I want to take up swimming for fitness (1 Viewer)

[moleculo]

My new neighborhood has a pool that I can access between sunrise and sunset. For a different workout, I hit the pool at 6:30AM today to swim some laps...holy crap, that's not easy. I like to think I'm in good shape and I like to think I know how to swim, but I couldn't make it down and back without stopping to catch my breath.

Apparently I'm not a great swimmer. I mean, I'm ok, I'm good enough that I'm not a complete idiot in a pool, lake, or ocean. I have been certified to SCUBA dive, but that swim test isn't all that hard. My troubles were breathing related. I seemed to have a hard time getting enough air in such that I was almost completely out of breath after a short distance.

Anyone got any good pointers? any good resources out there on the web to teach me how to properly swim, or do I need to take *gasp* swim lessons at the age of 40?

 

[Cjw_55106]

Im sure you can swim fine. Its probably a cardio issue and the best thing you can do is to keep at it.

 

[Jnox]

You should buy some of those arm floaty things. Those things will help you swim better and the ladies will love looking at you while you swim.

 

[moleculo]

Im sure you can swim fine. Its probably a cardio issue and the best thing you can do is to keep at it.

maybe. I think my cardio is ok; my morning runs are almost 4 miles at about a 9 minute mile. That's pretty good, I think.

 

[Harris]

Swimming is all about technique more than fitness, like 70/30 split. Check out this eBook for some tips/drills...

http://www.endurancenation.us/download-the-swim-clinic-ebook/

 

[matuski]

Im sure you can swim fine. Its probably a cardio issue and the best thing you can do is to keep at it.

maybe. I think my cardio is ok; my morning runs are almost 4 miles at about a 9 minute mile. That's pretty good, I think.

On my annual "I'm a swimmer" kick I go through this every time.

It is just a different exercise using muscles you dont normally use... you will gain quickly.

 

[Cjw_55106]

From the internets:

According to Jim Montgomery and Mo Chambers, authors of Mastering Swimming, a swimmer who learns to breathe naturally will achieve a longer, more relaxed stroke. In their book they offer tips on mastering the art of inhaling and exhaling comfortably while swimming.

1. Relax. Relaxation of the muscles in the face, jaw, mouth, and neck is perhaps the most critical skill for proper breathing while swimming. Imagine how your facial muscles feel when you run or ride a bicycle. Your breathing should feel the same during swimming as during other aerobic activities. Swimmers who tense their faces in the water are most likely holding their breath underwater, which forces them to both exhale and inhale when they are above water. This inefficient air exchange creates anxiety and inevitably leads to exhaustion.
2. Exhale. As your face enters the water, your mouth should be slightly open with a trickle of air going out between your lips. Some swimmers exhale through the mouth and nose, while others exhale gently through the mouth only. Many swimmers find a nose plug allows them to breathe more comfortably. Select the method that is most comfortable for you.
   It is important to blow your air out slowly. Exhaling too quickly will cause you to gasp in your next inhalation, which may make you hyperventilate. By exhaling slowly, you can develop an awareness of any facial tension, especially around your mouth, lips, and teeth. As your face begins to leave the water, increase your rate of exhalation, and expel the remaining air with a forceful puff. Many swimmers use both the nose and mouth for this crescendo in exhalation as they turn their heads to breathe.
3. Inhale. Inhaling is a natural reflex-it is quick but not forced. If you exhale adequately, air will flow in on its own. Again, most swimmers breathe in through their mouths.
4. Make your exhalation long. Your exhalation should be twice as long as your inhalation. A longer exhalation leads to a more relaxed exchange of air.
5. Don’t panic if you breathe in water. If you gulp in water, shape your tongue as if you’re pronouncing the letter K. This tongue position keeps the water from going down your throat. Even the greatest swimmers breathe in water from time to time.

 

[Dentist]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

 

[tommyboy]

swam for years, competitively. swimming is like golf in that its more about efficiency than power.

you might try putting one of these on http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?subscribe=Y&ProductCode=13410&gclid=CLnKs5C3zsYCFUlqfgodhOEIkA

that will allow you to work on your stroke technique and breathing technique rather than trying to plow your way down the pool with your kicks. It will also put you on on plane on top of the water.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

My new neighborhood has a pool that I can access between sunrise and sunset. For a different workout, I hit the pool at 6:30AM today to swim some laps...holy crap, that's not easy. I like to think I'm in good shape and I like to think I know how to swim, but I couldn't make it down and back without stopping to catch my breath.

Apparently I'm not a great swimmer. I mean, I'm ok, I'm good enough that I'm not a complete idiot in a pool, lake, or ocean. I have been certified to SCUBA dive, but that swim test isn't all that hard. My troubles were breathing related. I seemed to have a hard time getting enough air in such that I was almost completely out of breath after a short distance.

