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
consistency and persistence is the key. everyone can become efficient in the pool, but it can take a long time. the good news is you can make big improvements in a relatively short period of time when you're new.
if you are only able to swim several laps in a row, then your technique in the water is the problem. its probably not about how you are moving your arms and legs. I would think about it more in terms of how you are laying on top of the water. float and pull yourself along real slow and comfortable and you can go forever. after you build a foundation your speed will develop.
float on top of the water without letting your legs sink. stretch your arms out in front of your head like superman. don't try to swim. instead just try floating nice and flat on top of the water. once you've got that down swim real slow. then start over.
grab a kick board and try to flutter kick a lap or two. the best swimmers are the best kickers. if the training and genetics are similar a better kicker will almost always beat a non kicker. it doesn't matter if you are into triathlons and won't need to kick as much if and when you race. if you want to be as good as you can be, then learn to kick. kicking is the closest thing to the magic touch that I know of.
finally, don't push it too much. keep it fun. start slow. swimming takes a long time. be patient and consistent.
good luck and let us know how its going.
consistency and persistence is the key. everyone can become efficient in the pool, but it can take a long time. the good news is you can make big improvements in a relatively short period of time when you're new.
if you are only able to swim several laps in a row, then your technique in the water is the problem. its probably not about how you are moving your arms and legs. I would think about it more in terms of how you are laying on top of the water. float and pull yourself along real slow and comfortable and you can go forever. after you build a foundation your speed will develop.
float on top of the water without letting your legs sink. stretch your arms out in front of your head like superman. don't try to swim. instead just try floating nice and flat on top of the water. once you've got that down swim real slow. then start over.
grab a kick board and try to flutter kick a lap or two. the best swimmers are the best kickers. if the training and genetics are similar a better kicker will almost always beat a non kicker. it doesn't matter if you are into triathlons and won't need to kick as much if and when you race. if you want to be as good as you can be, then learn to kick. kicking is the closest thing to the magic touch that I know of.
finally, don't push it too much. keep it fun. start slow. swimming takes a long time. be patient and consistent.
good luck and let us know how its going.
