New to lap swimming

If you feel you are sinking too low in the water, then you should push
down your chest. Are you rolling to breath? or just turning your head?
Its better to think about your form than trying for speed. That will
give you something to think about during laps. Get the Total Immersion
Pool Primer and do a few laps of each drill and be patient and don't
give up.

Dave King said:

I have been wanting to begin a regiment of lap swimming
for personal health and fitness. In my first few attempts, I
have become very frustrated at my endurance levels. I feel
that I am relatively healthy and strong, being 30 years old,
6'4" tall, and 195 lbs. Even so, after one full lap I already
feel fatigued!

I do know that I need to improve my swim ability, I tend
to go too fast. If I go slower, I feel as if I am sinking too
low in the water.

Also, can anyone let me know how you warm up? Thanks.

DK

Dave King said:

... after one full lap I already
feel fatigued!

If you google an advanced group search on this group and 'duck meat',
you'll find a lot of explanations as to why your upper body muscles
aren't nearly as well trained for the type of work involved in swimming
as your lower body muscles are for running.

Quoted message said:

If I go slower, I feel as if I am
sinking too low in the water.

Well, some coaches would just tell you to keep trying until you figure
it out yourself. One group here believes that you can raise your legs
by arching your back more. Another fellow believes that your legs will
rise if you just swim fast enough.

Another group believes that you can raise your legs by carrying your
head and shoulders deeper as you swim; this approach works fairly well
for me.

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have been wanting to begin a regiment of lap swimming
for personal health and fitness. In my first few attempts, I
have become very frustrated at my endurance levels. I feel
that I am relatively healthy and strong, being 30 years old,
6'4" tall, and 195 lbs. Even so, after one full lap I already
feel fatigued!

I do know that I need to improve my swim ability, I tend
to go too fast. If I go slower, I feel as if I am sinking too
low in the water.

Also, can anyone let me know how you warm up? Thanks.

DK

You can find a lot of useful info for beginners at www.usms.org
here's a getting started section:
http://www.usms.org/fitness/content/gettingstarted

Man o' Tea wrote:
One group here believes that you can raise your legs

Quoted message said:

by arching your back more.

And, of course, this is the group that is correct ;-)

Andres

Man o' Tea said:

Dave King said:

... after one full lap I already
feel fatigued!

If you google an advanced group search on this group and 'duck meat',
you'll find a lot of explanations as to why your upper body muscles
aren't nearly as well trained for the type of work involved in swimming
as your lower body muscles are for running.

Quoted message said:

If I go slower, I feel as if I am
sinking too low in the water.

Well, some coaches would just tell you to keep trying until you figure
it out yourself. One group here believes that you can raise your legs
by arching your back more. Another fellow believes that your legs will
rise if you just swim fast enough.

Another group believes that you can raise your legs by carrying your
head and shoulders deeper as you swim; this approach works fairly well
for me.

Um, let me assure you that this is not a joke--the "duck meat" query
will get you pretty far. This will not result in the demise of any
mallards or other duck breeds, either. "Lumbar arch" may or may not
also be helpful.

This may be the case where a little coaching goes a long, long way, so
ask around.

Your question has even been asked before, mostly by superfit people
starting to train for triathlons and wondering "why is swimming so hard?"
Madelaine

Quoted message said:

Man o' Tea said:

One group here believes that you can raise your legs
by arching your back more.

And, of course, this is the group that is correct ;-)

That's it, Andres! Now it is personal.

Now just let me think of a few straw men to bring you to your knees.