Anyone got any good pointers? any good resources out there on the web to teach me how to properly swim, or do I need to take *gasp* swim lessons at the age of 40?

I could help you if I was standing poolside, but tough to do over a message board.

My best guess is that you're swimming too hard if you're in shape but getting out of breath that quickly. You probably have a ton of wasted motion/energy. I'm in abominable shape but I can still get in my pool at home and swim a half mile at a pretty robust pace and not be sucking air afterwards. But back in my competitive days, before I started swimming year-round, my arms would absolutely die after the first 100 yards of a new summer's practice. It takes a little time to learn how to pace yourself. The first time I ever swam 100 fly in competition, I literally almost drowned because I was used to swimming 50s and led out with a similar pace. By the 75 meter mark, I could barely get my arms back over my head. Came in dead last. Next meet, I won the same event. Simply a matter of muscle memory and learning how to pace oneself.

You may be experiencing something similar. You have to do it a few times to learn your rhythm and pace.

 

[moleculo]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

I was snorkeling at a private island in the Bahamas a few years ago near a rocky outcropping and the current just escalated from out of nowhere. Started sucking a handful of snorkelers out to sea. I had to drag four people in to shore. If I hadn't been there, they might not have lived.

Last year on a cruise ship, I saved an old Chinese man from drowning in about 8 feet of water off St. Thomas.

It's definitely a worthwhile skill set to have.

P.S. I was a YMCA lifeguard for 5 years and never made one rescue. I guess ocean/gulf>pool when it comes to drowning risk.

 

[moleculo]

Swimming is all about technique more than fitness, like 70/30 split. Check out this eBook for some tips/drills...

http://www.endurancenation.us/download-the-swim-clinic-ebook/

thanks, going thru this. Seems to be a lot here.

 

[moleculo]

swam for years, competitively. swimming is like golf in that its more about efficiency than power.

you might try putting one of these on http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?subscribe=Y&ProductCode=13410&gclid=CLnKs5C3zsYCFUlqfgodhOEIkA

that will allow you to work on your stroke technique and breathing technique rather than trying to plow your way down the pool with your kicks. It will also put you on on plane on top of the water.

interesting. Could I just cut a section of a swim noodle and use that for the same effect?

 

[Guest]

Im sure you can swim fine. Its probably a cardio issue and the best thing you can do is to keep at it.

maybe. I think my cardio is ok; my morning runs are almost 4 miles at about a 9 minute mile. That's pretty good, I think.

On my annual "I'm a swimmer" kick I go through this every time.

It is just a different exercise using muscles you dont normally use... you will gain quickly.

I'm a very good swimmer but had never done it for a workout. i took a "healthy lifestyles" class in college where we had to track heart rate and body fat over a period of time. I chose swimming as my exercise. It kicked my ### for the first couple of weeks, but I was surprised how quickly it got better.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I can swim just fine if we're messing around in a lake or something. But several years ago I injured my achilles while running, and I tried lap-swimming as an alternative while I was rehabbing. It's definitely mostly skill/technique, not conditioning. I'm a marathoner, so cardio fitness is a non-issue, and I can swim a mile or so no problem, but I was constantly getting passed by old people, fat people, pregnant women, etc. My vigorous thrashing-about was never any match for somebody who actually knew what they were doing in the water.

 

[moleculo]

It occurs to me that I actually don't know how to properly swim, and as a grown man, that's pretty embarrassing (but fixable).

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

It occurs to me that I actually don't know how to properly swim, and as a grown man, that's pretty embarrassing (but fixable).

Don't be embarassed. I was on summer swim team for several years as a kid and even did a year-around team one year (worst experience ever). I wasn't very good, but I could get through the practices, etc..

And I am still not a very efficient swimmer.

 

[Quint]

swam for years, competitively. swimming is like golf in that its more about efficiency than power.

you might try putting one of these on http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?subscribe=Y&ProductCode=13410&gclid=CLnKs5C3zsYCFUlqfgodhOEIkA

that will allow you to work on your stroke technique and breathing technique rather than trying to plow your way down the pool with your kicks. It will also put you on on plane on top of the water.

interesting. Could I just cut a section of a swim noodle and use that for the same effect?

agree 100% with tommyboy.

i use a pull buoy for about 50% of my swimming workouts, usually alternating 100s on a longer interval. lets me focus on keeping the stroke long and languid, while letting my shoulders rotate around my head.

stroke efficiency is key for good swimming.

