Stamina

As for the freestyle breathing, take a look at Coach Hines's article
"Waiting to Inhale" at

http://www.h2oustonswims.org/articles/waiting_to_inhale.html

It may give you some tips.

Steve said:

I've just started swimming - nearly two months now at 44 yo, under
tuition....

I still have breathing problems on front crawl, basically I seem to be a
sinker! I roll and turn to breathe but find it hard to twist enough to
aviod slurping a fair amount of water....

As soon as a turn I sink (or seem to sink) - either way I either get
some water or my rhythm goes and I just lose all forward motion. A guy
in the pool told me to turn and breathe when my other arm was pointing
directly at the bottom of the pool. This seems to help but is it good
practice?

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past
we did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be
doing quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally
tired after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to
stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week,
one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am
reasonably fit - spent a lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit
overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Stick with it. The stronger you are the easier it gets. Fat guys have
more bouyancy, it doesn't make much difference in the water. A small
increase in speed and strength makes a big difference in comfort.

Zoom

Keep at it Steve, it just takes a bit of time to build up your stamina and
dont push too hard or you might bugger yourself up. I'm just turned 60 ,
pretty slim built and started roughly 4 months ago and on a good day can now
do 50 lengths breast stroke but some days only feel like doing 20 I try to
get into the water at least twice a week between jobs but also when there
arent too many people in the lanes with me as this can be very distracting .
As I said ,keep at it and good on you for taking it up, Pete
"Zoom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve said:

I've just started swimming - nearly two months now at 44 yo, under
tuition....

I still have breathing problems on front crawl, basically I seem to be a
sinker! I roll and turn to breathe but find it hard to twist enough to
aviod slurping a fair amount of water....

As soon as a turn I sink (or seem to sink) - either way I either get some
water or my rhythm goes and I just lose all forward motion. A guy in the
pool told me to turn and breathe when my other arm was pointing directly
at the bottom of the pool. This seems to help but is it good practice?

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past
we did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be
doing quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally
tired after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to
stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week,
one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am
reasonably fit - spent a lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit
overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Stick with it. The stronger you are the easier it gets. Fat guys have more
bouyancy, it doesn't make much difference in the water. A small increase
in speed and strength makes a big difference in comfort.

Zoom

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Steve said:

down to stamina. After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions
a week, one lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this?

Stamina, yes, but swimming is also, to a large extent, technique. I'm
40. Not too long ago I swam 100m butterfly in competition and felt
like I was going to die. I put concentrated effort into refining my
butterfly technique and within a week and a half could do 100m and feel
reasonably okay. I can't believe my stamina could increase enough to
account for the performance difference in such a short time. YMMV.

Rik

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Lev

Quoted message said:

After
say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one lesson, two
alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am reasonably fit - spent a
lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit overweight tho.

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

Any help greatfully recieved!

Steve

Lev Borisov said:

Quoted message said:

Next, I've started breaststroke. At scholl in the dim and distance past we
did crawl so I'm completley new to this stroke. However, I seem to be doing
quite well with it. I can do 3/4 of a length now but I am totally tired
after. Instructor says my stroke is very good so it's down to stamina.

Don't take this "stroke is good" too literally. The instructor is trying
to encourage you. It will become better though if you keep at it.

Or, at least it can probably use improvement. But, hey, that's true for
most of us.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After say six weeks of trying - three 30 mins sessions a week, one
lesson, two alone should I be able to go farther than this? I am
reasonably fit - spent a lot of time on gym previously. Still a bit
overweight tho.

My experience is that fitness in other activities takes a while to catch
up when you start something new. Even though I'm cardio fit on the
treadmill or elliptical, it takes me some time to get back to being pool
fit every summer. How much swimming are you actually doing when you're in
the pool? At my pool I see a lot of people who spend a fair amount of time
in the pool, but the greatest percentage of that time seems to be spent
resting between laps. Obviously, they're not exactly building up their
stamina.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I see seemingly unfit (fat in some cases) looking guys effortlessly and
leisurely doing several lengths and I wonder why can I not do that!

One, because fat floats, so swimming is easier in some ways for the
adiposity enhanced. Two, they're probably people who have been swimming
for some time and are comfortable in the water. If this is still rather
new to you, you're probably tense and not allowing the water to do part of
the work for you.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any help greatfully recieved!

You might want to talk to your instructor about using fins. I never had,
but I got introduced to them at a TI workshop. They make some of the
strokes possible for me (I can just barely 'fly across the pool w/ out
them and my technique suffers), but the added propulsion just makes the
whole process of getting across the pool easier. And, since they help to
build leg strength, I don't think of them as *cheating.*

Good luck,

Martha

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