Need to start with a little background info before my question...
I started swimming laps for the first time last July. I have had a lot of lessons, stroke clinics, I took an advanced TI based class, I've been video taped with coaching afterwards. I think my technique is pretty good (not great, but decent for a relatively new swimmer). I was swimming 1 hour 3 times per week, recently I cut that back to 2 times per week due to shoulder problems.
I also kickbox, step aerobics, mountain bike, lift weights, yoga. I can do high intensity land-based aerobic activity for 1 hour with no problem. I workout 1-2 hours a day 4-5 days per week. I have lost 62 lbs., still have 35 to go. Weight is coming off nicely, about 1 lb. per week.
I recently had a fitness test and I came back good on flexibility and cardio, and excellent on 2 different strength tests.
Now that you have my background and fitness info here is my problem. First, I run out of breath swimming. I can keep going but the first 10 laps or so I feel like I'm suffocating. I noticed it a lot in a recent stroke clinic. Everyone there said my technique was the best in the class, yet after just 25 yds. I was breathing heavy and they were not. Second problem is I'm really slow which I'm starting to think is related to the first problem. It's hard to go faster when you feel like you have run out of air. My lap time is about 53 seconds best time, more like 1:10 on average. Terrible I know.
I talked to a friend recently who does a lot of different exercises and she said you know maybe you are just a slow swimmer. Some people aren't "built" to swim fast just like some people aren't "built" to run fast.
Do you think this is right? Is my problem bad breathing technique? I've had the coach look at it and she seems to think I'm doing fine. Am I rushing it? It's been almost a year since I started swimming. Is it the 35 remaining lbs. holding me back in the water? If so why doesn't it hold me back on land aerobics? Any tips, ideas, suggestions are welcome. I don't compete so it's not about having a "winning" speed, but I'd like to be able to swim further in the same amount of time. Call it a personal goal. I'd also like to be able to swim without feeling out of air all the time.
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
Being that youre otherwise strong and athletic, I'm thinking you're probably rushing it.
Also, you may be trying to muscle through the swim, as if you're pumping weights or running.
Swimming is more about being relaxed and in rythm. If you try to muscle trhough it, you will tire out quickly and go nowhere fast.
Take your time, and learn to feel yuor way through the water, rather that speeding through it.
Speed comes from efficiency, especially for those people who already have the strength and cardio conditioning.
Efficiency comes from lots and lots of practice,and to get fast in swimming, unless you're exceptionally gfted, it takes few years. There is a lot of technique in swimming that needs to be learned, and then refined.
I see a lot of people on your team that are very strong and athletic, but swim slow. To me they all seem to either rush through the water or slightly thrash in it.
Then I see other people, who may even have near identical body composition (low fat, lot of muscle) and they seem very relaxed and glide through the water very easily, and fast. No body sinking issues.
Extra fat, especially 35 lb aren't going to hold you back all that much, if anything, will help your bouyancy a little bit.
When you breathe, do you exhale the whole time under water? Is your exhaling relaxed, or is your face all tense?
Lap time, what kind of a lap? Is that for 50 yards? 50 meters? Short course? Long course?
Jsut a thought... you said you has a lot of classes and lessons... Perhaps you're spending too much time trying to learn new things, and not enough time practicing what you learned?
How often do you swim?
Being that youre otherwise strong and athletic, I'm thinking you're probably rushing it.
Also, you may be trying to muscle through the swim, as if you're pumping weights or running.
Swimming is more about being relaxed and in rythm. If you try to muscle trhough it, you will tire out quickly and go nowhere fast.
Take your time, and learn to feel yuor way through the water, rather that speeding through it.
Speed comes from efficiency, especially for those people who already have the strength and cardio conditioning.
Efficiency comes from lots and lots of practice,and to get fast in swimming, unless you're exceptionally gfted, it takes few years. There is a lot of technique in swimming that needs to be learned, and then refined.
I see a lot of people on your team that are very strong and athletic, but swim slow. To me they all seem to either rush through the water or slightly thrash in it.
Then I see other people, who may even have near identical body composition (low fat, lot of muscle) and they seem very relaxed and glide through the water very easily, and fast. No body sinking issues.
Extra fat, especially 35 lb aren't going to hold you back all that much, if anything, will help your bouyancy a little bit.
When you breathe, do you exhale the whole time under water? Is your exhaling relaxed, or is your face all tense?
Lap time, what kind of a lap? Is that for 50 yards? 50 meters? Short course? Long course?
Jsut a thought... you said you has a lot of classes and lessons... Perhaps you're spending too much time trying to learn new things, and not enough time practicing what you learned?
How often do you swim?
