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swimming realization! (for beginners!)
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 2009-07-28 6:55 PM |
Veteran  351  |  Subject: swimming realization! (for beginners!)I'm sure the experienced here will correct me if I'm wrong. (please feel free!) When I first started swimming, I could NOT finish a length without breathing funny and swallowing half the pool! I've seen a lot of other beginner swimmers on here (in the short time I've been here) with the same problem. Today, I went for a swim, and I was realizing it's really easy for me to breathe now, so I started trying to analyze what I'm doing different. What I realized was, now I feel comfortable to float on my side long enough to get a breath and because of that I'm not breathing in as soon as my face comes out of the water. It's really funny how after just one month, I've gone from not being able to finish a lap to starting to understand what people say when they "become one with the water". (not saying I'm good by any means yet! I'm still working on form a lot and am VERY slow - I'm just a lot more comfortable in the water now and know I *can* finish the swim!) Edited by rbtrumpet 2009-07-28 6:56 PM |
| 2009-07-28 6:58 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 815  Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Congrats on the improvement!!! |
| 2009-07-28 7:25 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Veteran 281 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) About six weeks ago I had never even tried to swim a lap in a pool. WHen I decided to do my first tri, I could not swim one length. I just watched some videos/read and looked at pictures of proper technique...now I am swimming one mile with no stops...I am so proud of myself! I don't even time myself most of the time on my long swims because I am not going to do a half-ironman until spring...but a few key pointers in the water made a huge difference in a short amount of time for me! |
| 2009-07-28 8:48 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Member 169 Taylorsville, KY | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I'm in very similiar situation, just not as far along in my swimming. I'm doing my 1st sprint tri this weekend. It's an 800m swim and I couldn't swim 25m 4 weeks ago. I'm just now getting to where I can do 50m without stopping. It's a pool swim, so not too worried about taking rest breaks. Spent alot of time watching videos on youtube and practicing 3 days a week. Biggest help for me were the beginning TI exercises of floating on my back and learning to relax. |
| 2009-07-31 7:52 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I swam at lunch for the first time yesterday and then after work. I think that I drank a gallon of water during both swims. I watched a ton of videos yesterday morning. Im hoping that it will finally click and I can swim the length of the pool without feeling like I am drowning. My Dad over the phone said that it was my technique. Im hoping to pick this up soon so I can do my first tri in sept. Anyone reading this that can help please do...pm or here that would be great! Thanks! |
| 2009-07-31 8:16 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Veteran 172 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Great job. You have to start somewhere. We all had to swim 25 before 2500! Keep it up. |
| 2009-07-31 8:34 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
| Veteran 645 Tennessee | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Only advice I can give is relax, slow down and stop kicking so much. I don't know how you swim. but if you where like me when I started, you are swimming like you life depends on you making it to the wall. I was going as hard as a could to keep from drowning. Not kicking probably helped the most, save your legs for the bike and run. |
| 2009-07-31 8:54 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 1310 Alabama | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I"m a newbie also. I'm getting some of the technique down and working on increasing my distances, but still having some problems also. I can breath to the right pretty good, so i can get a pretty good rythm going. My problem is pacing myself. I seem to be worn out and breathing hard, heart rate up after 50 yards of swimming. I'm trying to slow down my stroke, relax and keep my heart rate lower but how slow can i get it until i get to the point i'm not swimming? I'm swimming 50 yards in 1 minute, and about 100 yards in 2:10 minutes, if i can keep it up to that. Can i go much slower and keep a rythm? Or does the endurance just build with practice and laps? Also, since you mentioned the kick, what is a good kick rythm? Should it be a smooth continuous kick, or should your kick coorespond to your stroke in some fashion? Thanks for any help. |
| 2009-07-31 9:06 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