 

[matuski]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

I was snorkeling at a private island in the Bahamas a few years ago near a rocky outcropping and the current just escalated from out of nowhere. Started sucking a handful of snorkelers out to sea. I had to drag four people in to shore. If I hadn't been there, they might not have lived.

Last year on a cruise ship, I saved an old Chinese man from drowning in about 8 feet of water off St. Thomas.

It's definitely a worthwhile skill set to have.

P.S. I was a YMCA lifeguard for 5 years and never made one rescue. I guess ocean/gulf>pool when it comes to drowning risk.

Had to grab a couple idiots (they were a couple and they were idiots) from a rip current on Sunset Beach as a 13 year old. They were brilliantly trying to swim against it. Husband and wife tandem were screwed if I hadn't been watching them.. at first I thought it was going to be a funny example of haole shark bait getting a scare. I almost wasted too much time laughing at them before I realized they were actually going out.

Cancun last year I swear this lady was going to drown in 5 feet of water because she couldn't figure out that she could touch bottom. A tad embarrassed when I got to her and told her to stand up.

 

[El Floppo]

swam for years, competitively. swimming is like golf in that its more about efficiency than power.

you might try putting one of these on http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?subscribe=Y&ProductCode=13410&gclid=CLnKs5C3zsYCFUlqfgodhOEIkA

that will allow you to work on your stroke technique and breathing technique rather than trying to plow your way down the pool with your kicks. It will also put you on on plane on top of the water.

re: floats

I did triathlons years ago after being a good runner/ok-biker. never swam laps before that- even though I was comfortable in the water... even after 3years of tris, some of them with coaches, I still sucked at swimming (even though I could swim far). I am not set up to be long and lean in the water- bottom-heavy and with inflexible shoulders. those pool floats defintely help your legs/hips get up to the to pof the water so you can do what tommy is describing above; that's pretty much how I did all my training.

 

[Dickies]

Definitely lots of technique in swimming. Good news is that even if yours is terrible you can still learn. Look to see if you have a Masters Swimming program in your area. I believe they do instructional courses to help adults looking to pickup swimming as a fitness activity.

 

[moleculo]

Definitely lots of technique in swimming. Good news is that even if yours is terrible you can still learn. Look to see if you have a Masters Swimming program in your area. I believe they do instructional courses to help adults looking to pickup swimming as a fitness activity.

there actually is a masters swimming program about 1 mile from my office. I may look into this.

 

[AAABatteries]

There's a few swimmers in the 10k thread if you dare to stick your toe in the water. (I'll see myself out)

I'm one of them but I'm not in great shape and I'm a fairly slow swimmer. As others have pointed out, swimming is about technique - both your stroke and your breathing. If you are in good cardio shape you shouldn't have a problem being in good swimming shape. The first thing you need to remember is your are almost definitely not going to drown - relax your body and trust yourself. Next, decide if you are going to breathe every other stroke or every three. Three is ideal (IMO) as it evens out your stroke but a lot of folks (including me) only breather every 2 strokes (right or left). Concentrate on keeping your head in the water and looking straight down at the bottom. Don't look ahead, look down. Don't lift your head when you breathe, Rotate your body to breathe. Make sure you kick. Your power comes from your hips when you rotate.

Most of the above I gleaned from others - I'm not an expert and I don't necessarily do those things great. Swimming is easily my favorite cardio workout. Have fun!

 

[Dickies]

Definitely lots of technique in swimming. Good news is that even if yours is terrible you can still learn. Look to see if you have a Masters Swimming program in your area. I believe they do instructional courses to help adults looking to pickup swimming as a fitness activity.

there actually is a masters swimming program about 1 mile from my office. I may look into this.

It helped me a lot in college. I wasn't good enough to be a collegiate swimmer, but I thought I would go to the pool and swim laps. I was wrong. The thing that always kept me going was shaving tenths of a second off my times, and without the competition I hated swimming hours of laps. I have since given up on it, but it allowed me to have structured practices with others at my skill level, and also swim in competitions occasionally if I had the time.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

I was snorkeling at a private island in the Bahamas a few years ago near a rocky outcropping and the current just escalated from out of nowhere. Started sucking a handful of snorkelers out to sea. I had to drag four people in to shore. If I hadn't been there, they might not have lived.

Last year on a cruise ship, I saved an old Chinese man from drowning in about 8 feet of water off St. Thomas.

It's definitely a worthwhile skill set to have.

P.S. I was a YMCA lifeguard for 5 years and never made one rescue. I guess ocean/gulf>pool when it comes to drowning risk.

