What does she have that I don't?

RE: What does she have that I don't?

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 16:10:35 GMT

Thank you again, but I have suffered an accident on the weekend. I was playing indoor-soccer with family and friends. One bad move and my right calf muscle got torn bad. I cannot walk now let alone going to the swimming pool or even drive. It will take a good 4-6 weeks for this to heal as I was told. I even have to give myself 10 shot into my stomach so I won't have a blood clot. Yay! :( Hopefully around mid/late February I can return to the pool. :)

RE: What does she have that I don't?

Former Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 15:08:27 GMT

Hi again and thank you for the advice you gave me. I just lost an hour and a half of typing to you guys, so let's do this again. :D "Yes, slow down, concentrate on breathing and increase your distance by one single lap each week. If your muscles are aching, they are not getting enough oxygen. If you are out of breath, you are going too fast, or not filling your lungs each time you breathe in, then getting into an anaerobic state" - I understand your point and agree with it, but if I slow down (I tried it before) that would mean that I glide more. As I mentioned I try to swim as close to the "ideal" as possible: tall in the water, body rotation, head position, relaxed recovery, high elbow, early vertical forearm, no scissors, but narrow kick, using lats, hand entry, pointing feet, no glide(just a little) you name it. How do I slow down? What do I need to do slower? I already have a low stroke rate. 23-25 stroke(1 arm cycle equals 1 stroke) in a 33 meter pool. Since I do(?) most of the things the way I supposed to I go "naturally" fast. I don't mean to brag here of course. I watch others swim it with something like 30-45 with a lot sloppier style, but I bet their muscles don't ache as much as mine after a few laps though. and they can go more laps without gasping for air. It puzzles me... I will try again today with going slower and start to build up my laps one by one. Maybe not each day I go, but each week I will try and add one more lap of freestyle. Now that I haven't go swimming as many times as I normally do (which is 3/week) I need to catch up to my previous state of condition. I always include back and *** in my swimming too as a form of relaxing and to have a balanced body - muscle wise - after a few free laps too. " I'd hardly say that someone who was on a national jump roping team is not athletic - the aerobic capacity for jump-roping is pretty incredible. - " What I meant is that she does not have your typical fit and lean body. In no way anyone would think that she can run a Marathon. She is short, has short legs and is overweight. No offense to her. What she has is a great aerob capacity or endurance/stamina I guess. BTW I recently went to a doctor to test my fitness level on a treadmill (Bruce protocol). My score was 17.1 METS which is athlete level so I was told by the doctor after she complimented me. I play water polo once a week (amateur level) and I am the one who can sprint up and down the pool at the very and of each game. And we swim/fight/shoot non-stop a good 45 minutes. No pauses, substitutions. The others can barely swim.. But then again last week I was playing indoor soccer (it's been a long time since I have done it) and I was dead tired after an hour. Not an athlete level I would say... One more thin I have a flat back (Hypokyphotic thoracic spine) and I read it somewhere that this can cause underdeveloped lungs and cardiovascular system. So maybe that is the cause of my bad performance. Who knows. "Why do you have to stop? Are you gasping for air or are your arms/legs getting too tired?" - yes, I have to gasp for air. My legs are not that tired. "You might want to consider posting a video of your stroke here on the forum" - I will have someone to recored my swimming and post it to you guys/gals. " do you go to the gym for any other type of workouts? " - I don't anymore. What I do occasionally at home are burpees, jump-squats, jumping jacks, plank, streches, pushups, etc. But it is not regular. " maybe, for now, they (i.e. you) need to just leave all the swim toys on the deck and focus on swimming longer distances " - I don't bring these toys to the pool anymore, although I was thinking of using them again. I mean even elite swimmers use them. It certainly can help me too. I just don't want that that my swimming was only about using these equipment and not swimming normal freestyle without using anything. Thank you again. I will try to add one more lap today and go slower/more relaxed. Will let you know :)

RE: What does she have that I don't?

ForceDJ — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 11:40:07 GMT

Since we're discussing your breathing technique in particular...again recognizing your overall good technique...but since it wasn't specifically mentioned in your OP...WRT to your breathing...you are exhaling underwater, aren't you? I have encountered other swimmers with issues similar to yours who have a generally good stroke. But then discover that their shortness of breath is due to them exhaling while their face is out of water, and they don't get a sufficient inhalation...which leads to reduced endurance. Dan

RE: What does she have that I don't?

