If there is a book store around, go and read through a book called "Total Immersion". This book has
helped me in lots of ways and I can now after a month of swimming, swim miles in the pool. It shows
you how to be in a good position in the water, to be efficient and how to take nice long strokes.
Breathing can be done on every stroke on one side, but you should slowly breath out underwater and
really breath every 3-5. Most likely you are breathing on one side, so shoot for every 4 strokes. I
bet you are not relaxed and thrashing in the water. Try and relax and don't make much of a splash
while you are taking strokes. Push your chest into the water a little deeper, this will keep your
legs parallel with the rest of your body and don't lift your head to take a breath turn your head.
This is a common problem with a runner, because they feel they need air fast, so they lift their
head. Lifting your head moves your legs closer to the bottom of the pool and takes away from your
gliding through the water.. Nice long slow strokes and don't be in a rush to take the stroke. Glide
a little while your hands are close to in front of your head extended. I suspect you are inefficient
and need to work on what I have posted. Also, you are probably uncomfortable in the water and not
relaxed and trying to keep high in the water so you are thrashing about instead of gliding along.
Doing 50's are ok, if you are working on some form. Do a 50 and rest for a few seconds and keep
doing them properly. Then do 75's and then 100's and so on. Don't rush all this, take your time.
Feel your body glide through the water.
Enjoy swimming it is a great low impact exercise. I also bike and run. For a runner like yourself,
it is a little difficult to get used to not being able to breath when you want to. This is very
common for runners. You will find a rhythm and get used to it, everyone does. Just don't swim too
fast and make your body long and reach far and take a full stroke. You will do fine, but it takes
a while to get used to it and keep your body parallel by pushing your chest down a bit to get
those legs up.
Curt
"Picky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:Hi guys,
Ive been trying to swim for a few years now and reckon Ive got my technique pretty well sorted
(although I have to concentrate to swim efficiently) but Im still useless and struggle to swim
much more that a 50 without stopping to "catch my breathe". (even when swimming slowly)
I reckon Im in pretty good shape, resting hr is 50 and can do most exercise (mainly
running,cycling ) at my threshold (just above 170bpm) forever if I grit my teeth.
I dont understand what Im doing wrong with swimming, I am clearly not working hard enough to go
above my threshold and therefore cannot understand what the limiting factor is?????
I do try to exhale and inhale fully in case this is the issue but it doesnt seem to be.
Later,
Picky