Had to grab a couple idiots (they were a couple and they were idiots) from a rip current on Sunset Beach as a 13 year old. They were brilliantly trying to swim against it. Husband and wife tandem were screwed if I hadn't been watching them.. at first I thought it was going to be a funny example of haole shark bait getting a scare. I almost wasted too much time laughing at them before I realized they were actually going out.

Cancun last year I swear this lady was going to drown in 5 feet of water because she couldn't figure out that she could touch bottom. A tad embarrassed when I got to her and told her to stand up.

Yeah, in those types of situations, it's amazing how quickly panic sets in. My bet is that the panic kills more people in the water than the situations that caused it in the first place. I guess that's why waterboarding is so horrific.

 

[VA703]

From the internets:

According to Jim Montgomery and Mo Chambers, authors of Mastering Swimming, a swimmer who learns to breathe naturally will achieve a longer, more relaxed stroke. In their book they offer tips on mastering the art of inhaling and exhaling comfortably while swimming.

1. Relax. Relaxation of the muscles in the face, jaw, mouth, and neck is perhaps the most critical skill for proper breathing while swimming. Imagine how your facial muscles feel when you run or ride a bicycle. Your breathing should feel the same during swimming as during other aerobic activities. Swimmers who tense their faces in the water are most likely holding their breath underwater, which forces them to both exhale and inhale when they are above water. This inefficient air exchange creates anxiety and inevitably leads to exhaustion.
2. Exhale. As your face enters the water, your mouth should be slightly open with a trickle of air going out between your lips. Some swimmers exhale through the mouth and nose, while others exhale gently through the mouth only. Many swimmers find a nose plug allows them to breathe more comfortably. Select the method that is most comfortable for you.It is important to blow your air out slowly. Exhaling too quickly will cause you to gasp in your next inhalation, which may make you hyperventilate. By exhaling slowly, you can develop an awareness of any facial tension, especially around your mouth, lips, and teeth. As your face begins to leave the water, increase your rate of exhalation, and expel the remaining air with a forceful puff. Many swimmers use both the nose and mouth for this crescendo in exhalation as they turn their heads to breathe.
   
3. Inhale. Inhaling is a natural reflex-it is quick but not forced. If you exhale adequately, air will flow in on its own. Again, most swimmers breathe in through their mouths.
4. Make your exhalation long. Your exhalation should be twice as long as your inhalation. A longer exhalation leads to a more relaxed exchange of air.
5. Don’t panic if you breathe in water. If you gulp in water, shape your tongue as if you’re pronouncing the letter K. This tongue position keeps the water from going down your throat. Even the greatest swimmers breathe in water from time to time.

great tips

I feel like I can swim laps after reading that

 

[Evilgrin 72]

There's a few swimmers in the 10k thread if you dare to stick your toe in the water. (I'll see myself out)

I'm one of them but I'm not in great shape and I'm a fairly slow swimmer. As others have pointed out, swimming is about technique - both your stroke and your breathing. If you are in good cardio shape you shouldn't have a problem being in good swimming shape. The first thing you need to remember is your are almost definitely not going to drown - relax your body and trust yourself. Next, decide if you are going to breathe every other stroke or every three. Three is ideal (IMO) as it evens out your stroke but a lot of folks (including me) only breather every 2 strokes (right or left). Concentrate on keeping your head in the water and looking straight down at the bottom. Don't look ahead, look down. Don't lift your head when you breathe, Rotate your body to breathe. Make sure you kick. Your power comes from your hips when you rotate.

Most of the above I gleaned from others - I'm not an expert and I don't necessarily do those things great. Swimming is easily my favorite cardio workout. Have fun!

Learning how to breathe properly is probably the single most important aspect to proper stroke. I'm amazed at how many people I see gyrating their entire bodies to get their heads "far enough" out of the water to breathe. It completely obliterates your technique/efficiency when you do that. Once you get comfortable with proper breathing form, it's often amazing how fast the rest of your stroke falls into line.

 

[Dickies]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

I was snorkeling at a private island in the Bahamas a few years ago near a rocky outcropping and the current just escalated from out of nowhere. Started sucking a handful of snorkelers out to sea. I had to drag four people in to shore. If I hadn't been there, they might not have lived.

Last year on a cruise ship, I saved an old Chinese man from drowning in about 8 feet of water off St. Thomas.

It's definitely a worthwhile skill set to have.

P.S. I was a YMCA lifeguard for 5 years and never made one rescue. I guess ocean/gulf>pool when it comes to drowning risk.

Had to grab a couple idiots (they were a couple and they were idiots) from a rip current on Sunset Beach as a 13 year old. They were brilliantly trying to swim against it. Husband and wife tandem were screwed if I hadn't been watching them.. at first I thought it was going to be a funny example of haole shark bait getting a scare. I almost wasted too much time laughing at them before I realized they were actually going out.

