I am a new swimmer and have only been doing it for a few months. My 5K run is about 8 min/mile pace and my bike for 20 miles is around 19/20mph. I include that info. because I believe I am in decent shape unless I am swimming. When I swim, my heartbeat hits 120 just after 25 yards. Swimming 125 yards is about all I can do and I feel like I am going to die at that point. I can't seem to get beyond that extremely low plateau. My resting is about 50. I have been meeting with an instructor and she says my form looks good, but I need a few tweeks here and there to continue to improve, so I know my form is by no means great, but I believe it is not bad. I am starting to get very frustrated. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Jeff
Parents
Former Member
If you are serious about improving your swimming:
- first, get some private coaching so that you can get your basic technique down. You may be able to do so in as little as a half dozen 30 minute lessons.
- then, find a group to train with (masters, triathlon, etc). At first, even after your lessons, you may only last 20 or 30 mins. But if your technique is OK you will experience very rapid adaptation, and within a few months should be able to swim for an hour at a reasonable pace.
- then, you can start to think about "specificity" - are you training for triathlons, for sprinting, etc.
Main thing: first technique, then group training.
If you are serious about improving your swimming:
- first, get some private coaching so that you can get your basic technique down. You may be able to do so in as little as a half dozen 30 minute lessons.
- then, find a group to train with (masters, triathlon, etc). At first, even after your lessons, you may only last 20 or 30 mins. But if your technique is OK you will experience very rapid adaptation, and within a few months should be able to swim for an hour at a reasonable pace.
- then, you can start to think about "specificity" - are you training for triathlons, for sprinting, etc.
Main thing: first technique, then group training.