knelson — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 11:27:56 GMT

"Why do you have to stop? Are you gasping for air or are your arms/legs getting too tired?" - yes, I have to gasp for air. My legs are not that tired. I think this very much points to poor breathing technique. If you are fit and your technique is decent, and both seem to be true, you should be able to swim almost indefinitely if you can find the right pace. And maybe you are trying to swim too fast most of the time. You should be able to slow down without adversely affecting your technique. Yes, you will glide more. That's not necessarily a bad thing. You can't swim exactly the same way for every swim duration/distance.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

hnatkin — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 12:19:20 GMT

I'd hardly say that someone who was on a national jump roping team is not athletic - the aerobic capacity for jump-roping is pretty incredible.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

ssumargo — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 11:50:38 GMT

Why do you have to stop? Are you gasping for air or are your arms/legs getting too tired? When I first started, I would add an extra lap without stopping every week. For example, if you know you can't do more than 200, try 225 next time. Keep doing that for a week or two and see if it helps. There is a guy in my lane that goes out really hard and fast. By the end of 100y, he slows down tremendously. Sometimes, he even stops and finds it hard to complete a 200y. We tease him all the time on how he is unable to pace himself. Could you be doing that too?

RE: What does she have that I don't?

Sumorunner — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 09:26:52 GMT

Yes, slow down, concentrate on breathing and increase your distance by one single lap each week. If your muscles are aching, they are not getting enough oxygen. If you are out of breath, you are going too fast, or not filling your lungs each time you breathe in, then getting into an anaerobic state. Always stay aerobic. I used to be a distance runner with good endurance, but not marathons. And I had great lung capacity, so when I switched from run to swim, I was able to swim 1000 yards almost from the start. On the other hand, my form was poor, kick non-existent and speed extremely slow, which is what I have been working on.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

ForceDJ — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:05:01 GMT

Those who've suggested stroke improvement, and the like...they are great suggestions for someone who would be suffering from poor stroke technique, or someone looking to improve time over longer distances. But re-read the OP. He stated that he's had numerous one-on-one coaching sessions; watched and followed hours of tutorials; has good form; and has even received complements on his stroke technique. It would seem that his current stroke would be more than sufficient to enable him to swim more than 200 meter without stopping. Again, I would suggest that it is a simple matter of improving/increasing endurance using the same good form that he indicated he has. That's a slow, gradual process. Dan

RE: What does she have that I don't?

knelson — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 03:00:29 GMT

Why do you have to stop? Are you gasping for air or are your arms/legs getting too tired? I was going to ask the same question. My guess is it's the former, and if that's the case it's a good indication that your breathing technique needs work. You could have other stroke technique flaws too, of course, but if you're gasping for air breathing technique would be the first thing I'd suspect is limiting your performance.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

Former Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:38:14 GMT

Many people can go from swimming 100m to swimming over 1000m within a couple months. You should consider trying this program: ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html If you can't do this, I think your technique is a lot worse than you think. You need to relax more in the water in good body position so you exert much less energy.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

orca1946 — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 12:31:50 GMT

do you go to the gym for any other type of workouts? Longer workouts like elliptical or rowing or fast long walking might help you. Keep t it.

RE: What does she have that I don't?

ForceDJ — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 11:19:49 GMT

...elite Hungarian jump-rope team... Interesting. I never would have guessed there is such a thing. Afodi -- First, I want to compliment you for your "sticktoitivness." I think many other swimmers would have given up by now. I don't really have an answer for you, but I will offer a couple of comments. I think that if 'a swimmer' wants swim longer, non-stop distances...maybe, for now, they (i.e. you) need to just leave all the swim toys on the deck and focus on swimming longer distances. I mean building endurance is a long process. But I'm sure you know that. Decades ago in my early 20s when I decided to become a fitness swimmer, I was already a distance runner. I could "swim" per se, and thought that distance swimming would just come naturally. I was wrong. It took a while before I could swim longer distances non-stop. And to do it I just concentrated on swimming longer...one stroke (crawl) not using all the equipment. Why did it come so naturally to your co-worker? Who knows. In distance running there's a saying: "Sprinters are born, distance runners are made"...through long, hard work. Generally I've always believed that. But I also believe that everyone has a natural ability to some degree or another. It just needs to be refined and/or improved upon. And that it applies to not just running, or swimming, but to any athletic activity. So, if swimming longer is your goal, for now. I think that alone is specifically what you should focus on. Good luck. Dan

RE: What does she have that I don't?

Swimspire — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:42:52 GMT

Hi, thanks for posting! Great to hear that you have been working so diligently on refining your swimming - it is certainly a challenge when on your own! You might want to consider posting a video of your stroke here on the forum - I'm sure there are plenty of forumites who can take a look and provide advice on determining your stroke level as well as pointing out any potential areas you might benefit from focusing on. Otherwise, joining the Masters team - as you mentioned you would like to do - is definitely a great idea to help with overall conditioning and to provide you with a coach to whom you can turn for advice. Best of luck to you!