Cancun last year I swear this lady was going to drown in 5 feet of water because she couldn't figure out that she could touch bottom. A tad embarrassed when I got to her and told her to stand up.

Yeah, in those types of situations, it's amazing how quickly panic sets in. My bet is that the panic kills more people in the water than the situations that caused it in the first place. I guess that's why waterboarding is so horrific.

Yea, one of my two rescues as a lifeguard was a toddler on the stairs at the pool that could have stood up. Mom was right next to him not paying any attention. It was only two feet of water, but for some reason the toddler was spazzing out and not thinking to just put both feet down.

 

[Freelove]

Swimming is one of those things where, unless you've been professionally taught to do it properly, there's like a 999/1000 chance you're doing it wrong and very inefficiently.

Here's notorious blowhard and jack of all trades Tim Ferriss TED talking about the very subject, and how he learned to swim as an adult after incorrectly believing he knew how to swim his whole life.

It's not the best tutorial in the world, but it's a good start, and an EXCELLENT primer on what you're probably doing wrong, and what you need to look up to get it right. 15 minutes well spent for the untrained swimmer.

Showed my nephew the same link a couple years ago when he started triathaloning, and it ramped up his learning curve considerably.

 

[Quint]

There's a few swimmers in the 10k thread if you dare to stick your toe in the water. (I'll see myself out)

I'm one of them but I'm not in great shape and I'm a fairly slow swimmer. As others have pointed out, swimming is about technique - both your stroke and your breathing. If you are in good cardio shape you shouldn't have a problem being in good swimming shape. The first thing you need to remember is your are almost definitely not going to drown - relax your body and trust yourself. Next, decide if you are going to breathe every other stroke or every three. Three is ideal (IMO) as it evens out your stroke but a lot of folks (including me) only breather every 2 strokes (right or left). Concentrate on keeping your head in the water and looking straight down at the bottom. Don't look ahead, look down. Don't lift your head when you breathe, Rotate your body to breathe. Make sure you kick. Your power comes from your hips when you rotate.

Most of the above I gleaned from others - I'm not an expert and I don't necessarily do those things great. Swimming is easily my favorite cardio workout. Have fun!

just a couple of tips:

- head position: ideally, you want the water line to about mid-forehead when swimming freestyle, not on the crown of your head. keeping your "head down" doesn't allow for great arm extension, and makes it harder to breathe...

- breathing: you really want to just rotate your head to breathe, not the entire body. by rotating the head only, it allows you to keep your body on plane and maintain stroke pace. (maybe a better way to say it is: when you turn to breathe, just make sure you chin is touching the top of the shoulder).

but like anything else (e.g. golf swings) there isn't just one perfect swimming stroke. apologies if this comes of as pedantic.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I'm your huckleberry, muleculo. Many years and pounds ago I was a pretty good competitive swimmer, and I coached a bunch as well It's somewhat hard to do over the internets but here's some universal stuff for people who know how to swim but have never really done it as exercise and want to get good enough to do that.

The most common problem I see with people when they first start swimming as a workout is that they put way too much thought and effort into breathing. If you're running 4 miles a pop you shouldn't really be getting winded when you swim at a relaxed pace for a couple minutes. Focus on slowly exhaling when you're face-down, then turn year head to inhale through the top half of your mouth after 2-4 strokes, and then start a new slow exhale when you turn your head back down. And when I say turn your head, I mean turn your head and that's it. Do not lift it up out of the water with the muscles in the back of your neck. It's a purely sideways turn, chin towards shoulder and back, like you're sneaking a quick peek at a girl on the deck and want to play it cool. If you lift your head up and out of the water with your neck muscles you'll pull yourself out of position so that you're not parallel to the bottom, and that will make things WAY harder for you. Picture a boat gliding across the water- if something yanked up the bow, the boat would end up at an angle and it would immediately slow down considerably. You want to keep the "bow" down and level with the "stern" even when breathing.

Two other less complicated tricks/visualizations:

(1) If you're trying to employ a kick with your crawl, you're probably doing it from your knees. Don't do that. It might feel like it's helping, but it actually looks spastic and takes you out of that parallel body position I mentioned above. Just relax your legs and make it feel like you're just flicking your feet with your ankles. That's what a good smooth kick should feel like.

(2) Don't think of your hands as propelling your body forward like a rowboat or a mill. Instead, visualize the surface of the water as if it's a rock you're climbing. You insert your hand above your head as if there was a crack in the rock there, and then pull your body past that point while your hand stays stationary. This will help you improve your technique/efficiency without having to think about exactly what you should be doing with your hand and elbow and shoulder.