| Veteran 645 Tennessee | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Try swimming a couple of laps without kicking at all. It will feel wierd at first like your legs are sinking to the bottom. But you shouldn't feel as winded. Leg muscle require alot of oxygen and kicking creates alot of drag. Then just kick small flutter kicks to keep your legs parallel with your body. |
| 2009-07-31 9:07 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Veteran 223 Arlington, VA | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) One of the great things about this site is watching people come on the boards and talk about this very subject and then folks of varying skill levels follow up with advice and encouragement. Great community. I am about a month ahead of you, trumpet. You will get better; you will enjoy it more. The sense of accomplishment is wonderful. |
| 2009-07-31 9:10 AM in reply to: #2319156 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) iruptacopula - 2009-07-31 9:06 AM Try swimming a couple of laps without kicking at all. It will feel wierd at first like your legs are sinking to the bottom. But you shouldn't feel as winded. Leg muscle require alot of oxygen and kicking creates alot of drag. Then just kick small flutter kicks to keep your legs parallel with your body. I have tried that using the styrofoam looking barbell. Thats probably why my shoulders are about to fall of my arm this morning. 2xexcedrin before todays lunch drowning. Ha! |
| 2009-07-31 9:55 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
| Veteran 645 Tennessee | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I remember the soreness. It and you will get better. I promise!! Keep at!! |
| 2009-07-31 10:11 AM in reply to: #2319320 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) iruptacopula - 2009-07-31 9:55 AM I remember the soreness. It and you will get better. I promise!! Keep at!! I will. I have the bug again. |
| 2009-07-31 11:39 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Extreme Veteran 660 Texas | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I was in the same boat. When I start swimming in late Feb/early March of this year, I could not do one length of the pool without needing to stop mid-length to cough and sputter. I did improve, but still had breathing issues on the freestyle. I did also work on my sidestroke as sort of a "plan b". When I started feeling winded, I'd switch to sidestroke to catch my breath and then continue freestyle. Despite needing to use the sidestroke and the breathing issues, I've managed to successfully finish 2 triathlons this summer. In the past few weeks, I've upped the number of days I swim each week from 2 to 3/4. Last night, everything totally "clicked" on the freestyle stroke and I managed to do 600 yds freestyle with absolutely no breathing issues and no sidestroke! I guess what I'm trying to say is that most of us have been there. We all improve and progress at different rates, and the odds are good if you just stick with it! You can do it!!! |
| 2009-07-31 11:50 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Master 1286 Mt Pleasant, SC | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Hello I had my first real swimming lesson on 13 July ( 3 total now) and as of last night I finally was able to complete 125 meters without stopping. So I have gone from not being able to swim 25m to 125 m without stopping in 2 1/2 weeks. Last night when I did my 125 m, I did sets of 25m for another 175m and then man'd up and did a 50m without stopping. This swimming is just Freestyle. I have found I swim better with very little leg kick but my swim coach said I need to kick more so it is a work in progress. I race my first Sprint in 2 weeks so I am hoping to be able to do 200 meters to start, then I will rotate between FS & backstroke the rest of the race. I will rotate my swim 25 meters FS, roll on to my back for 22 strokes (25m), roll back on my belly, sight and swim FS again. Keep repeating until I am done. Then I will jump on my PF Flyer and haul A--. Kevin |
| 2009-07-31 11:51 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 790 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Those moments when everything 'clicks' are great. About a month ago I posted a very similar thread. It's a feeling that once you relax and don't have to worry about breathing you can really begin to train and improve your swimming. Great work. |
| 2009-07-31 1:03 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 790 Frisco | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) it kind of clicked today...well at least up, back and then up again. I probably could have gone further but I was so excited that I had not drank a gallon of water nor stopped that I picked up the pace. lol. big mistake. Question. do you breathe like you would out of water or do you hold your breathe for a bit...breathe out then go for air? I am going to a class August 10th but I am looking for results answers now. Thanks! |
