SWIM HELP
687
Member
319 days
jsk85 posted 39 weeks ago.
Don't try to go fast. Focus mostly on relaxing and getting into a rhythm. You are too inefficient at this point the speed you will gain by pulling harder will be small and will not outweigh the energy loss. It will happen, just slowly extend your distance maybe 100yd per workout. Good luck
6
Member
278 days
FutureIronGirl17 posted 39 weeks ago.
http://ruthkazez.com/SwimWorkouts/ZeroTo1mile.html
Check that website out... that's what I plan on using... possibly taking longer breaks between swimming laps!!!
Start out slow and build your way up, you'll do fine! Good luck!
Training for the Iron Girl Triathlon on August 24, 2008 in Columbia, Maryland!
22
Member
865 days
chsfootballgirl posted 39 weeks ago.
Find someone who has some tri or swimming experience and have them watch you. You can learn a lot by reading articles (I wrote a summary of swim form on my blog, http://trihardist.blogspot.com/2008/02/beginners-guide-1-page-guide-to.h...), but you're going to get so much better so much quicker if you have someone else to watch you and tell you what you're doing wrong and how to fix it. Especially since you're new to lap swimming, it's going to take you some time to build up kinesthetic awareness in the water--I mean you'll be able to feel what your body is doing, whether it's correct or inefficient, and be able to change it. But until you build that up, you won't necessarily know what you're doing wrong.
So get someone to watch you swim. Possible resources: check first with friends, then look around for a local tri club, then a swim club/masters swim class, then if you still can't find anything, look for a personal tri coach (or if you want to spend the money, look into coaching first). And if you are going to be in Wichita, KS, anytime soon, I can help you find some resources :-)
3354
Member
1413 days
RV posted 39 weeks ago.
This Swim e-book available free from Endurance Nation -
http://www.endurancenation.us/blog/2008/free-endurance-nation-swim-clini...
It takes you through various drills and has embedded video to demonstrate the execution of the drills. It is a great resource.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
545
Member
556 days
Socket posted 39 weeks ago.
Did my first two swim workouts this week since... lessons almost 20 years ago? I'm a decent swimmer, but they kicked my butt too. Tuesday I got to 400 yards and I was getting cramps and way out of breath. Today I got to 700 yards but I somehow forgot how to breath after 26 laps. This was all done 1 lap at a time while watching some guy 3 times my age do lap after lap without tiring. It is a bit discouraging but we all have to start somewhere.
I can't even think of trying 500m in one shot so good for you there! Way to aim high :-)
1192
Member
348 days
TriSooner posted 39 weeks ago.
There is a steep learning* curve for endurance swimming. Give it time. 1500m in sub-30 will be nothing in no time. Fortunately you will also see gains really quickly early on (ie, 10% improvement in a swim - at first - is much easier than a 10% improvement in running right now). You'll get to a point where you will be bored long before you tire out (stroke, stroke, breathe, black line, black line, I wonder what's on TV tonight, turn. Repeat). And don't worry about the fat guy in the next lane. Swimming is a discipline where efficiency REALLY equals speed.
*learning = stroke technique, alternate breathing, kick turns if you so desire, open water techniques ('sighting', cornering buoys, transition out of water), muscle development in the neck, triceps, shoulders.
20
Member
597 days
Mark709 posted 39 weeks ago.
I was in the same situation last year. The best thing that I did was find a swim coach to help with technique. It's pretty amazing what a good coach can accomplish in just a few 1 hr sessions. Money well spent.
453
Member
506 days
stewarba posted 39 weeks ago.
Ahh water, the great equalizer!
Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!
559
Member
484 days
TryScott posted 39 weeks ago.
I laughed so hard when I read the part about the fat guy in the next lane. Thanks for the story, and good luck.
I am just getting started on the whole Triathlon thing and need some help. I had my very first swim workout today. I thought for starters I would just try a 500 meter swim in the pool. It killed me. I stopped quite a bit, and my arms felt like they were going to fall off.I am in pretty good shape running wise and noticed that a very overweight man in the next lane was having no problems swimming lap after lap and did not look to be struggling at all. I have never had a problem swimming before while spearfishing, but actually trying to swim laps drained me fast. Is there any techniques I could try to focus on to make me a more efficient swimmer? Thanks for any advice, god knows I need it!!