:help:
:dunno: or :lolup: ?
Since I'm new to swimming i have a problem and need of advice. I've been swimming 5 days a week for about a month now at my local 25 yard gym pool. I've gotten to a point where my technique is somewhat good but i cannot swim more then 50 yards straight without coughing a lung (or at least feeling like it). Yesterday i got some inspiration and did about 400 with a couple of seconds breather every 25 yards. To my surprise it went well, and i actually felt i was improving my technique (endurance breeds efficient swimming?). Anyways, I find it extremely hard to focus on technique wen I'm trying to work on endurance and here lies the problem.
Do i keep working on establishing second-nature proper technique and keep doing 25/50 yards until i feel i'm ready to overcome long distance, or should i start working on endurance regardless of whatever technique faults i think i have at the moment.
I see swimmers doing laps at my pool and i can't help but think about their faulty technique. i don't want to be one of them.
Parents
Former Member
I say, Amen, to Notveryfast,
We are in agreement, even though technique is crucial. Swimming slow with technique will keep a swimmer swimming slow with technique. No top-of-the-line aerobic base will be developed, so even though a swimmer may have a beautiful stroke, they won't swim at higher speeds and feel well doing it. This also applies to the one mile swim in triathlons. People get in and swim a mile. I don't swim a mile; I swim 400s all through it. My race pace is my 400 time and I usually get to the finish much faster than those who swim a "mile."
Physical conditioning is crucial to swimming technical. As you mentioned, even though the stroke may start to fail or fall apart at the end of some highly challenging sets, the person "knows" this is happening and it is due to fatigue.
And I especially liked your mentioning about developing your own swim style. I have always taught the basic things that need to happen with anyone's stroke, but if a swimmer's stroke looks different from another's, so be it. Or, even body position in/on the water. Keeping a person's stroke as natural for them as possible, will make it much easier for them to swim and they will not be working against what is normal for them. There is more than one way to swim correctly.
:drink: Here, have a drink on me for your excellent observations!!!
Donna
I say, Amen, to Notveryfast,
We are in agreement, even though technique is crucial. Swimming slow with technique will keep a swimmer swimming slow with technique. No top-of-the-line aerobic base will be developed, so even though a swimmer may have a beautiful stroke, they won't swim at higher speeds and feel well doing it. This also applies to the one mile swim in triathlons. People get in and swim a mile. I don't swim a mile; I swim 400s all through it. My race pace is my 400 time and I usually get to the finish much faster than those who swim a "mile."
Physical conditioning is crucial to swimming technical. As you mentioned, even though the stroke may start to fail or fall apart at the end of some highly challenging sets, the person "knows" this is happening and it is due to fatigue.
And I especially liked your mentioning about developing your own swim style. I have always taught the basic things that need to happen with anyone's stroke, but if a swimmer's stroke looks different from another's, so be it. Or, even body position in/on the water. Keeping a person's stroke as natural for them as possible, will make it much easier for them to swim and they will not be working against what is normal for them. There is more than one way to swim correctly.
:drink: Here, have a drink on me for your excellent observations!!!
Donna
