beginner swimmer

I did the same thing in a 25 meter pool that was shallow. Start getting winded and swim like hell to get to the end of the lane. All I needed to do was stand up! You can just grab a lane line if you start feeling freaked and catch a breather. Everyone with no swimming background on this site can probably remember what you are going through. You are making a good decision to get lessons from a coach. Do it as soon as possible and don't worry about your fitness level. A good coach will help you get over any anxieties you might be experiencing. You might try swimming with a pool bouy in the mean time to get your legs up and to give yourself added confidence in the water. This will make it easier to swim longer distances sooner and might ease some of your anxieties.

Thanks, it's good to hear that other people have gone through the same experience. I truly think that with time in the pool I will get better but it's just so weird to have that panicky feeling and as soon as I get it my form and technique really suffer like sometimes i'll just drop my legs and drag them or i'll do freestlye strokes with my head out of the water. And although I did notice I was getting more comfortable but still not quite enough to really perfect my from. I noticed that I couldn't really get the hips up and head down. At this moment I just can't see myself being able to swim 750m in open water when i can barely do 25m feeling comfortable.

That is a whole different animal. Get comfortable in the pool first........

I would get a few lessons. Forms play a HUGE part in swimming. Not only will it make you faster, but it will make you stay afloat and breathe better!

Just stick with it!!!! I didn't have this problem at all in the pool (experienced pool swimmer), but I totally freaked during my first OWS (at my first Oly - not the time to panic!). I spent all summer swimming in a lake 1x/week to get over it, and while the first few times just SUCKED, I did in fact get over my panic/fear and ended up really and truly enjoying the OW swims.

Keep at it, now just to get over the panic feeling, then you can focus on form. It just takes time...

m.

thanks again, But is it possibl to go from 25m to 750m in 7 months? I'm hoping to be in the pool atleast 3-4 times a week. I know alot of people have a background in swimming thus making it a lot easier but to go from basically no swimming background to sprint tri in 7 months is it doable?

I too was new to swimming and had a similiar experience the first few times out. I've only been swimming since August and just recently added the help of a coach. My confidence in the pool is way up (legs still sinking), but getting the feedback and instruction is worth every penny.

I'm still not very good, still run out of breath and need to rest during "warm ups", ( not tryting to scare you here). I wish I had sought the help of a coach sooner , concentrating on one aspect of the stroke has really helped me get from end to end. I think you will find a coach can help with some small technique issues that once addressed will greatly increase your confidence in the water.

Also on th days when the coach isn't there, I find my training to be more effective because I 've been shown how to use training equipment and drills to help improve my stroke. Of all the money I've sent so far getting a coach has been the best return on investment.



Edited by RaytownPete 2007-09-26 5:01 PM

I have a friend who didn't know how to swim whose first tri was a HIM, and she did it in 10 months. You'll be fine.

Yes it is very doable! You are on the absolute right track - get someone to look at your stroke and then spend time in the water working on your stroke. The only other thing I would do is get in a practice OWS or two a few weeks out from your race. By then you should be very comfortable in the pool.

Good luck!

for reference: i started swimming in early june for a sprint (1/2 mile OWS = 880 or somthin yds) in the end of july. i was swimming in a pool that was 15-20 yds long and at first, i could do 1 length or so. the previous year, i had swam 5 or 6 times, mostly with a pull buoy and gotten my breathing technique somewhat down, but i still couldn't swim worth a damn.

anyway, i swam 5 or 6 days a week (10-15 mins per session, haha) until i could swim some decent distances (hundreds of yards), then i took a lesson, which helped quite a bit.
so i did it in 2 months, and i survived the swim, i know you can do it in 7! good luck, its awesome once it starts coming along!

thanks again for the encouragement. I'm getting a coach that I found on kijiji, she's supposed to be a certified swimming instructor and her rates are reasonable which is a big bonus. Hopefully we'll get together next week.

I went from being able to do one lap in January to a half iron (1.2 miles) in August. Once the technique is down, addiing distance is not that difficult in my opinion. With a wetsuit I feel like I could swim for hours. Good Luck!!

I am a beginning swimmer as well and I benefitted a lot from the total immersion DVDs, they have workshops too. Another thing I did to calm down was get a waterproof case and headset for my ipod and played calming music when I would start to panic. It would put me in a zone and I would find my breathing pattern. As far as the coach goes if you find the right now it can make a huge difference. I would stick with the deep pools though because you don't even get to see the bottom of a lake if you know what I mean. Keep at it and I swear it gets easier. Also focus on breathing bilaterally and count three stroke for every breath. When you start counting you zone out and dont panic as easy.

I just started swimming 3 months ago and am doing a sprint tri this weekend (750 swim) so it is possible. If you get in that pool at least 3-4 days a week you can totally do it. You will find your zone and then in the middle of it you will go "oh so thats how you do it". If it makes you feel better I was dog paddling 4 months ago, so dont be intimidated about not having a swimming background, and the swim is the most intimidating for most of the athletes. Your not alone.