Hi,
I am a very new adult swimmer, having started learning freestyle in April. I can swim breaststroke well enough to not stop for about 250 yards. But Freestyle really kicks my butt, and after 3 months of practicing everyday, I still cannot do 50 yards non-stop. I can start out breathing every 4 strokes, but halfway through the first 25 yards, I am out of breath and breathing every other stroke. By the time I get through the first 25 yards, I'm practically hyperventilating, and need a good minute to catch my breath. I have asthma, but it's only the freestyle that kills me. Does my body weight have a lot to do with this? (I'm overweight and I'm trying to lose it, and have been swimming 7 days a week, and weight-training 3 days a week) The coaches/instructors I've worked with all say that I have good form in the water for someone who has only just learned the stroke (of course there are things I need to improve on), and that I will improve over time. But it is SO frustrating to not be able to see progress in this area.
Any advice besides being patient and keep swimming??? I would so appreciate it!
Thanks,
Tina
Parents
Former Member
I was in the same boat as you about 5 or 6 months ago, although I'm 20. I just started swimming to get some cross training for running.
I could barely even swim a 25 even though I'm in good shape. Slowing down should help you a lot. When I first started I didn't know how to pace myself while swimming so I just gave it all I had and got tired very fast.
Another thing that might help your breathing is to check to see if your rolling on your side or simply just turning your neck. I turned my neck most of the time to breathe, which is a lapse in the correct form of course. I think the main problem with being new to swimming is because its not like everything else. You have to plan when to breathe and to me that was a foreign concept. Also, as others have said try breathing every other stroke or even pick up bilateral breathing (every 3). I do a pattern of 3, 2, 3, 2, etc... when I do longer distances which seems to help for some reason.
Since then I can now do 75m non-stop free which I am proud of. Although, my open turns could use some major work.
I was in the same boat as you about 5 or 6 months ago, although I'm 20. I just started swimming to get some cross training for running.
I could barely even swim a 25 even though I'm in good shape. Slowing down should help you a lot. When I first started I didn't know how to pace myself while swimming so I just gave it all I had and got tired very fast.
Another thing that might help your breathing is to check to see if your rolling on your side or simply just turning your neck. I turned my neck most of the time to breathe, which is a lapse in the correct form of course. I think the main problem with being new to swimming is because its not like everything else. You have to plan when to breathe and to me that was a foreign concept. Also, as others have said try breathing every other stroke or even pick up bilateral breathing (every 3). I do a pattern of 3, 2, 3, 2, etc... when I do longer distances which seems to help for some reason.
Since then I can now do 75m non-stop free which I am proud of. Although, my open turns could use some major work.
