Swimming Exhaustion

I think this is part of it. I was/am having a similar issue.

When I've been going I would try to swim longer distances in freestyle only to have to switch to another stroke after 100-150 yards due to exhaustion. However, yesterday, I joined a tri-swim group and I was swimming much longer sets with much shorter breaks in between. It's not just have a coach, but also having other people in your lane that would be nipping at your heels if you quit. 

It kicked my butt, but I swam about 1900 yards, instead of my usually 800-1000.

May I suggest you to increase your swim time from 30 minutes to 45minutes minimum. Plus if you want to increase swim indurance you should start swimming sets.

Try to do something like that next time see how it goes:

400-600 w/u,

400-300-200-100 or 5x200 go eeeeasy and slow, focus on one set at a time. Rest well, repeat. If you feel tired or out of breath, alternate 50 free + 50backstroke but make sure you go the distance.

Do some kicking in the end.

Good luck,

The breakthrough for me when it came to endurance in the water was minimizing the kick a lot more.  Overdoing the kick can tire one out very quickly, especially if the kick isn't efficient.  Once I did that I went from being wiped out after maybe 200 meters to being able to go at least 1000 meters (albeit slowly) without stopping.

Also, if it's breathing related make sure you are exhaling when your face is in the water, not turning your head and doing an inhale/exhale all in one shot and then holding your breath when your face is in the water.

There is a form aspect to it, a fitness aspect, and a mental aspect.

One-on-one coaching is great for the form aspect.

Here's an idea to help with the mental aspect (and fitness, too):

4 x 50 with a N breath rest

N is one less then the number you think you need right now. Breath as quickly or slowly as you like, but do not take more than N breaths. Even if you feel you will die, push off from the wall. (If *after* you start swimming, you discover you were right and I am wrong, please don't actually die--stop and grab the lane rope.)

Recover as long as you need, then…

4 x 50 with N-1 breath rest.

Recover as long as you need, then…

4 x 50 with N-2 breath rest.

Okay, you see where this is going. 

Depending on how tired you are, you may get to the next step later in the same workout, maybe the next, maybe the one after that. You don't have to get the rest down to zero breaths, but once you've made measurable progress, increase the distance.

4 x 75 with N breath rest.

When you get back to the wall, turn right around without stopping *at all*. You won't die. There is another wall at the other end of the pool, you can stop there. (Same disclaimer as before. If you actually are going to die, please stop and grab the lane rope.)

Recover as long as you need, then…

4 x 75 with N-1 breath rest.

Etc. etc. Keep shortening the rests and lengthening the distances. Once you can do 4 x 100 with 12 breath rest, I recommend  you try Ruth Kazez' 0 to 1650 plan. (http://ruthkazez.com/swimming/ZeroTo1mile.html)

This advice is based on what I did at the start. The idea is to not give the brain time to think or object. "That was N breaths, time to go again. Go." Please modify it work best for your brain and your swim ability.