General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds Rss Feed  
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2011-04-06 9:38 PM

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Harrogate, England
Subject: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

In January, I decided to do an olympic distance in June since I already had a good biking and running foundation.  I started swimming the second week of January (one hour, two nights per week) and initally found myslef struggling just to make it to the other side of the pool; it had been more than 30 years since I swam laps.  After several weeks, I was able to swim 200 yds non-stop and was satisfied with my progress.  A few weeks later however, I had hit a wall and could not move beyond swimming 200 yds at a time without being completely out of breath.  Completely frustrated, I decided to give it one more week of swim training before considering a switch to the sprint distance.  Something happened and I took off and swam 1,000 yds non-stop and was able to swim 1,000 yds non-stop the following night.  I was psyched, but this, however, only lasted that one week.  The following weeks I am back to that 200 yd wall and I am sucking wind after each 200 yd swim.  Nothing has changed in diet, workout routine, sleep, or anything else that I can identify in the weeks leading up to that distance or the weeks following.  Since January, my workouts consisted of strentgh training, biking and running on Mon; swimming on Tues; biking/running on Weds; swim on Thurs; and a long run on Sat with Fridays and Sundays being my off days.  This week I have tried to reduce some of the double workouts that I have normally done for the past year at the gym.  My thinking is that I may not be giving my body enough time to recover.  It may sound like a motivation issue, but it's not.  I am now more motivated to complete the Olympic distance, but just need ot break that barrier again.

Any thoughts or suggestions anyone may have are welcome.

Thanks, Scott



2011-04-06 9:44 PM
in reply to: #3433515

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Master
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

Do you swim at a gym? If so - have you thought about taking the swim classes? Your form may be off that's making you tired.  I remember my first few months, i struggled doing 100m with exhaustion. After I learned my form, and slowed down a bit, my endurance followed. 

 

I suspect that you're going too fast. Slow down a bit, pay attention to your stroke form, and the endurance will improve, then the speed.

 

At my gym, we have Triathlon swims, and a coach offers Swimming for Triathletes at a different location.  

Doesn't hurt to check them out - find Triathlon swimming, not regular swimming since the forms are slightly different (at least that's what I'm told). 

2011-04-06 9:47 PM
in reply to: #3433515

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
How is your breathing technique? Are you exhaling completely ( or nearly) and continuously under water ? If you are certain there is no other issue and you are " sucking wind" after200 with no gains I would not be suprised if you do not have good breathing technique... Check out total immersion, swim smooth or get a coach to evaluate you . Good luck

Edited by FELTGood 2011-04-06 9:49 PM
2011-04-06 9:49 PM
in reply to: #3433515

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Master
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
I am by no means a fish, but I found when I slow down I can swim farther.  It may sound simple, but I have been where you are and when I slowed way down in the beginning I found this pace, though slow, was a pace I could maintain all day.  I then introduced interval training, which others can speak to, and found that my speed at which I could swim also increased.  Others will have much more wisdom, but I would try slowing down and find a comfortable pace.  If you can swim 200, you can swim the rest with the cardio that you have built up.  Good luck
2011-04-06 11:13 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

You are probably trying to do too much too close together. For starters I'd drop the  weight training, especially right before a swim session.  Nothing kills my swim like lifting weights beforehand.  If you must keep doing it, swim first THEN lift.

Slow down and relax in the water.  Having music might help too.

 

2011-04-07 12:03 AM
in reply to: #3433515

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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
Try spending more time in the pool. Not necessarily more time each session but getting in more swim sessions each week. Getting in more time in the pool can only help you. Make sure and focus on your form and technique for a portion of your training period and don't let fatigue start throwing your form off. Good luck, the swim has been and still is my most difficult area. Progress does come though with time spent.


2011-04-07 3:26 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
Slow down. Find a good coach / swimming instructor.
2011-04-07 5:19 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
Same thing happens to me..I run or spin before heading into the pool & just feel wiped out. I manage to finish the swim workout but I have to dig deep.  I also refuel a little in between. I know its so much better to swim first then do whatever you want to after ( lift, run, bike) but its just a pain in the butt.
2011-04-07 6:21 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
HiNot a fish by any means either but i am doing swim classes. Very helpful! Something that has started rto help me is doing a dril at the edge of the pool where i lower my head below surface and breathe out and then raise and inhale. Doing this in sets of 10. This will help u find ur ncurrent natural breathing rythm. Then try to adapt your swimming rythm to this breathing rythm. It will likely be slower swimming than you are used to but with beter breathing. Before i was tryng to adapt my breathing to my swimming/stroke rythm which really exhausted me. Still exhausted but less.....Good luck
2011-04-07 9:39 AM
in reply to: #3433515

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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

As many have mentioned....form and efficiency is key. If you have some idea of what you're supposed to be doing try sets with short breaks. Do 100m-200m and rest for 6-12 good breaths...Regroup, refocus, relax and start another set. With form being such a crucial factor, sometimes it helps to just reset everything.

Added: If you're feeling out of form at 100m try 50m with a shorter break.



Edited by andyaxa 2011-04-07 9:40 AM
2011-04-07 10:02 AM
in reply to: #3433674

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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
TriMyBest - 2011-04-07 2:26 AM

Slow down. Find a good coach / swimming instructor.


x2


2011-04-07 11:38 AM
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Charlotte
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

Agree - get a coach.

 

In the meantime, just in case it helps, I was in the same spot as you last spring.  One day I finally asked the guy in the next lane if he had any suggestions for me, and he said to stop kicking so hard - kick them just enough to keep them 'up,' but not to bother trying to actually move myself with them.  Once I did that the effort level vs. oxygen intake balanced enough that I could swim sustainably. 

2011-04-07 11:47 AM
in reply to: #3433515


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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
Slow down, kick less
2011-04-07 2:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

Someone else here a line in their sig that reads "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast". It fits perfectly in this situation. You can stroke your butt off a million miles a minute and get no where. I have done laps next to people who pull like crazy while I do a nice strong stroke with a good glide and they don't pass me up. There's a lot of good advice already given here.

 

Good luck.

2011-04-08 6:31 AM
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds
Great advice hear, especioally about getting a coach to help with technique....might also consider getting a hrm that werx in the pool to make sure you aren't hammering it too hard......
2011-04-08 6:42 AM
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Pro
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Subject: RE: Swimming Exhaustion Wall at 200 yds

Eat fewer girlscout cookies.

Oh wait, that's me.

Slow down.  Don't rush it.  Swimming can't be rushed.  I always say, be a Mainer in the pool and a New Yorker on the bike.



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