Beginner with Many Questions

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:45:04 GMT

I've shared this same advice with others looking for help. As a beginner, it's so easy to get frustrated. This thread has helped me more than you can imagine!

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:52:16 GMT

This is very inspiring to beginners! So is the "True Beginner" thread by LateComer (thanks to George who linked this thread in that one)! Obviously I need to set goals in my practice like Jeffy and LateComer. :D Salute to all who give so much valuable advice! :D

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:06:32 GMT

Oh did I mention that I LOVE swimming now? I actually LOVE to swim. Can you believe that? :party2:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:05:30 GMT

You have come a long way since blowing bubbles in the hot tub. Congratulations on your swim.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:52:55 GMT

Hi Everyone: I just wanted to close the loop with everyone who offered up advice. It helped a lot throughout this entire process. My first triathlon was yesterday, and yes, I FINISHED! I actually finished the race AND I wasn't last. Can you believe I actually swam 1/4 mile in San Pablo Bay? It was surreal to say the least. 10 months ago I was just learning to blow bubbles in my hot tub and I have to be honest, with a job, a new baby and other responsibilities I almost gave up a couple of times. I just wasn't getting it. Until March, I could only swim about 25 meters at a time. One day something clicked with my timing and my breathing and everything seemed a lot easier. I didn't swim as well as I wanted to in the race (a few things happened that threw me off) but I made it out and went on to feel pretty good on the bike and run. Guys, I've been wanted to do triathlons since I was 15, and now just short of my 40th birthday, I finally did it! I'm already eyeing my next race :) As an unexpected bonus to this whole journey, I've discovered a new sport that I'm just crazy about. I really love to swim now for the sake of swimming. I want to continue to get better, keep working, and keep swimming. :weightlifter:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:34:56 GMT

Hi there, Until you feel comfortable with the dolphin kick - just skip it. Just do a regular flutter kick - it works just fine until you master the dolphin. Holding your breath when you swim is sometimes good. But do not let it make you suffer later in the race. There are more important things to focus on, especially if you are new. The less you breathe the easier you will become tired, unless you have trained a lot at it. How many breaths you should take depends on your technique - how smooth your breathing is. There was a German swimmer who won the 50m free in the European Championships in the 80's who did breathe on every 2 strokes! I recommend that in the 50 free you try to breathe only a few times. But if you swim longer than that you will probably enjoy all the air you can get!

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:18:10 GMT

:shakeshead: Im really having a hard time doing the dolpin kick when i do my butter so how can i fix that problem i will be doing my first swim meet in june i have been praticeing for the last month and it seems that im still not ready. i think that i just dont want to look like a fool in front of everyone any advice please help:frustrated:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:08:05 GMT

I went swimming from 6p.m. to about 7:15 p.m. and i was able to do a 50 meter swim and felt pretty good tonight for me was the first without getting out of breath. im able to hold me breath the whole length of the pool so for me to swim and breath is all new to me. but it was a good workout for tonight, we will see how friday is :cheerleader:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:46:12 GMT

Sounds like you are starting to swim well.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:04:47 GMT

After looking back at my swimming over the past couple of weeks, I think I did in fact have a breakthrough on April 14th. Everything just seems much easier now, especially with breathing. Now, I can easily swim 400m to 500m without stopping. I still have to "think" about swimming quite a bit and have to really concentrate but it seems much easier. Also, early on I think the wall was a mental barrier for me (swim to the wall for safety kindof thing). I take about 21 strokes per length. I know that's not great but my swimming buddy takes 43! Thanks to all for your advice and words of encouragement!! I look forward to swimming for the rest of my life.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:03:30 GMT

Just a brief update to show you that I have not wasted all that valuable advice: Sunday I did a 1 mile jog to the pool. I started swimming and everything felt OK, not great, but OK. Felt like my timing was off. Swam a few laps but had to take breaks every 50 or 100 meters. Then, my left shoulder started hurting on recovery. I swam a few more laps really easy and was pretty much ready to get out before becoming either injured or frustrated. I took a nice long break and did a few bobs and figured I would swim another slow easy lap or so. We'll, I swam 4 laps (my previous max) and then I just kept going and going, and going. I actually lost track of my laps but I think I was at 8 or 10 or so. It was easily over .25 miles. I felt great and jogged a mile home, feeling on top of the world. I'm not saying I made a major breakthrough but after I stopped trying so hard and just took it easy, I was able to keep going! I felt like I was getting a really good breath each time. I think I've at least reached a mental milestone. I'm not looking back!! :drink:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:30:14 GMT

I think it varies quite a bit. Sprinters normally take fewer breaths while distance swimmers normally breathe every 2 or 3 strokes. I don't think there are any set rules about this though. People who know a lot more about this than I, will probably be along shortly.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:20:38 GMT

