Hello,
This will be a somewhat long post, but I'm a little confused.
I am a relatively beginner swimmer. I have known how to swim since I was young, but never done it tons. I also run a summer camp, however, and it's been getting more and more difficult to secure aquatics staff. So, I've decided to train so that I can be certified with lifeguard and WSI.
I've been having trouble getting the required distance of non-stop swim, however. I worked on my strokes and such, but I can't non-stop swim. I could do freestyle about 50m or so, and then I'm done. I take a thirty second break, and then I'm good for another 50m or so. I kept thinking it was a cardio issue, but I was complaining to my husband about it and he brought up a good point. "You're a competition Irish dancer. You can keep dancing without stopping for 15 minutes, and can have 1-2 hour practices no sweat. You have a resting HR of 45 bpm. This is not a cardiac endurance issue."
Then...I paid attention to it. He's right. I'm not tired. My heart isn't even elevated. I'm just am feeling light-headed and like I need to come up for air. Either I'm not exhaling enough/taking too big of breaths, or I'm not inhaling enough. BUT...how do I know which it is?
I exhale throughout my entire stroke. Someone else in my lane suggested trying to not breath every cycle. I was side breathing every right-handed stroke, and upped to every third right-handed stroke. It seemed to help a little bit...but...I'm lost. Thoughts?
Without seeing you actually swim, it's tough to say exactly. About how many strokes do you take per length? If your stroke rate is really fast, it's possible that you are hyperventilating if you breath every stroke cycle.
I would suggest just as a general note that you try to relax some when you are swimming. A lot of less experienced swimmers fight the water, when really you should be working with the water. Pause a bit at the top of your stroke so that you can make sure you get a good catch and strong pull.
Without seeing you actually swim, it's tough to say exactly. About how many strokes do you take per length? If your stroke rate is really fast, it's possible that you are hyperventilating if you breath every stroke cycle.
I would suggest just as a general note that you try to relax some when you are swimming. A lot of less experienced swimmers fight the water, when really you should be working with the water. Pause a bit at the top of your stroke so that you can make sure you get a good catch and strong pull.
