I did flipturns- 1st time!

Wow, I can't believe I have been swimming 3 years and never really tried to do a flipturn.  Well tonight in the pool the guy next to me just looked so elegant and graceful I decided tonight would be my day to try it.  

 Scared to hit the wall?  Yes.  Thus, the first 2 times I missed the wall completely and was just floating there with pool water in my nose.  But I didn't give up, I tried to do one every 100m just so I could recover and prepare for the next.  Next thing you know, I was doing them every 50 (in a 25 pool) and by the end of the workout, every time!  

 I'm still no expert, and sometimes I push off from the wall more UP than Forward, so I kind of jump out of the water like I'm doing a synchronized swimming show.  I'm sure the lifeguard got a few laughs off of me, if she wasn't concerned for me drowning.  But I'm going to keep working on it.   When I did them right, it made the laps "flow" more- I felt I was using momentum the right way instead of coming to a complete stop, hanging on the wall, and then trying to start again.  I never felt like I was gasping for air or anything (well a couple times) but by the end I was feeling pretty confident.  I recommend trying them for those of you who don't do them.  I was afraid of hurting myself or looking dumb, but I only did the latter and now I think they are fun and I look slightly less dumb.