Hi guys, I want to get started on long distance swimming but my water fitness is bad. I tried doing laps in pool but after 2 or 3 consecutive laps, I would 'died', gasping for air.
I've got a friend who's a swimming coach to comment on my strokes w/ and w/o a board and he said I swam faster and more efficiently w/ board. So to say, my kicking and balance is bad.
I'm starting to do kicking drills suggested by ande on the other thread. Some other drills I practice are TI drills and sculling.
I realise I have sinking hips and legs and my balance is quite bad. What are the factors causing this problem?
Any suggestions and drills to help me with this? Please enlighten me. Thank You!
and is it realistic to set a goal of able to swim 1.5k continuously in pool by the end of year 2009?
Former Member
Hey,
I just started swimming again and faced the same problem on my flutter kick. My legs just get real tired after a few laps and then I slow way down. And that is mostly because they are down in the water.
The best advice seems to be keeping your head and body aligned (usually by looking down) and rotate them together to take your breath. Keeping your legs just under the surface. Also the faster you go the more you plain, or straighten out!
I've gotten some improvement in just a week, especially in terms of endurance. My body positioning still needs reinforcement though. It just takes all the time in the water you can get...
As for 1500m by the end of 2009, that should be no problem. How fast you want to do it again correlates with how many days a week you get to the pool.
Good luck and watch for info from much more knowledgeable persons than myself!
I started swimming about a month ago (I'm 27 and in ok shape), so take my advice with a grain of salt.
The 1st time I swam, I only lasted about 15 minutes. I swam 2 laps, rested for 5 minutes, swam 2 laps, rested again then another lap and I was done.
I was swimming freestyle with my head out of the water so that didn't help but that was not the main problem. I had "swimmer's ear" I think, I was not exhausted but I was dizzy, it took me 3 work out to realize that I needed earplugs.
I got earplugs and tried to swim with my head in the water. I was breathing every 2 strokes (one leg on the right, one leg on the left). After I was comfortable doing that , I started breathing every 3 strokes. I took me 2 sessions to get used to it.
After 4 weeks of training (swimming 3 times a week), I could swim 50 laps (in a 25 yards pool) without a problem.
Try to build up. Try to swim 3 times 5 laps in your next session, then 4 times 5 laps in the session after that, then 1 time 5 laps + 2 times 10 laps, etc. That's what I did and it worked.
Good luck!