Hello, I just joined today as well. Im 35 years old and in pretty good shape i run in the spring when the weather is warmer .I have been swimming now for the past two sesions with my daugher and she is on the polar bears swim team so we race each other all the time she is getting so fast its hard for me to keep up. But, Im looking to swim I guess is how do i know when there is swim meets around. I know that im able to swim a 25 meter 2 laps with 2 breaths but not sure is that the right way to go. or how many breaths your suppose to have. so if anyone has any suggestions on anything please let the new person now. thank you

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:54:39 GMT

To all the good people that gave me such valuable advice, just thought I would let you know about my progress. I went swimming today and did about 10 laps, no problem. I can now do 3 laps in a 25m pool without taking a break. My breaks are 30 seconds or less and then I'm good to go for another 75 or 100 meters. No more 25s and hanging on the wall for 2 or 3 minutes!! I really feel like I'm making progress! I'm having a lot fun doing it as well. Here are few things that I think have helped me get to where I am: I'm much more relaxed. Incremental progress is giving me more confidence. I don't swim with my head so deep now, this is making it much easier to breathe and I don't have to rotate quite so far. I try to stretch out and lengthen my body as much as possible. I don't rotate to breathe on the right side until I just see my left hand enter the water. I think I was breathing a split second too early. I'm concentrating on NOT holding my breath. I'm focusing on either breathing in or breathing out the entire time. I'm trying to work on my kick by not bending at the knees so much and not taking such large kicks. I think about my big toes "fighting" each other.I have a sprint triathlon openwater swim of .25 miles coming up in early June. I'm determined to make it!!!! :party2:

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:15:32 GMT

A good way to practice this is to do it while running and to use your feet as a pacer. So breath out for four steps, breath in for two. That'll help you get used to the rythm of it. I agree with breathing every three - it's ideal. But I'm weak, so what I usually end up doing is breathing two to one side then two to the other, so I guess my breathing pattern is 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3. 4 strokes is probably too much for a beginner. That is an EXCELLENT idea! I will try it the next time I go for a run. I tried breathing out through nose/mouth yesterday and was able to swim 50 meters without stopping (for the first time). You guys are giving me such good advice. I really do appreciate it. All of your combined years of knowledge is priceless.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:37:24 GMT

Thanks for the advice David. I was born in NC and moved to FL in 1992 and then to CA in 2001.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:22:33 GMT

More good advice guys, I really appreciate. I can't wait to get to the pool today and work on a few of these things. Good swimmers make it look so easy but it's not. It is a thing of beauty to watch though. There was a woman at the pool the other day that kept her head high in the water, looked like just above her goggles, hips high, feet barely breaking the surface and banging out laps like nothing. Good flip turns too. I'll keep working... :)

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:58:12 GMT

Head Position: TI teaches head low in the water, eyes looking at the bottom of pool. My coach last summer taught the same thing. My new coach says head is way too low and making my breathing a lot harder than it should be. New coach says look at the opposite end of the pool. Which one is right? Some people say look at the floor 6 feet ahead. Is there a right and a wrong? Lots of philosopies on this one. My personal one is that it depends on what distance you're swimming. If you're spriting, the water should be hitting you at about your hair line (or where your hairline was in college. :laugh2:). When spriting, your body should be curved, like a banana or a smile, which means your head is higher, looking slightly forward. When swimming distance like you will in a triathlon, you probably want to have your head in line with your spine (maybe a smidge higher) so that it doesn't get too tired or cause drag. As an aside, one of the things that people overlook when they become too focused on head placement is the whole "swimming on your bubble" thing. The air in your chest is your "bubble" and if you kind of float in the water and mess around with pushing your chest down slowly against the water and trying to get a feel for the way the water pushes back on your chest and the way your chest placement affects your hip placement affects your leg placement/depth (sort of like a teeter-totter), it can be kind of a good exercise, just kind of educational. If you've got your head low, but your chest is not really creating that balance for your hips/legs, you're going to be just kind of curved over in the water. Since the idea is to be "long" in the water, you need to be thinking about more than just head placement. Really, head placement is kind of an afterthought. Figure out how to balance yourself in the water using your chest and then just line your head up with your spine. It's a lot easier than trying to get the perfect position for your head and then line your chest, hips, and legs up with that. Kick: How do I develop a strong kick and do I need one? TI says no kickboard and to develop a non-overt kick. Both of my coaches said my kick stinks and put me on kickboards. When kicking, should the feet stay close together (i.e., pigeon toed)? When I taught swimming to little kids, I used to tell them to make their big toes fight while kicking. Think about smacking your big toes against each other on each kick. Obviously, you don't want to do this forever, but it's a good place to start until you get used to the feel of a strong kick and then you can move them apart a couple inches, but still keep them pretty close. Keep in mind, big splash does not equal fast kick. Flexibility in your ankles is key. Stay away from fins until you have a "feel" for your kick. I don't think it matters if you use a kickboard or not, but if you kick on your back, you get a better workout and it helps you learn to balance yourself in the water (bubble and all). Breathing: My new coach says breathe out through nose and in through mouth. She also says breathe all air out before taking a breath. If I don't do this (except during extreme physical exertion on land) why would I do it while swimming the first event in a 3 event race? She also recommends NOT breathing every 2nd stroke but every 3rd (bilateral) or even 4th. I disagree with breathing out through nose and in through mouth. I have my mouth open pretty much the entire time I'm swimming. And my breathing out feels more like huff and less like a stream of air. It's almost a sigh and then breathing in is more like the kind of breath you take when you're startled: quick, sharp, deep. A good way to practice this is to do it while running and to use your feet as a pacer. So breath out for four steps, breath in for two. That'll help you get used to the rythm of it. I agree with breathing every three - it's ideal. But I'm weak, so what I usually end up doing is breathing two to one side then two to the other, so I guess my breathing pattern is 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3. 4 strokes is probably too much for a beginner. (ps: sorry if my quotes didn't work, I'm new to this format)