| 2009-07-31 2:11 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Expert 1118 , North Carolina | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Me too. If we get many more people in this same boat, it may sink then we ALL be swimming for our lives! Same story. Couldn't swim 50 yards a few weeks ago. Started classes July 7 and finished last night. I can swim 250 yards in 2:38 now but have to switch to breast stroke a couple of times to catch my breath. Maybe I should try the side stroke? I do best slow and steady; and focus on turning head enough to get a good breath. First Tri next weekend. I know I can make the distance, but may be breast stroking a few laps. The hardest part about improving is having to wait for the time it takes to pass! I want to be better NOW! |
| 2009-07-31 3:20 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
| 309 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) So nice to hear that I am not the only swimmer to cough, sputter and take many rests! As of June 12th I could swim well enough to reach the wall if I fell in and that was it. Really. Now I can swim 200 yards without stopping...a feat I just discovered on Wednesday that I could complete. I can't wait to see if I can add to it next week. I rotate 50 meters FS and then 50 meters BS. The breast stroke allows me to lower my heartrate enough that I can keep going with FS. As a side note...I was so uncomfortable in the water that I wear nose clips. They are the one thing that has allowed me to progress as I cannot STAND water in my nose under any circumstances. |
| 2009-07-31 4:04 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
Veteran 355 Lakewood Ranch, Florida | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) I never had swam before i started to train for my first sprint, the first time i did a lap i think i went 15 meters at best and then had to stop, kept doing this until i could reach the wall, kept adding to my distance and found lots of info on this site which has helped me tremendously, i can now do 50 meter at a pop no problem, the most i have done w/o stopping at one time is 150 meters, i joined a swim club with many very good swimmers that all look like flipper in the water. We also do OWS 2 x a week and it has helped me tremendously. Keep at it and it will get better. I have a long way to go as well, just keep swimming and look into a swim team/club. Good Luck !! |
| 2009-07-31 11:46 PM in reply to: #2313858 |
| 354 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Wow, this is all so very encouraging! I actually picked a sprint with the smallest swim, since that is my weakest link. My sprint is 160 meters-in a pool-4 lengths. I know I can do it, but I want to do another sprint in September and that is 300 yards-still in a pool. Unfortunately, since I know my swim is short, I haven't trained much with the swimming. I am inspired by all of you, though, to take the plunge and swim more! Before training for this tri, I would always do a side stroke, back stroke or modified breast stroke(I didn't put me head in the water at all!) Now I am focusing on trying to keep my head down and relaxing in the water. My swimming is improving slowly. I know I need to put more time in to see more progress-thanks for helping me to get motivated. Nichi |
| 2009-08-01 5:03 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
New user 8 | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) When I started training for my first tri I also couldn't swim more than 1 lap in a pool without being exhausted and breathing hard. I actually considered quitting because the swim had me worried. My wife kept saying it was my breathing but I insisted I just needed practice. Turns out it was both, once I got my breathing under control I really improved and of course the practice didn't hurt either. I went from doing 18 minute 1/4 miles to 11 minute 1/4 in 2 months. Still not great but I'm getting betterr. |
| 2009-08-01 10:39 AM in reply to: #2313858 |
Veteran 441 Clearwater, FL | Subject: RE: swimming realization! (for beginners!) Guess what? I've been trying to get better in the swim as well. I tackled the breathing thing early on and can breathe to either or both sides without any problems. One of my challenges is getting flat because I tend to drop my legs, and I absolutely refuse to use a float because that's not what I want my body to learn. I usually do 3 swims a week and decided to move one of them to the beach. I made my first concerted effort yesterday to do the beach swim, and the added buoyancy of the salt water helped out enough that I could raise my legs and focus on the other stuff. As a result, I could chug nonstop. So until the Gulf cools off or the waves get too big, I'm going to try to do 2 swims each week there. FWIW, I couldn't help thinking that the added buoyancy from the salt water is like adding about 8 lbs of bodyfat (for me) in the pool. |
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