Please let me know if this forum isn't for this kind of question.
I am trying to learn to swim properly. I have been very comfortable with water all my life, no problems at all. However, the only stroke I have ever swum is the *** stroke and probably not so well. Still, I have crossed small lakes swimming and feel completely at ease in any body of water.
Now I am trying to learn proper freestyle. No coach at this point. Lots of videos on the 'net and I also ordered the TI videos.
One problem I am having is that my body doesn't seem to stay near the surface of the water. Because of this, when I rotate to breathe the air isn't there...so I have to either over rotate or wait for the bobbing cycle to bring me back to the surface. I am not sure why this is happening and I am hoping that this is a simple newbie mistake and someone can point out how to correct it.
I am swimming with my head down, even pushing it down chin-to-chest. I am also doing skating drills on both sides and breathing without any problems during those. It's when I transition to crawl that I seem to descend just a few inches. I imagine if I was watching from the outside I'd see me kind of bobbing up and down as I move through the pool.
Any ideas or pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks,
-Martin
Parents
Former Member
Because of your comfort with crossing open water, I'd not be inclined to call you a beginner, but from what you've described, I bet there are some really nervous lifeguards watching you... especially if you are bigger than they are.
Well, I don't know what else to call me...maybe an "advancing beginner"?
No need for the lifeguards to worry about me. I am super-comfortable in water. A long time ago I used to be heavy into sailing. I decided that, at the very least, I needed to be good at floating. So I developed a simple technique and tested it in open water. Two hours later I got back in the boat because I was bored. It felt like I could go on for hours. It involves going completely limp and trying to use a bit of natural bobbing up/down motion (with as little help as needed) to breathe. Very relaxing.
I admire your courage. And believe me, anyone who knows is going to do the same. You have a lot of good ideas and drive... and having the right motivation is probably 90% of what you need now... plus putting in the time in the water. Your current level of enthusiasm and motivation is going to take you a long way. When folks see that for themselves, they will respect and admire it. You have a fair amount of work ahead of you though, so be patient... and practice. ;)
Wow, thanks. I am really excited about getting good at this and sort of kicking my self for not having done it a long time ago. Considering that I've always levitated towards water sports (sailing, scuba, kayaking, sculling, fishing --had to throw that one in) I don't understand why it took me so long to decide to learn. Maybe it was the fact that I was 15 behind the last person out of the lake for last years' crossing. The other element is that I found myself on the treadmill doing some cardio looking over to the pool section thinking "I really don't care for this hamster machine".
be careful about chatting folks up that are in the middle of a practice session.
Yeah. I thought about approaching folks I see at the gym that look so incredibly smooth in the pool...but I know very well what it is to be focused in what you are doing, it'd be rude to interrupt. Coaching would be the best for longer-term learning anyhow.
I found the local Masters Swimming Club and talked to the head coach. I am going to do a one week trial starting in the next couple of days. It sounds like this is exactly the program I need.
Keep us posted on your progress... you will likely find a lot of encouragement here if you visit often enough.
Whatever you do, just don't forget to keep it FUN!
I will. This certainly looks like a great forum. I am glad that I found it.
Thanks for the links.
I'll report back in about a week.
Because of your comfort with crossing open water, I'd not be inclined to call you a beginner, but from what you've described, I bet there are some really nervous lifeguards watching you... especially if you are bigger than they are.
Well, I don't know what else to call me...maybe an "advancing beginner"?
No need for the lifeguards to worry about me. I am super-comfortable in water. A long time ago I used to be heavy into sailing. I decided that, at the very least, I needed to be good at floating. So I developed a simple technique and tested it in open water. Two hours later I got back in the boat because I was bored. It felt like I could go on for hours. It involves going completely limp and trying to use a bit of natural bobbing up/down motion (with as little help as needed) to breathe. Very relaxing.
I admire your courage. And believe me, anyone who knows is going to do the same. You have a lot of good ideas and drive... and having the right motivation is probably 90% of what you need now... plus putting in the time in the water. Your current level of enthusiasm and motivation is going to take you a long way. When folks see that for themselves, they will respect and admire it. You have a fair amount of work ahead of you though, so be patient... and practice. ;)
Wow, thanks. I am really excited about getting good at this and sort of kicking my self for not having done it a long time ago. Considering that I've always levitated towards water sports (sailing, scuba, kayaking, sculling, fishing --had to throw that one in) I don't understand why it took me so long to decide to learn. Maybe it was the fact that I was 15 behind the last person out of the lake for last years' crossing. The other element is that I found myself on the treadmill doing some cardio looking over to the pool section thinking "I really don't care for this hamster machine".
be careful about chatting folks up that are in the middle of a practice session.
Yeah. I thought about approaching folks I see at the gym that look so incredibly smooth in the pool...but I know very well what it is to be focused in what you are doing, it'd be rude to interrupt. Coaching would be the best for longer-term learning anyhow.
I found the local Masters Swimming Club and talked to the head coach. I am going to do a one week trial starting in the next couple of days. It sounds like this is exactly the program I need.
Keep us posted on your progress... you will likely find a lot of encouragement here if you visit often enough.
Whatever you do, just don't forget to keep it FUN!
I will. This certainly looks like a great forum. I am glad that I found it.
Thanks for the links.
I'll report back in about a week.