 

[tommyboy]

There's a few swimmers in the 10k thread if you dare to stick your toe in the water. (I'll see myself out)

I'm one of them but I'm not in great shape and I'm a fairly slow swimmer. As others have pointed out, swimming is about technique - both your stroke and your breathing. If you are in good cardio shape you shouldn't have a problem being in good swimming shape. The first thing you need to remember is your are almost definitely not going to drown - relax your body and trust yourself. Next, decide if you are going to breathe every other stroke or every three. Three is ideal (IMO) as it evens out your stroke but a lot of folks (including me) only breather every 2 strokes (right or left). Concentrate on keeping your head in the water and looking straight down at the bottom. Don't look ahead, look down. Don't lift your head when you breathe, Rotate your body to breathe. Make sure you kick. Your power comes from your hips when you rotate.

Most of the above I gleaned from others - I'm not an expert and I don't necessarily do those things great. Swimming is easily my favorite cardio workout. Have fun!

Learning how to breathe properly is probably the single most important aspect to proper stroke. I'm amazed at how many people I see gyrating their entire bodies to get their heads "far enough" out of the water to breathe. It completely obliterates your technique/efficiency when you do that. Once you get comfortable with proper breathing form, it's often amazing how fast the rest of your stroke falls into line.

yeah, growing up we used to see how little we could turn our heads and still get a breath.

 

[moleculo]

good stuff guys. I think this morning was more about figuring out I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm looking forward to getting back in and trying it out again.

This is perfect workout for my early morning workout...water temp is perfect this time of year, and I love being outside. And, as an added bonus, I love working out while learning a skill. I hate exercising just to exercise, but if I can master a technique and get some cardio/strength in at the same time, that's just great.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

I bet this is true, but I also think that becoming a good swimmer is a worth-while skill to have.

I think staying the F away from any water that I cannot stand in and touch the bottom is a good life skill.

 

[El Floppo]

good stuff guys. I think this morning was more about figuring out I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm looking forward to getting back in and trying it out again.

This is perfect workout for my early morning workout...water temp is perfect this time of year, and I love being outside. And, as an added bonus, I love working out while learning a skill. I hate exercising just to exercise, but if I can master a technique and get some cardio/strength in at the same time, that's just great.

gl- I admire your attitude.

after several years being in a pool once or twice a week, I realized that I completely hated it. face in the water with nothing to look at made it horrible for me. I realized I needed to be outside (also hate treadmills) and going somewhere for cardio to be "enjoyable". once the tris stopped for me, so did swimming (and running and biking ).

 

[TenTimes]

The worse you are at swimming the better the exercise it is. Get good at the technique and it's a far worse workout

This is what I was thinking.. why would you want to swim/run/bike more efficiently unless you're trying to get somewhere?

 

[moleculo]

good stuff guys. I think this morning was more about figuring out I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm looking forward to getting back in and trying it out again.

This is perfect workout for my early morning workout...water temp is perfect this time of year, and I love being outside. And, as an added bonus, I love working out while learning a skill. I hate exercising just to exercise, but if I can master a technique and get some cardio/strength in at the same time, that's just great.

gl- I admire your attitude.

after several years being in a pool once or twice a week, I realized that I completely hated it. face in the water with nothing to look at made it horrible for me. I realized I needed to be outside (also hate treadmills) and going somewhere for cardio to be "enjoyable". once the tris stopped for me, so did swimming (and running and biking ).

I have been doing some running too - like I said above, my typical morning run is just under 4 miles at about a 9 minute mile (with lots of hills too). My main sport is MMA - kickboxing and jiu-jitsu, I'm really looking for cardio stuff to do in the mornings to compliment that. The problem I'm facing right now is a pretty bad turf-toe injury that flares up every now and then. Makes running quite painful, which impacts my stride, which impacts other joints....it all cascades from there.

so, my options really are elliptical or treadmill at the gym or...I don't know. Figured I'd give swimming a try. Biking could be good I guess, but frankly, I'm too cheap to buy a decent bike, plus I live right off of a busy road and don't really want to deal with that.

 

[2Young2BBald]

Great advice so far, just a couple of things to add:

Don't be afraid to ask swimmers who look like they know what they are doing to watch you swim and give you little tweaks. I received advice when I was very much where you are at when I was teaching myself to swim back in 2008. The slightest change in my hip and shoulder turn made for HUGE advances for me (like EG stated above it takes watching to really get at what is not working for a swimmer).

Slow down to go faster. This was advice that really helped me mentally. I was basically a panic swimmer as I figured I had to stroke like hell just to stay afloat. The advice I was given was to try and swim as slow as possible while trying to execute the best possible form I could. As I recall, the first time I tried this was the first time I swam 2,000 yards in a single session and from there on things quickly got easier.

