Help needed please!!

here's a thread about a similar swimmer SWIM TEST you need to learn to swim with ease and get in swim shape my guess is you're swimming too hard and getting too tired to swim 2000, you need to swim at about 70% effort

Based on your description, it sounds like you hit the nail on the head regarding breathing issues. First, breathe every 2 or 3 strokes. There is no reason to breathe every 5. Most elite swimmers breathe 2 or 3. When you run, you always have access to air. So why limit yourself to every 5 when you are swimming? It just serves to tire you out. Also, you should be exhaling while your head is submerged and inhaling when your head is turned to the side. If you exhale in the same burst that you try to inhale, you won't have enough time to inhale, your rhythm will be off, and you will get tired more quickly.

Swimming conditioning is unlike any other form of conditioning. Like Apollo tells Rocky -- you'll be using muscles you never knew you had. I trained as a bodybuilder for a couple of years after an injury booted me from swimming. They are pretty much opposites (short, focused bursts vs. long, smooth, coordinated bursts). Also, even really good runners often struggle in the pool without a lot of swim training. Most important, I think, is to learn to fully relax. Look up 'streamline' and learn to do it. Take small steps. Once your body learns to relax and swim, you will make gains quickly. They do the combat controller test where I swim. The instructors try and get the candidates to swim slowly and use all of the time they have instead of going hard. They have to make time and then run afterwards. Most of the kids are not very good swimmers, but they all end up passing eventually. If they could glide off the walls, they'd have an easier time. As far as breathing, I would try and breathe every other stroke (each right side, for example). Slow your stroke down so that you are swimming to your natural breathing rhythm and not adapting breathing to an unnatural swimming rhythm. Once you get the rhythm, you can play with other combinations. Being in good shape already, I'd think you could easily train to make the distance by September. Good luck.

You need to find a coach. If you don't know where to start, check your local college, the swim coach there can point you in the direction of a good swimmer or coach who would be willing to give you private lessons. I have a friend who has so dramatically changed her stroke with a coach, it is unbelievable. In 6 weeks. And, she was not a poor swimmer to begin with, she completed the Iron Man in Hawaii in October - placed 3rd in her agegroup, I believe. So, go. Get a coach - someone who knows what you're doing & can give good constructive criticism. It's worth it.

slowly after taking a breath and not inhale more than necesarry? This. Exhaling should be a gradual process. You are also correct in the second thought...inhaling should not fill your lungs to max capacity, it should mimic breathing in other strenuous activities. Are you side-breathing?

Remember to kick. Kicking is very important to swimming, even distance swimming. It's doesn't need to be extremely hard kicking, but enough of a rythem to keep your body balanced in the water. Try kicking just with a kickboard alone for a while to work on the technique. Your kick should also come from your hips rather than the knees. There is some knee bend, but the entire action is more of a whip-like movement starting at the hips. Flexibility in your ankles helps a lot too.

May I ask where you're training? Being a big 'Air Force town', I've encountered a few folks prepping for their various tests in San Antonio. Seeing as how I am far from being the most skilled swimmer out there, I hesitate to offer much advice other than suggesting that you may want to look into a local swimming club. The help and guidance of a patient coach can do wonders. FWIW, I went from complete beginner to swimming a 10k in a little over a year (a slow 10k:blush: ). You have plenty of time and I'm sure you'll do fine. Best of luck!

I'm swimming in Miami in a 25m pool. It's empty during the mornings lol so I take advantage. And its kind of depressing cause I can run +6miles in 7-8min. and do an endless amount of calisthenics and weight lifting workouts but when it comes to swimming I go from a stud on land to a dud in the water. I think I have good technique in the water cause I have watched a few TI videos and have practiced techniques. The calmer and more relaxed I am as I swim the length the less strokes and faster I get across but even without working hard I fatigue and feel like I'm not getting the oxygen I need. I have to swim tomorrow for my workout program so I'll see if thats the case. I can ask a local highschool swim coach for help cause swim coaches charge alot per lesson and I don't work since I train all day long (literally) and study afterwards and school at night or do research on swimming and running techniques. But thanks for all these great answers. I rotate my body when taking my breathe. I believe I fatigue due to breathing incorrectly as I'm swim *** stroke and the military's Combat Side Stroke and both those are fairly easy but I lose oxygen quickly as well. And I kick without bending the knees, I glide easily through the water and yes my ankles are flexible as I run great distances and also swim with the military's rocket fins and those are very streneous on the ankles. Also I can't float...I have relaxed and tried every single thing, going on a full/empty stomaches, taking in oxygen, releasing oxygen, relaxing, tensing up. I sink, quickly. I need to tread water also doing the egg beater kick but it's really hard and it doesn't keep anything afloat even with hands. I know how to rotate each leg and its also like riding a bike backwards but it's extremely difficult. I can stay above water with flutter kicks but I need to learn the egg beater. Any tips on that? I'm a short guy 5'4 weighing 135-145lbs varying often and rock solid, literally. I hear having a certain percent of body fat allows people float and I'm sure I'm below that. Please help again lol. Thank you all by the way.

Floating is mostly learning to balance in the water. It's harder if you have very little body fat, but doable. I think you'd be surprised how much a coach could teach you about proper technique and relaxation.

Relaxing is definitely key. I'm still amazed at how much easier and stronger my stroke is (and how much more distance I cover expending the same amount of energy) when I can stay relaxed and keep my shoulders loose. I agree with the majority opinion that a good coach can work wonders, but, in the meantime, focus on relaxing and maximizing your distance per stroke - with even, regular breathing. Don't hold your breath, but exhale slowly while you're swimming. That way, when you turn to breathe, you can use the entire time to take IN air - and don't have to exhale first. Good luck, hang in there, and let us know how you're doing!