I've been swimming all my life, but never proper strokes. Recently I've begun learning the correct strokes but I'm having trouble with my crawl stroke. I watch other swimmers go back and forth flip turning as they come to end. I can't do more than 50 yards before I'm completely out of breath. I know I'm in better shape than that because I can swim breaststroke back and forth just fine, so I assume I'm not breathing correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can breathe better and how to have enough air after the flip turn to continue?
Also, I feel like I don't go anywhere when I kick unless I have fins (I have the blue zoomers). Any suggestions for improving the crawl kick? I kick across the pool, but I go v e r y slow.
Feeling a little discouraged... :(
Thanks for any advice you guys have got!
Lisa
Parents
Former Member
Lisa: It actually can take some time practicing freestyle before you feel not all out of breath, especially when you aren't warmed up. Two suggestions: take it as slowly as you need to--swim a lap laughably slowly and see if it becomes comfortable, and stay with that pace for awhile. It's no big deal if the swimmer in the next lane is zooming along. A faster pace will come with time. Also keep your expectations reasonable, such as adding a lap of continuous swimming each day to your workout.
Lisa: It actually can take some time practicing freestyle before you feel not all out of breath, especially when you aren't warmed up. Two suggestions: take it as slowly as you need to--swim a lap laughably slowly and see if it becomes comfortable, and stay with that pace for awhile. It's no big deal if the swimmer in the next lane is zooming along. A faster pace will come with time. Also keep your expectations reasonable, such as adding a lap of continuous swimming each day to your workout.