Look for supported open water swims (with lifeguards). There are, of course, triathlons; but there are also stand alone open water events (with swims as short as 500 yards) along with swim/run events, etc. To me these are also great confidence boosters. I had never swam a mile other than in the pool and loved my first open water mile (so much so, I signed up for an open water 5K in 2013 at a time when my longest swim ever was 3,000 yards in the pool).

Of all the workouts I do, I think I like swimming the best. The in your head solitude is unmatched.

 

[matttyl]

All about technique. About a year ago I took up mountain biking. It sucked at first. I'm in no better shape right now, but it's a whole lot easier. Keep it up, and RELAX.....you'll do fine.

 

[AAABatteries]

There's a few swimmers in the 10k thread if you dare to stick your toe in the water. (I'll see myself out)

I'm one of them but I'm not in great shape and I'm a fairly slow swimmer. As others have pointed out, swimming is about technique - both your stroke and your breathing. If you are in good cardio shape you shouldn't have a problem being in good swimming shape. The first thing you need to remember is your are almost definitely not going to drown - relax your body and trust yourself. Next, decide if you are going to breathe every other stroke or every three. Three is ideal (IMO) as it evens out your stroke but a lot of folks (including me) only breather every 2 strokes (right or left). Concentrate on keeping your head in the water and looking straight down at the bottom. Don't look ahead, look down. Don't lift your head when you breathe, Rotate your body to breathe. Make sure you kick. Your power comes from your hips when you rotate.

Most of the above I gleaned from others - I'm not an expert and I don't necessarily do those things great. Swimming is easily my favorite cardio workout. Have fun!

just a couple of tips:

- head position: ideally, you want the water line to about mid-forehead when swimming freestyle, not on the crown of your head. keeping your "head down" doesn't allow for great arm extension, and makes it harder to breathe...

- breathing: you really want to just rotate your head to breathe, not the entire body. by rotating the head only, it allows you to keep your body on plane and maintain stroke pace. (maybe a better way to say it is: when you turn to breathe, just make sure you chin is touching the top of the shoulder).

but like anything else (e.g. golf swings) there isn't just one perfect swimming stroke. apologies if this comes of as pedantic.

Agree on the first one - I didn't explain that well. I mean looking down keeping your entire spine in a straight line. Or that's how I learned. Just don't lift your head at all to see where you are going.

On the other - I forget the swimming book I read but it talked about body rotation - seemed like it was a somewhat controversial topic so maybe more folks don't rotate their body but that is what this guy taught.

 

[Kal El]

Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it. Avoid spending too much time with people who are hyper gung-ho about swimming, because if you have to share a lane, they don't like it.

 

[Quint]

Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it. Avoid spending too much time with people who are hyper gung-ho about swimming, because if you have to share a lane, they don't like it.

i'd much prefer to have a lane to myself, but sometimes circle-swim is a necessary evil.

 

[moleculo]

Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it. Avoid spending too much time with people who are hyper gung-ho about swimming, because if you have to share a lane, they don't like it.

i'd much prefer to have a lane to myself, but sometimes circle-swim is a necessary evil.

this morning, I had the entire pool to myself. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[El Floppo]

good stuff guys. I think this morning was more about figuring out I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm looking forward to getting back in and trying it out again.

This is perfect workout for my early morning workout...water temp is perfect this time of year, and I love being outside. And, as an added bonus, I love working out while learning a skill. I hate exercising just to exercise, but if I can master a technique and get some cardio/strength in at the same time, that's just great.

gl- I admire your attitude.

after several years being in a pool once or twice a week, I realized that I completely hated it. face in the water with nothing to look at made it horrible for me. I realized I needed to be outside (also hate treadmills) and going somewhere for cardio to be "enjoyable". once the tris stopped for me, so did swimming (and running and biking ).

I have been doing some running too - like I said above, my typical morning run is just under 4 miles at about a 9 minute mile (with lots of hills too). My main sport is MMA - kickboxing and jiu-jitsu, I'm really looking for cardio stuff to do in the mornings to compliment that. The problem I'm facing right now is a pretty bad turf-toe injury that flares up every now and then. Makes running quite painful, which impacts my stride, which impacts other joints....it all cascades from there.

so, my options really are elliptical or treadmill at the gym or...I don't know. Figured I'd give swimming a try. Biking could be good I guess, but frankly, I'm too cheap to buy a decent bike, plus I live right off of a busy road and don't really want to deal with that.

yeah, saw that you've been working out already- not trying to discourage... swimming is great, little-impact workout. and like others have said, once you get your body used to the technique, you'll be able to get a good workout in. just wasn't for me.

