Hello All,
Another bonehead beginner here with tons of dumb questions.
I'm a 34 year old runner who would like to complete a triathlon next year. The only swimming I've done in my life was done mainly as a kid in my neighbors backyard pool. The only exeption now being annual trips to the beach. To say the least, my technical knowledge is pretty nonexistent.
So, where do I start? Most of the drills and workouts I've come across assume that I'm already beyond the beginner level. I need technical guidance that is really basic and really specific. ie., hold your hand this way, do this with your legs, positon your arms here, and so on.
Can you guys give me any such advice or point me to websites or books that will give me this most basic information. I guess I need a "Swimming for Dummies" book.:D
Thanks,
TJ
Parents
Former Member
I have never had a lesson beyond the basic 5 year old class - you know the one - hold onto the edge of the pool and kick hard. I also have never had a coach.
My swimming probably reflects that too!:(
But I have been swimming seriously for almost two years. I read a lot on this web site and others. I have also read Emmit Hines' Fitness Swimming and Phillip Whitten's The Complete Book of Swimming . I try the things I read and I experiment some with things on my own. That is what makes swimming much more interesting to me than running. There is always something new to try.
My speed has increased steadily, as well as my endurance. I know that there are some things I do well and others that .... well I just plain stink at. But overall, I continue to improve. I seem to have moments where it all seems to "click" and something new that I have been working on kicks in.
Bottom line is that you can improve without a coach. (Although not as much as with a coach.) Read as much as you can, watch videos (there are a lot of clips that you can download on the net), and experiment with things in the water. And do drills.
Also, try using intervals. I really believe that it helped improve my swimming.
Good luck with the tri. I completed my first a month ago. Now I plan to train for doing several next summer. You will love the feeling once you are done.
I have never had a lesson beyond the basic 5 year old class - you know the one - hold onto the edge of the pool and kick hard. I also have never had a coach.
My swimming probably reflects that too!:(
But I have been swimming seriously for almost two years. I read a lot on this web site and others. I have also read Emmit Hines' Fitness Swimming and Phillip Whitten's The Complete Book of Swimming . I try the things I read and I experiment some with things on my own. That is what makes swimming much more interesting to me than running. There is always something new to try.
My speed has increased steadily, as well as my endurance. I know that there are some things I do well and others that .... well I just plain stink at. But overall, I continue to improve. I seem to have moments where it all seems to "click" and something new that I have been working on kicks in.
Bottom line is that you can improve without a coach. (Although not as much as with a coach.) Read as much as you can, watch videos (there are a lot of clips that you can download on the net), and experiment with things in the water. And do drills.
Also, try using intervals. I really believe that it helped improve my swimming.
Good luck with the tri. I completed my first a month ago. Now I plan to train for doing several next summer. You will love the feeling once you are done.
