Distance Runner trying to get into the Swimming Groove
Former Member
Hey there,
I'm a distance runner and want to start swimming - the way it's meant to be done.
Right now, I am ridiculously slow at the freestyle and backstroke. When I feel like I'm moving at a reasonable speed I look to the lane next to me and see a guy moving effortlessly, just gliding through the water, 3x as fast as me.
I don't know why I move so slowly. I've watched videos and it just seems like I get none of that fluid propulsion forward.
I also get out of breath extremely quickly, it seems. I run a 5K in 16:18 and it's a struggle completing 100 yards in the pool.
Lastly - I can not make sense of this - it seems that my breathing is just fine until I make that first turn - and then, counterintuitively, after I take that breath and flip around I feel like I'm out of breath, and the rest of the way is a struggle.
I don't know how to breaststroke or butterfly at all. I suppose I'll leave that for later...
Suggestions?? Thoughts??
I have two more questions.
1) I think one of the reasons I fatigue quickly is because I can tell my exhaling underwater is not being done right. It seems like I can't continuously exhale. Bubbles shoot out my nose but then it's like my chest stops and I have to focus on sucking my chest in again to get the rest of the air out. What should I do?
2) I'm trying to learn how to flip turn. I was practicing doing somersaults just in the shallow end with the water up to my neck before doing it off the wall. I can get to the bottom of the somersault - my head to the pool floor, my feet toward the surface - but when I start to come up I invariably "abort" by turning over on my left side and I end up at the surface splayed out. What's going on here?
Thanks!
With breathing, as others said, you really do need to relax. When I exhale, I breathe out through both my nose and my mouth in a consistent manner (not too hard), and just before rotating to my side to take a breath, I force out the remaining air through my mouth with a short "puff".
Regarding the flip turn -- I wouldn't even worry about doing them until you have a better handle on swimming. But, if you're intent on learning to do them right away, there are lots of good training videos online that show how to master a flip turn. If you haven't already, check out GoSwim.
Besides joining a Masters group, keep in mind that the more you swim, the easier it will get. It takes time to become an efficient swimmer and you simply cannot rush it.
I have two more questions.
1) I think one of the reasons I fatigue quickly is because I can tell my exhaling underwater is not being done right. It seems like I can't continuously exhale. Bubbles shoot out my nose but then it's like my chest stops and I have to focus on sucking my chest in again to get the rest of the air out. What should I do?
2) I'm trying to learn how to flip turn. I was practicing doing somersaults just in the shallow end with the water up to my neck before doing it off the wall. I can get to the bottom of the somersault - my head to the pool floor, my feet toward the surface - but when I start to come up I invariably "abort" by turning over on my left side and I end up at the surface splayed out. What's going on here?
Thanks!
With breathing, as others said, you really do need to relax. When I exhale, I breathe out through both my nose and my mouth in a consistent manner (not too hard), and just before rotating to my side to take a breath, I force out the remaining air through my mouth with a short "puff".
Regarding the flip turn -- I wouldn't even worry about doing them until you have a better handle on swimming. But, if you're intent on learning to do them right away, there are lots of good training videos online that show how to master a flip turn. If you haven't already, check out GoSwim.
Besides joining a Masters group, keep in mind that the more you swim, the easier it will get. It takes time to become an efficient swimmer and you simply cannot rush it.