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:42:58 GMT

Head position is important, Your coach may not mean that you lift your head but means not too bury your head too deep. He maybe just telling you, eyes forward. If you watch a good swimmer you will find nearly all are looking slightly forward. Swimmers head positions are not all the same you just have to find which is best for you. The biggest fault with breathing is that a lot of swimmers are breathing in with the chin tucked in and this restricts the air. Do not breathe in with the mouth almost in the arm pit, look at the side of the pool.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:25:19 GMT

Lots of good advice, most of it similar. I'll add: 1. I suggest breathing every two strokes initially. Yes it is better to breathe both sides for balance, but early on it is probably better to get good at one side. It also helps early on to to get a breath when you're not desperate for air. You'll be more relaxed, which produces better technique. Lots of elite swimmers breathe to just one side in races. 2. Most tris I know want to save their legs for the bike/run. But you need to kick, at least a little bit. It helps your overall stroke, contributes to rhythm, and will make you go faster. You should probably develop a good two beat kick and keep the legs near the surface. 3. I'm surprised your current coach says to look at the wall ahead of you. One interesting thing about swimming - it seems as if your head and hips are connected and move in opposite directions. Raise your head, your hips will sink. That's bad. Do not look down the pool - that will raise your head. Look at the bottom or slightly in front of you. 4. Open water swimming is harder than the pool. You will have waves, no stripe on the bottom to follow, and you will get kicked. You will probably swallow water. So be prepared to lift your head occasionally to sight your way and expect to get a mouthful of water when you least expect it.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:06:16 GMT

I went for a swim today and felt much better. I swam 50 meters a few times without stopping. I focused on my breathing and working on kicking a little. I also met someone there that gave me a lot of good advice and watched me a little. I'm not holding my head so deep and I think this is helping me rotate to breathe. Also, I tried to rotate for my breath only after I saw my left hand enter the water (breathing on my right side). Funny thing is, I took a 18 mi bike ride to the pool, swam, then rode back home. I think the bike ride loosened me up some. Some of you suggested that I'm either too excited or too tense and this may be the case. The long warm up seemed to help. Oh, I was breathing out through my nose and mouth this time and that felt a lot better. I'll keep working on it. Thanks for all of you advice and encouragement!

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:37:54 GMT

A good drill to teach relaxed and rhythmic breathing is bobbing. Start in water about 4-5 feet deep, exhale and bend knees blowing bubbles as you submerge. Then push up (easily) with your legs to get clear for a breath, taking in just enough air to repeat the cycle. Do maybe 10 or 15 times trying to stay as relaxed as possible. You can move to deeper water where you'll have to use your arms by adding one breastroke pull on the up, then lifting them overhead (out of the water) as you take your breath. The added weight of your arms being out of the water combined with exhaling should give enough downward force to make this drill possible even in water as deep as 10'. Bobbing should be done slowly and relaxed. Good luck!

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

gobears — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:07:27 GMT

You're getting so much good advice, I don't want to say much more. One thing to try and do is to try making your breathing seem natural. You shouldn't (at this point) be holding your breath. Instead, focus on making your breathing relaxed and getting enough air. It's so cliche but the more you relax the better you'll swim. Also, make sure you aren't over-kicking and unnecessarily depriving yourself of oxygen. Save your uber-kicking for sprints.

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

ande — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:47:32 GMT

it's actually 1) Breathe 2) Hold your breath and 3) Breathe out just before you breathe again on distance swimming you're better off perfecting the 2 beat kick to conserve energy the critical thing for you is to improve your technique lengthen your distance per stroke learn how to swim relaxed runners are notorious for poor body positon and over kicking Thanks for reading my long post and thanks for all the good advice: What I've learned so far: Breathe out fully underwater through nose and mouth Take a deep breath Work on a nice efficient kick Thanks guys! I will keep working at it. I want to set a good example for little girl!

RE: Beginner with Many Questions

Former Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:28:04 GMT

My understanding is TI is good for people who didn't learn to swim as kids and want to learn as adults. I have no coaching experience so don't take anything I say as gospel. I'd say the most important thing is your body position. I see some people learning and their hips are dragging, they are so far from horizontal it's like they're fighting a wall of water to move anywhere. Check that first. By the way what is your home town? I think I recognize your name and your age is about the same as a classmate's big brother.