past me? OMG!!! That old dude! What the Heck?!! He swam twice the distance in less time than me? NO WAY!!!

Yes way. It was then that I decided to look into finding a masters swim class that I could attend. I found a free one at a nearby military pool. The following week I went to the masters class for two sessions and did the drills. That Friday I returned to my beach park swim and HOLY COW!!! I took 10 minutes off of my 500m time!!! I was blown away!

Shortly after that I progressed to swimming the entire 2000m at my beach park. One day I was nearing my 1000m turn around point and saw a group of younger guys on their return leg as I aproached the 1000m marker. I didn't give them any thought. I kept swimming along until I was nearing the 500m marker on my way back. Who was just ahead? Yeah, that group of three guys I saw at the 1000m marker. Of course it now became my mission to pass them. And pass them I did and long before the end of the 2000m! It felt great! I have no idea whether they were pushing their effort, new swimmers or seasoned veterans. All I know is that I got out of the water long before they did and for that I felt good!

So yeah, technique is everything in swimming. If two masters sessions can give me that much improvement (30 mins down to 20 mins for 500m) it can certainly help anyone else who hasn't had any formal training.