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
Thank you all for your wonderful input and advice!
Connie, I do think I struggle through the water. At one point, shortly after the TI class, I felt like I slid through the water. However, in my attempt to gain speed, I think I've compromised that slipping through the water feeling. I do exhale completely underwater, but I don't think it's relaxed. I think it's forced. My lap is a 50 yd. short course. You could be right about trying to learn new things. I purposely have made myself learn all 4 strokes to try and avoid RUIs (I have bad shoulders). I read that varying your workout can help avoid more problems. However, I do frequently feel like I am jumping all over the place instead of focusing on one thing. I do practice more than I take classes, but I practice a lot of things, rather than focusing on just one stroke or technique.
Scansy, after the first 10 laps or so, sometimes longer, I do catch my breath and things seem to flow much better. I guess when I think about it this happens during kickboxing...first 10-20 minutes I'm really having to push myself then I get a second wind and the rest of the workout, while not easy, just seems to flow. Congratulations on your weight loss! I agree, I think the 35 does create drag. I'm short also, so I feel like it really exacerbates the wide barge-like feeling. What you said about the 2 days a week makes a lot of sense to me. I used to swim 5 days a week until I developed shoulder problems, then cut back to 3, and now to 2. I think I swam better when I swam the 5 days a week. I don't recall it being such a struggle. If that's just how it's going to be, I can accept that. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't doing something really wrong.
Knelson, very likely I think too. I'm going to a clinic Friday on freestyle and breath control so I'm hoping to get some help there. Breathing has never become natural for me while swimming. It is very mechanical. When I started I would hyperventalate when I put my face in the water, so I've come a long way, but I have a long way to go. One of the down sides of learning to swim for the first time at 33.
Lapswimmr, I tried that this morning and still felt like I was struggling. I had a "good swim" at some point but lost it along the way. I think I'm fighting the water even if it may not look like it to others and the fighting causes my breathing to get off. I am going to take a step back and really focus on long, smooth strokes and good technique.
Thanks again everyone, really helpful to get some honest advice!
Thank you all for your wonderful input and advice!
Connie, I do think I struggle through the water. At one point, shortly after the TI class, I felt like I slid through the water. However, in my attempt to gain speed, I think I've compromised that slipping through the water feeling. I do exhale completely underwater, but I don't think it's relaxed. I think it's forced. My lap is a 50 yd. short course. You could be right about trying to learn new things. I purposely have made myself learn all 4 strokes to try and avoid RUIs (I have bad shoulders). I read that varying your workout can help avoid more problems. However, I do frequently feel like I am jumping all over the place instead of focusing on one thing. I do practice more than I take classes, but I practice a lot of things, rather than focusing on just one stroke or technique.
Scansy, after the first 10 laps or so, sometimes longer, I do catch my breath and things seem to flow much better. I guess when I think about it this happens during kickboxing...first 10-20 minutes I'm really having to push myself then I get a second wind and the rest of the workout, while not easy, just seems to flow. Congratulations on your weight loss! I agree, I think the 35 does create drag. I'm short also, so I feel like it really exacerbates the wide barge-like feeling. What you said about the 2 days a week makes a lot of sense to me. I used to swim 5 days a week until I developed shoulder problems, then cut back to 3, and now to 2. I think I swam better when I swam the 5 days a week. I don't recall it being such a struggle. If that's just how it's going to be, I can accept that. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't doing something really wrong.
Knelson, very likely I think too. I'm going to a clinic Friday on freestyle and breath control so I'm hoping to get some help there. Breathing has never become natural for me while swimming. It is very mechanical. When I started I would hyperventalate when I put my face in the water, so I've come a long way, but I have a long way to go. One of the down sides of learning to swim for the first time at 33.
Lapswimmr, I tried that this morning and still felt like I was struggling. I had a "good swim" at some point but lost it along the way. I think I'm fighting the water even if it may not look like it to others and the fighting causes my breathing to get off. I am going to take a step back and really focus on long, smooth strokes and good technique.
Thanks again everyone, really helpful to get some honest advice!
