Although I swim a lot, I almost never swim continuously lap after lap. I always stop after 1 length, then do another one. Not that I can't continue, but I want to improve my form and technique before counting distance and speed (besides, I don't know how to do flip turns :( ). If bad forms are not corrected in early stages, swimming long distance will only make them bad habits, the longer, the worse, and harder to correct. On the other hand, this makes my swim too easy and relaxed, without any pressure. "Improving form and technique" can go on indefinitely! I wonder when I should start counting speed and distance?
So I would be interested to know, when you gradually became a better swimmer from a newbie, when did you start counting how long you have swum (continuously), and to look at the clock to count speed? :confused:
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Thank you all so much for your replies! Dave, actually the stroke count is the only thing that I have been working on--that's why I swim so slowly ;) I could do 20 spl for freestyle and 21 spl for backstroke (these are quite real since I don't kick very far from the wall at start). How are these for a newbie?
Lainey, I admire you for self-learning flip turns. I tried it only twice. The first time, I hit my head on the wall :frustrated: (just like this except it's the back of my head hitting!) ouch! The second time, I was upside-down underwater for too long and got my nose (and sinus?) filled full with water, very uncomfortable.
Sarah and others: I will follow your suggestions to start doing 50's. One problem with this is that my goggles rarely last more than one lap--it usually starts leaking at the end of the lap :(
Thank you all so much for your replies! Dave, actually the stroke count is the only thing that I have been working on--that's why I swim so slowly ;) I could do 20 spl for freestyle and 21 spl for backstroke (these are quite real since I don't kick very far from the wall at start). How are these for a newbie?
Lainey, I admire you for self-learning flip turns. I tried it only twice. The first time, I hit my head on the wall :frustrated: (just like this except it's the back of my head hitting!) ouch! The second time, I was upside-down underwater for too long and got my nose (and sinus?) filled full with water, very uncomfortable.
Sarah and others: I will follow your suggestions to start doing 50's. One problem with this is that my goggles rarely last more than one lap--it usually starts leaking at the end of the lap :(
