Ok, I have been running for a couple of years and riding for about six months with the intention of doing some tri's this year. I figured that I would put off the swimming for a while, how hard can it be right? Well, I just tried to swim today ( for exercise I mean, I CAN swim ), and it was a very rude awakening. It took me about twenty five minutes to get in 300 yards. My question is meant for other noobs with no swim background or coaches....Is there a rapid progression in this sport once you get some instruction? I have access to a very good masters program which I now intend to join. I know that it takes a long time to master swimming, but can I reach the point to where I can complete an Olympic distance (1500M) swim in 3-4 months with instruction? I was totally shocked at how miserably I performed. Hopefully there will be some good news in the responses. Thanks
Former Member
I brought myself from about 300m to 800m in a little over a month. Under the VERY WATCHFUL EYE of a great coach (one-to-one sessions) I went from 800m to a little over 2,000m in 4 weeks and progressed slowly on to 3,000m on my own after the coached moved. I've slipped a lot recently due to an illness in the family. But the good news is... I've done it once and I can do it again.
I would say it is definately possible - with instruction. Improving technique will allow you to swim further while using less energy. It's the cool little secret us swimmers have discovered.
Sure is...
I couldn't swim from one end of a 33m pool to the other.
I was up to 3000m within 12 weeks.
Join a club; you'll meet other tribies, as well.
Welcome to the sport!
I have only been swimming now for about 2 months and I love it. My background is in mt bike racing so I have a ton of endurance and am able to handle high intensities as well. My first time swimming was rough as well. I felt like I was flailing around and struggling against the water. I could do that for a long period of time, and long distances, but I just didn't feel like I was realling "swimming". Then I went to the library and checked out some swim technique books and read them, I even sat and watched a swim club practice and took note at how they looked. Slowly I would do the drills that the book outlined and I would get faster. I took a two hour class where they taped my underwater and then analyzed my stroke and gave me feedback and drills to
So, yes, I think it's possible.
