New swimmer needs advice...

I had good luck with the 0 to 1650 starting program.

http://ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html

First of all, keep getting to the pool four times a week.

May not be the case, but usually when I see someone who has to stop after something like a 50, it's because their butt is sinking, thus their legs are flailing.  So, it's really like you're treading water furiously.  It burns up a LOT of oxygen and tires you out very quickly.  Typically, the best advice is to get a lesson.  A good instructor will be able to slow you down, break you down, and provide some help to get you balanced in the water.  Outside of that, break it down yourself.  Get a kickboard and go back and forth.  Doesn't matter how slow you go, just focus on getting that lower body up.  Get a pull bouy and do some laps with that.  It'll get your upper body used to moving when your lower body is up and in the right position.  Then, try to put it all together.

You've got plenty of time, and going four times a week is the best thing you have going.  You will slowly become more and more comfortable in the water, and you'll get better and better.

Oh, and if there isn't some flaw in your form that's causing it.... slow down.  You'd be surprised how often that's actually the problem.

I was in your shoes not too long ago (so obviously I'm no expert).  I agree -- slow down and keep swimming.

One thing I noticed was that I had (and still have) 50 things to think about (rotate, keep your legs in the slipstream, reach, high elbow, early catch, etc., etc., etc.) and as a result often none of them happened.  It was brain overload.  I had to learn to focus on one or two things at a time. And sometimes I have to figure out which of the many things I could be focusing on I'm really 'ready to incorporate into my form (I use the term loosely!).  For example, for a long time I was really frustrated with the fact that my legs were fishtailing as I rotated, but focus as I might, I couldn't fix it. Then, after giving up for a while, one day it just clicked and I could feel it (the rotation) happening properly.

One other thought from a fellow new swimmer:  I found that part of learning to swim longer distances (and by that I mean longer than I had swum before, not 'longer' relative to what many people can do) was just resolving to do it.  I distinctly remember the day I resolved to swim 400 yards non-stop (I think my longest previously had been 100 yards). After 150 I felt like quitting but said I'll keep going until I absolutely cannot continue.  This eventually forced me to slow down and relax -- it was that or choke on water! -- and keep going.  That gave me a lot of confidence, and I think that confidence (plus many hours in the pool)  has a lot to do with getting past the initial struggle of learning to swim.  I still have a long ways to go, but I think that getting over that initial hump and getting some confidence in the water was the biggest challenge.  (It's a lot easier to work on form, for example, if you are not panicked, or thinking about what drowning might feel like, and so on...)

Good luck and keep going -- you'll get there! 

x2 on the 0 to 1650.

I am in week 5 which means next week I will be doing a mile without stopping and I started out 5 weeks ago just like you.  I could barely swim 1 length.  I think having a distance to shoot for instead of thinking I'll just swim until I can't swim any more really helped me.  As was said earlier you will have to force yourself to keep swimming even when it gets a little uncomfortable in order to see some gains.  Keep working at it and you will get better.

I also bought the Total Immersion Freestyle Made Easy DVD and the Triathlon Swimming Made Easy book.  Both of them were very helpful in getting me to understand the importance of balance and not fighting against myself when I swim.

I'll throw out the link to my "Ten Points to Swimming" post again:

http://www.trinewbies.com/phorum2/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=38198&mid=2147352344#M2147352344

It may help.  Good luck!

BFD's post got me over the hump. Like most newbies 25m was a struggle until I learned to balance, relax and push through the mental barrier of stopping. Within 4-6 weeks of 3-4 days in the pool I was cranking through 800 - 1000 m non stop along with drills.

Does the Total Immersion Freetyle made easy DVD have workouts on it.

Would you suggest getting this?

CRAP!  Old link.  Please use this one instead!

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=117554&start=1

The DVD teaches you all the Total Immersion drills but does not give specific workouts per se.  The TI way of swimming teaches you how to be "fishlike" and how to work with the water as opposed to against it.  I would suggest checking out their website:

http://www.totalimmersion.net/

I had started the 0 to 1650 plan before I got my book and DVD so I've been working through the 0 to 1650 plan while trying to incorporate some of the things I've learned from the TI book and DVD and it has helped immensely.  Once I finish the 0 to 1650 plan I am going to take one swim day a week and focus on the TI drills. 

I decided to pick up the TI stuff after reading some glowing recommendations on this site and TI is also mentioned in the Triathlon Training Bible so I thought it would be worth my while.  So far by just focusing on the beginning lessons in TI, like staying balanced and proper head position I feel a whole lot more comfortable in the water and am able to go farther with less effort.  So far I have knocked :10 off my 100 splits which makes me very happy   I still have a long way to go however.

I would also recommend BigFuzzyDoug's link a few posts up.  It has some good stuff in it and free swimming info is always nice.

Lots of great advice here and on the web, BUT from someone with similar beginning swimming, I found the following in my experience to be the most valuable:

 1) Buy TOTAL IMMERSION and study the heck out of it. If you can't do the body position like he describes, your efforts will be completely in vain.

 2) Get in the pool 4-5 times per week. 3 will not cut it in the beginning, especially since you need to reinforce the form. On the bright side, you will improve very fast, which is very, very motivating.

3) Do as the total immersion book say, and focus on form, grace, and efficiency over distance. The speed seems to come naturally. I improved a lot more from proper swimming over distance (30-60 minutes) in long stretches than the fast repeats I did - as a novice, you will likely reinforce bad form unless you've mastered the basic stroke.

In the past 12 weeks with no personal coaching and zero swim background, these pointers dropped my swim time from 2:15/100m to sub 1:50/100m over 30+ minutes at a time. In fact, today I averaged 1:46/100m with 11-12 strokes per 25m, with no slowdown even at 45 minutes. Technique is king in the swim.

  I have been slowly making progress in the pool and it is because a lot of the tips above.  There are three others things that helped me immensely.

1. Finding a coach who was able to patiently work with an adult non-swimmer.  I have been taking one on one lessons and the tiny tweaks that my coach makes have made a major difference.

2. Do the drills, especially for balance.  I spend at least 30-40% of my time on one arm drills, kick sets, and more to improve my balance.  I used to use my legs so much that I was tanked by the time I finished 25y, not anymore.  You can create good sets on this site: http://swimplan.com/

2.  I really like watching the videos on this site: http://www.goswim.tv/entries/5290/freestyle---balanced-swimkick.html.  I usually watch one or two a couple of times before heading to the pool.

Making progress in the pool is one of the most gratifying things I have done as an athlete.  You are well on your way to doing the same.

Suzy

According to the 0-1650 website "A swimmer's mile is 1650, not 1760.   It is the equivalent of 1500 meters"

 I guess swimmers get some kind of yardage rebate?

I would have to throw another recommendation for the total immersion concept as well. I thought I was a reasonable swimmer until I got the book, it completely changed my thinking and I now find freestlye much easier

J