Blueraiderzone - 2011-04-14 9:54 AM
You sound like I was 2 years ago. I couldn't swim more than 2 laps without stopping. This wasn't just a one time thing, it was every time I went to the pool for about a year. No matter what I tried I just couldn't get better. It was pure frustration. Fast forward to now. Last week I swam 2.5 miles non-stop and I don't even consider it a workout unless I swim at least 2000 yards.
I can clearly remember the day all the frustration ended for me. It was my break-thru moment. I was finally able to forget about speed and focus on "slow". It doesn't matter how fast you go if you can not complete the distance.
Here's what worked for me. I pushed off the wall slowly with my feet and tried to glide. As I began to slow I swam one stroke. I did this several times, then I added a second stroke, and then another, etc. Each time I did this I tried to maintain the same "slow" pace. In my mind I kept telling myself I need to visualize myself in a marathon, but I am walking. In other words, I am doing a speed and effort that I can maintain all day. Eventually I made it to the end of the pool and I was relaxed and I was not winded.
Technique is very important. You will receive a lot of tips on BT. Once I was able to go slow I was able to apply these tips to improve my technique and become more efficient.
Btw, I did have some very minor coaching. I was training with a group so we had a coach help us 2 or 3 times, but he basically did to me what your coach did to you. He was so shocked with how poor a swimmer I was he focused on the others because he pretty much thought I was a waste of time. I didn't have the funds to hire a personal coach so I had to self teach. Well, at my last tri I placed in the top 25% overall for the swim, so I guess it wasn't a waste of my time.
Good luck. Keep working at it and it will finally click.
This is awesome. Thank you soooo much for sharing this. I was feeling like it was just me. Nice to know that there is hope. I played football in college, raced motocross until I was 38, and have always excelled at sports.......until I got in the water. Humbling to say the least. I will not give up I just needed to get some advice on a direction. I see that relax, relax, relax seems to be the theme. Thanks again.