Help please

I'm too new to swimming to comment on that aspect of what you're doing (and actually envy your times!). But I've gone through something like this as a runner. Maybe you do, in fact, need a break: "I'm beginning to dislike the water now": could it be time to step back a bit. What the folks who come in after a break might have that you don't isn't necessarily talent; it's rest. Might it be time to take maybe one or two days off per week? You could have them just be rest days or if you need to do something, do some weights or other dry land stuff. And maybe on some of your workouts, just play, don't worry about times. My running coach told me one day not to take a watch with me to do an interval workout, and it felt weird at first... I'd glance at my wrist and ... nothing. But after a while I found I was really having fun with the workout, no standards to hold myself to, just pushing the effort and enjoying it. Also I've found that if I start beating myself up over whatever it is I"m trying to do successfully, I tense up and it goes less well, and then I lose more confidence... a vicious circle, as you can guess. And that sounds like what you're doing to yourself. Ask yourself this: would say to someone else, "are you just untalented?" I bet not. I bet you'd be more generous and encouraging to others. But many of us don't learn to turn that encouragement around and give it to ourselves. You might even try changing the setting where you swim.... if you're near open water, do some open water swimming or enter a different kind of race than normal. If you normally do short distances, do something longer, something where you won't have any expectations. One sport psychologist I heard speak said that if we're getting burned out, turn "outcome oriented goals" (improve time in such and such event) to "process goals" such as focusing on form and such and put these in present tense, visualize that we're doing what we aim to do. One other point: are there other stresses in your life now w/ family or work, etc.? Sometimes these can cut into our performance. I've noticed that with running (also w/ swimming since I'm still pretty new at the sport), I worry less about times and enjoy the experience more. Sometimes the times are there, sometimes not, and there are faster runners and swimmers than I will ever be, but it's okay b/c I'm doing this for myself, and I'm totally digging the resting heart rate in the 30s and not having to worry too much about calories (altho trying to make sure I have some good quality food to help performance). Good luck!

I agree a break might be in order. 90 minutes a day on breastroke is a lot. Maybe the time has slowed because you are tired. My other thought is, do you have someone who can watch you and give you ideas what you might be doing wrong. People here are great at giving ideas, but we cannot see what you are doing. I have even seen people post links to videos and people watch and give advise. It is hard to know what you are doing wrong if we cannot see you.

Have you been to a meet lately? I suggest you enter a meet and taper for 2 weeks prior to the meet. That means long warm-ups, some race pace sprinting with lots of rest, and a long cool down. Consequently, your yardage will go way down - don't worry, you'll maintain fitness. I think you will be surprised at how much you will improve by resting, preparing for a meet, and the excitement of racing.

www.breaststroke.info/grotebreast.htm Breaststroke Breakthrough I am not a breastroker...but this advise above should give you a few key things to consider. The stroke is all about timing...and streamlining.

Have you been to a doctor to have your blood checked? I would take a little break from all the breaststroke swimming and vary your workouts. Just devote 1 quarter of your workout to the breaststroke and even skip breaststroke in some of your workouts. I would experiment with at least one day a week doing a 400 warm up 10x50m repeats on 1 min and then a nice long cool down swim, or 10x50 with a 5 sec rest, which means if you can do your repeats incolse to 40 sec you would start a repeat every 45 sec. If you swim long workouts ata slow speed you will swim slow, you have to swim fast to be fast. Good luck George

I agree with George in varying your workouts. It will become a more well rounded athlete and also help you get faster. If you like doing a long set do a fartlek(increase speed for a set distance or strokes) set workout. Good Luck with Training Andrew

Hi and thanks so much everyone. I've taken a break from swimming (about a week) and I'm gonna go back to ze water tomorrow. Summer vacation began! YES so now I can at least not worry about homework and go swimming everyday guaranteed. The 7 months I spent were not on what you call "heavy training", as I was mainly focusing on technique and not a lot of strength, and the 20x25s I only began doing last month. So I think I'm not strong enough - can technique alone get me faster than 40 sec for 50m? The problem is that I don't know anything about having a "real" workout and I've never had a coach. Can anyone offer some suggestions on how to build a workout to train for JUST for 50m spring breaststroke? I'm willing to work hard, but I don't think I'm at the strength and endurance level to do extremely tough sets (like 100x50s or something like that). Nevertheless, any suggestions of a workout is welcome. I just want to go fast for 50m breaststroke, nothing else. My goal is still 35s for 50m short course. Thanks everyone! EDIT: Oh yeah, by the way, I've looked at some elite swimmer videos during the break, and I have a question: How do they (great swimmers) stay so shallow? It's like their hips are JUST below the water and they're skimming the water's surface like dolphins. I really sink in the water and I think my hips are much lower than theirs. How can I keep a high hip position? Those great swimmers make swimming fast look too easy and too effortless =).