I think swimming is consuming my life and I've been doing it for less than 3 weeks
Former Member
At first, I was on vacation and I saw my girlfriend swim a few laps and thought, "Gosh, I should really take some lessons and learn how to do that."
Then it was, "I should really do some online research to complement my lessons."
Then, "I might as well start participating in some of these swimming forums."
Then I needed more time to practice, so I started going to rec swims. I'm now getting a SECOND instructor for a different perspective in addition to my on-my-own rec swim time.
And all the time I'm not in the pool, I'm watching videos, reading forums and articles, learning about top swimmers, going out to buy goggles (tonight), and generally wanting to get back in the water and practice...
All this and I can barely frakken swim a length in anything other than backstroke! Jesus. I'm taking "addictive personality" to new levels here. What on earth did I do with my life before three weeks ago?
And what implications does this have for the rest of my life? The first 23 years on dry-land are looking more and more like a write-off in comparison to the satisfaction I get from being in the water -- when it isn't in my nose, ears, mouth, and eyes, that is.
I spent a lot of time on dry land practicing my dancing and these days, I teach it. Because my dancing is automatic -- I "just do it" without thinking -- I can't really remember what it was like NOT to be able to do it.
In the same sense, I've had a lot of people say to me, "You're just learning to swim now? I can't imagine what it would be like NOT to be able to swim." I think I can relate.
This is one of those things that has the feel of folklore, rather than science, to me. I can't claim detailed understanding of pulmonary function but I'm instinctively skeptical that one can increase pulmonary capacity by doing underwater swimming. I'm sure one can increase breath-holding capacity, but what's the benefit to doing that - other than in racing the 50 Free and it doesn't sound as if that's alphathree's goal right now. If it was I'd suggest he practice swimming 25 and 50 freestyle repeats with limited breathing frequency, rather than underwater swimming. But you don't see any elite swimmer holding their breath while racing.
This distinction is what I've experienced. I don't feel that swimming underwater "increases pulmonary capacity." I do feel like it is decent practice for holding my breath though. But I don't usually do it for that specific purpose. I usually do underwater SDKs to practice my SDKs for fly. Hopefully, I am not being too awkward. Hopefully, it will help my 50 free as a nice side benefit.
This is one of those things that has the feel of folklore, rather than science, to me. I can't claim detailed understanding of pulmonary function but I'm instinctively skeptical that one can increase pulmonary capacity by doing underwater swimming. I'm sure one can increase breath-holding capacity, but what's the benefit to doing that - other than in racing the 50 Free and it doesn't sound as if that's alphathree's goal right now. If it was I'd suggest he practice swimming 25 and 50 freestyle repeats with limited breathing frequency, rather than underwater swimming. But you don't see any elite swimmer holding their breath while racing.
This distinction is what I've experienced. I don't feel that swimming underwater "increases pulmonary capacity." I do feel like it is decent practice for holding my breath though. But I don't usually do it for that specific purpose. I usually do underwater SDKs to practice my SDKs for fly. Hopefully, I am not being too awkward. Hopefully, it will help my 50 free as a nice side benefit.
