Getting tired question [new swimmer]

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

Former Member — Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:17:24 GMT

25 yards, rest 10 second, repeat, repeat and keep repeating. When your stroke starts to fail, or your getting too slow, extend your rest to 20 seconds, keep at it. Next week, mix in some 50 yards, then rest 10 seconds and so on, In a month, you'll be doing 100 yard intervals, maybe 150's. once in a while go for a long extended swim, measure your improvement over time,,, it's the best motivator. Good Luck

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

Former Member — Tue, 19 Nov 2002 07:02:19 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I kind of had the feeling all along that the answer would involve practice and patience. When I jump into something I usually want results right away but I guess there are no shortcuts to developing good swimming fitness. This is a really great board by the way, lot's of good info. A little personal info about me and my swimming goals: I'm 34 years old living in San Diego. I have no desire to have blazing fast lap times but do wish to get fit enough to swim distances of 1/2 mile to a mile. My 2 ultimate goals and the reason I took up swimming in the first place is to be able to do Ocean swimming (specifically in La Jolla Cove) and to be able to complete the requirements for Scuba certification.

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

aquageek — Tue, 19 Nov 2002 07:00:57 GMT

I found the way to combat that last hard 25 is to look forward to it. I always save a little extra for the last lap. If you dig deep and view this as your opportunity to excel, it becomes your favorite lap of the race.

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

Guppigirl — Tue, 19 Nov 2002 03:30:47 GMT

Hi Joe, I totally agree with Jim when he says that VO2 max is sports specific. I can swim for miles but am a horrible runner. A few years ago, I became determined to incorporate running (well, jogging) into my exercise routine. I started out jogging a block (no joke!) and slowly increased each day or two by another block. After several months of this, I was able to "jog" for an hour (I'll bet many of you are laughing, but it was a real effort for me!) My big success was completing a six mile race. I've decided that swimming is much better for me and currently, probably couldn't jog more than two blocks. ;) Try using a pull buoy. I find that kicking uses up a lot of energy. It might be just the help you need until you build up a bit more swimming endurance. Besides, if you're looking towards ocean swimming, there's not a huge need to kick anyway. Good luck! -GG

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

Former Member — Mon, 18 Nov 2002 14:42:32 GMT

We always had a saying that anyone and everyone is good for about 83 1/2 yards of good form, even if in poor shape. At that point the wheels fall off and it ceases to be fun........ When I started back in 1983, it took me a year to build endurance to the point of being able to hammer a 100. I think you need to keep on keepin'on until you do achieve a higher level of swim fitness. It'll come...... Don't get discouraged, most of us have experienced the same thing. :p

RE: Getting tired question [new swimmer]

jim thornton — Mon, 18 Nov 2002 09:42:15 GMT

Joe-- VO2 max is extremely sports specific. Researchers have done one-legged bicycle training trials where they get volunteers to exercise their right legs but not their left legs. After getting the one leg in shape, their VO2 max is great in the trained leg--but pathetic in the unlegged one. Now factor in that other sports simply don't train your swimming muscles very well. You might be in great running or cross country skiing or biking shape, but this really doesn't confer much advantage at all in swimming. To get endurance in swimming, you need to do a lot of swimming--gradually work your way up in the distance, giving your body time to adapt. You may also have more "fast twitch" muscles than "slow twitch" ones, which means you'll end up being better ultimately at sprinting than distance swimming. Still, if you have endurance in other sports, it would seem to me that you can develop endurance in swimming as well. Remember: Rome was not built in a day, and it can take a while to train muscle groups that have never been seriously worked before (at least in an edurance sense.) Keep at it, adding no more than 10 percent a week to keep injuries at bay.