Hi Everyone, I just registered today in hopes of getting some good information from experienced swimmers.
Me: I'm 39 years old, 6' 5", 225 pounds. I'm in good shape, I've played sports and been active my whole life. I'm a good runner (again) and a good cyclist. Because of my lack of swimming, I've only done team competitions or duathlons. I'm currently training for my first real triathlon (sprint distance .25 mi swim in San Pablo Bay, wetsuits allowed).
My Swimming: ...Is horrible. I took lessons when I was 8 and nothing since then. I've never been afraid of the water and I've always enjoyed playing in the water, surfing, snorkeling, etc. I took a few lessons last summer and finally learned to swim with my face in the water and rotate to breathe. Still, I cannot swim farther than 25 meters without stopping to catch my breath even if just for 15-20 seconds. I can easily do this for 20+ plus lengths. Unfortunately, there are no walls in triathlon and the water depth is usually greater than 3 feet! I've always envied good swimmers and though I've always been a good athlete, it is the one thing that has eluded me. I started taking lessons again with a different coach (this past Saturday).
Needless to say, I have a lot of questions and I'm hoping that you guys can help me out here. The more I try to study the skill of swimming, the more confused I get. Maybe I'm reading and thinking about it TOO much? I appreciate any feedback or advice.
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?
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)?
Breathing: Here's a good one.:wiggle: TI doesn't focus on breathing a lot in any of the materials that I've read or seen. 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. As it stands now, I need to catch my breath after every 25 meters so I'm not doing something right. Am I breathing too much or not enough? Am I hyperventilating?
I'm starting to get frustrated and have doubts but I'm trying to keep a positive attitude but that little voice in my head keeps telling me "Other people are swimmers but YOU are NOT". I'm not ready to give up yet though. I dreamed of doing triathlons in the mid 80s and never did. I would like to accomplish this before my 40th birthday!
Sorry the length of the post, any help is greatly appreciated!!!!!!!
currently training for your first real triathlon
(sprint distance .25 mi swim in San Pablo Bay,
wetsuits allowed
WEAR ONE THEY FLOAT AND SERIOUSLY HELP WEAK SWIMMERS
My Swimming
IMPROVE YOUR TECHNIQUE
efficiency is the key
video tape your swimming and put it on youtube
INVITED SWIMMERS TO WATCH AND COMMENT
Head Position:
should be neutral but with triathlons you need to lift up and look ahead now and then to make sure you're on course
Kick:
How do I develop a strong kick
BY KICKING
Do I need one?
IT HELPS TO HAVE AN EFFICIENT KICK
When kicking, should the feet stay close together (i.e., pigeon toed)?
FAIRLY CLOSE
Breathing:
My new coach says breathe out through nose and in through mouth.
BREATHE OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH, IT'S BIGGER HOLE
BREATHE EVERY STROKE
GET ONE SWIMMER WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND HAVE THEM GIVE YOU SWIMMING TIPS
TOO MANY COOKS
YOU NEED SIMPLE COMMANDS
PLUS YOU PROBABLY HAVE MANY THINGS THAT NEED FIXED
FIRST FIX THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FASTER
READ SWIM FASTER FASTER
www.usms.org/.../showthread.php
Breathing: Here's a good one.:wiggle: TI doesn't focus on breathing a lot in any of the materials that I've read or seen. 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. As it stands now, I need to catch my breath after every 25 meters so I'm not doing something right. Am I breathing too much or not enough? Am I hyperventilating?
Hi (and welcome).
I'm almost sure that you're doing the same mistake a lot of new swimmers make. You're probably NOT exhaling while your face is under water and then INhaling when you turn. You're probably holding your breath while submerged then when you turn to breathe, you exhale and then (try to) inhale and there's really not enough time to do both.
Try exhaling as much as you can when your face is under and then, when you turn, just the fact of opening your mouth will let the air into your lungs.
I discovered that small difference in breathing one day, some 45 years ago. I went from not being able to complete a 100m to swimming the 100, 200, 400 and 1500.
I will try to focus on only inhaling when my face clears and see if that makes a difference. I think I'm doing that but I might be exhaling a little bit as well.
Thanks for the advice!
Jeff
The need to exhale as much air as possible out while your face is in the water comes from the fact that you need to take as much air in as possible where your face is out of the water. You get a "fresh" breath when you are about to breath.
As for when to breathe, breathing every 3 strokes is said to keep your stroke balanced. I've been fighting illness lately, so I've been breathing randomly as needed, but usually every 2 or 3 strokes. Do what works for you while you are learning. I don't think breathing every 2 strokes is a tremendous detriment as long as your stroke technique doesn't suffer from this.
This forum group loves to discuss the merits of a strong kick, so you'll get varying opinions on its importance, but it really helps promote the rest of the stroke. I usually put at least 200 yards of kicking into my workouts, but more than 400 focusing on just pulling. Let's hear what everyone has to say on this.
Good luck, and keep going...You'll be amazed what your body can do in several months.
Thanks Marlen. The breathing while swimming thing is confusing to me because it seems contrary to the way I breathe while on land. I need to remember though that I have to make my breathing fit the pattern of a longer exhale followed by a quick inhale. I'll keep working on it!
"Breathe out through your mouth, it is a bigger hole." - Yes indeed it is. I will go back and try to do more of this.
Oh, and Yes I plan on wearing a wetsuit, I purchased one a few weeks ago.
Thanks for the advice!
Don't breathe out your mouth too hard and syphon water up your nose. I still like to exhale out of the nose and a little out the mouth.
But for sure only breathe in through the mouth.
Most problems that occur while swimming is from not exhalling enough air and just breathing in.
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!
I do not ever suggest expelling all of your air. I try to get everyone to breathe in and out as if they were jogging. All the marathon swimmers I knew tried to keep a little air in reserve.
Some make it sound like you have to drain every bit of air out, not so.
Thanks for clarifying that George, I've heard different opinions on that. What you said seems to make sense for me as I never fully exhale while on land. What I'm looking for is a good exchange of air and not a 100 percent replacement right????
