Hi, I'd like to be able to swim. Right now I can freestyle 4 lengths of a 25 yard pool before I'm completely exhausted. I'm not fast either. Clearly I'm doing it wrong.
1. First of all, I breathe on only one side. I've tried the rotary breathing but not only does breathing on the other side feel awkward, I run out of air quickly and feel I'm drowning.
2. When I run out of air my body becomes all stiff and my legs sag. No matter how hard I try calming myself I can't get over the drowning sensation.
3. My legs do very little to propel me forward. I've used a board and a pull float and found that it takes almost twice as long for me to swim a lap with just my legs as compared to just my arms. Both are pretty slow.
4. I feel I have buoyancy issues. I cannot dead-float in a pool but I can do it in the ocean.
5. Last but not the least, I have allergy related asthma. I have a fleeting suspicion that chlorine triggers it.
Please help me swim. Thanks in advance for your help.
Parents
Former Member
Just my 2 cents- I wouldn't worry about alternate breathing if you're not doing more than 100yds. You can always work that in later.
I'd concentrate on getting more efficient- maybe do some more kicking with the board since it sounds like your legs are sagging- if you get yourself a better kick (something I'm working on as well), your legs will help propel rather than weigh you down- this will make a 100% difference. Turn the liability into an advantage. Don't worry about how fast you kick, just worry about how long you are kicking for- kicking endurance sounds like the low-hanging fruit and you'll be able to do it longer than you can swim right now. Good luck!
Thanks I'll do that. It's just frustrating to paddle and not go anywhere. I bought a pair of zoomers of this kind. I do so well wearing those that I feel they'll become a crutch. I think I'm not bending my ankles enough.
Just my 2 cents- I wouldn't worry about alternate breathing if you're not doing more than 100yds. You can always work that in later.
I'd concentrate on getting more efficient- maybe do some more kicking with the board since it sounds like your legs are sagging- if you get yourself a better kick (something I'm working on as well), your legs will help propel rather than weigh you down- this will make a 100% difference. Turn the liability into an advantage. Don't worry about how fast you kick, just worry about how long you are kicking for- kicking endurance sounds like the low-hanging fruit and you'll be able to do it longer than you can swim right now. Good luck!
Thanks I'll do that. It's just frustrating to paddle and not go anywhere. I bought a pair of zoomers of this kind. I do so well wearing those that I feel they'll become a crutch. I think I'm not bending my ankles enough.