 

[mr roboto]

There is no such thing as 'cardio' generally. Your bodies ability to efficiently supply your movement is very specific to that movement. So if your 'running cardio' is good that's relatively meaningless. Swimming uses different muscles.

One of the myths of exercise that surprises people (like you, they mistakenly think that because they are efficient at running that should carry over to other 'cardio' activities).

 

[Quez]

There is no such thing as 'cardio' generally. Your bodies ability to efficiently supply your movement is very specific to that movement. So if your 'running cardio' is good that's relatively meaningless. Swimming uses different muscles.

One of the myths of exercise that surprises people (like you, they mistakenly think that because they are efficient at running that should carry over to other 'cardio' activities).

Wouldn't someone who does more aerobic exercise have an advantage over someone who doesn't no matter the movement?

 

[Sand]

Great advice so far, just a couple of things to add:

Don't be afraid to ask swimmers who look like they know what they are doing to watch you swim and give you little tweaks. I received advice when I was very much where you are at when I was teaching myself to swim back in 2008. The slightest change in my hip and shoulder turn made for HUGE advances for me (like EG stated above it takes watching to really get at what is not working for a swimmer).

Slow down to go faster. This was advice that really helped me mentally. I was basically a panic swimmer as I figured I had to stroke like hell just to stay afloat. The advice I was given was to try and swim as slow as possible while trying to execute the best possible form I could. As I recall, the first time I tried this was the first time I swam 2,000 yards in a single session and from there on things quickly got easier.

Look for supported open water swims (with lifeguards). There are, of course, triathlons; but there are also stand alone open water events (with swims as short as 500 yards) along with swim/run events, etc. To me these are also great confidence boosters. I had never swam a mile other than in the pool and loved my first open water mile (so much so, I signed up for an open water 5K in 2013 at a time when my longest swim ever was 3,000 yards in the pool).

Of all the workouts I do, I think I like swimming the best. The in your head solitude is unmatched.

This is good stuff.

Swimming is like golf. Get the swing right and it gets lots easier. Whomever in here said that swimming is better excercise the worse you are at is has no clue what he's talking about. Once you get some good technique and don't feel like you can't breathe you can really open up and get some good work in. Because swimming is no impact you can drive yourself harder in the pool than pretty much anywhere else. There is something to be said for being done with a workout and worrying about being able to haul yourself out of the pool.

Also, I highly recommend Swim Smooth. There is lots there that is free and can get you started.

 

[moleculo]

Great advice so far, just a couple of things to add:

Don't be afraid to ask swimmers who look like they know what they are doing to watch you swim and give you little tweaks. I received advice when I was very much where you are at when I was teaching myself to swim back in 2008. The slightest change in my hip and shoulder turn made for HUGE advances for me (like EG stated above it takes watching to really get at what is not working for a swimmer).

Slow down to go faster. This was advice that really helped me mentally. I was basically a panic swimmer as I figured I had to stroke like hell just to stay afloat. The advice I was given was to try and swim as slow as possible while trying to execute the best possible form I could. As I recall, the first time I tried this was the first time I swam 2,000 yards in a single session and from there on things quickly got easier.

Look for supported open water swims (with lifeguards). There are, of course, triathlons; but there are also stand alone open water events (with swims as short as 500 yards) along with swim/run events, etc. To me these are also great confidence boosters. I had never swam a mile other than in the pool and loved my first open water mile (so much so, I signed up for an open water 5K in 2013 at a time when my longest swim ever was 3,000 yards in the pool).

Of all the workouts I do, I think I like swimming the best. The in your head solitude is unmatched.

This is good stuff.

Swimming is like golf. Get the swing right and it gets lots easier. Whomever in here said that swimming is better excercise the worse you are at is has no clue what he's talking about. Once you get some good technique and don't feel like you can't breathe you can really open up and get some good work in. Because swimming is no impact you can drive yourself harder in the pool than pretty much anywhere else. There is something to be said for being done with a workout and worrying about being able to haul yourself out of the pool.

Also, I highly recommend Swim Smooth. There is lots there that is free and can get you started.

 

[moleculo]

There is no such thing as 'cardio' generally. Your bodies ability to efficiently supply your movement is very specific to that movement. So if your 'running cardio' is good that's relatively meaningless. Swimming uses different muscles.

One of the myths of exercise that surprises people (like you, they mistakenly think that because they are efficient at running that should carry over to other 'cardio' activities).

I understand that with respect to muscles ability to exert energy, but what about the lungs ability to absorb oxygen and the hearts ability to transport it?