New to Swimming
Discussion
Decided to join the University of London Union Gym which has a 33m pool. Today I went swimming for the first time in about 5 years (Previous experience was only messing around in pools, not swimming lengths). I Managed 6 lengths (with a necessary minute break after each!) before I thought I was going to die! The stroke I was doing probably most closely resembled the front crawl but of course my technique is a long (long!) way from decent.
Does anyone have any quick tips for improving until such time as I can get lessons sorted?
How many lengths is a normal amount to complete on a first go and for more regular swimmers?
Does anyone have any quick tips for improving until such time as I can get lessons sorted?
How many lengths is a normal amount to complete on a first go and for more regular swimmers?
Are you doing it to get fit or set fast times. If you're doing it to get fit who cares about your technique so long as it's hard work and you're out of puff. Thats my theory anyway.
(Only swimming mind. Dicking about with weights and the wrong technique's risky I hear. moving your body in water...not so risky I'd think)
(Only swimming mind. Dicking about with weights and the wrong technique's risky I hear. moving your body in water...not so risky I'd think)
I'm doing it to improve general fitness and simply for what I thought would be the enjoyment!
I know what you mean, Munter - as long as I'm working hard then that should improve fitness but it would be nice to be able to go quite quickly too and not be overtaken by elderly women. I'm only 19!
I know what you mean, Munter - as long as I'm working hard then that should improve fitness but it would be nice to be able to go quite quickly too and not be overtaken by elderly women. I'm only 19!
As above, fingers together is prob the most important thing to remember. If you are feeling resistance to the stroke ie. as your arm is pulling you through the water then you are doing ok. Next tip is to fully extend the stroke. Ie. your arm should be at full (or pretty much full) extension in front of you before you start the pull back. A techique we used to call "catch up" is agood way to practice this. Both arms out and front crawl kick, then do one complete stroke so that your right arm (or vice versa) is back in contact with your left arm before that arm does its stroke.
Depends on how well you can do breast stroke or backstroke, once fitness is up a bit them maybe try and take your break swimming either back or breast stroke. Back is my fave for this as your face is constantly out of the water (if you taking it easy) so breathing can be as an when you like. Breast stroke, even though you breath on every stroke does require a degree of control.
If you are so tired the keeping good form becomes very hard indeed but like someone said above, if its just for fitness levels it doesnt really matter as long as you get your heart rate up although you will not work the muscles as hard.
I would advise lessons as its virtually impossible without someone standing on the poolside showing you the correct movements.
I hope this helps.
Depends on how well you can do breast stroke or backstroke, once fitness is up a bit them maybe try and take your break swimming either back or breast stroke. Back is my fave for this as your face is constantly out of the water (if you taking it easy) so breathing can be as an when you like. Breast stroke, even though you breath on every stroke does require a degree of control.
If you are so tired the keeping good form becomes very hard indeed but like someone said above, if its just for fitness levels it doesnt really matter as long as you get your heart rate up although you will not work the muscles as hard.
I would advise lessons as its virtually impossible without someone standing on the poolside showing you the correct movements.
I hope this helps.
Edited by whichonespink on Tuesday 19th January 16:22
Munter said:
Are you doing it to get fit or set fast times. If you're doing it to get fit who cares about your technique so long as it's hard work and you're out of puff. Thats my theory anyway.
Perhaps but i'm not sure six lengths will get him very fit. 
He needs to improve his technique in order to be able to swim fast for at least 20-30 minutes.
This may be worth a thread on its own, but I always had a huge problem with front crawl anyway, so maybe if the OP is like me he should try a different stroke? In my current state of fitness I can run fairly comfortably for 2/3 miles, and at my peak I was doing half marathons in 1½ hours and 10k in under 40mins. I can also cycle to a similar standard. However, my maximum distance in the pool is one 25m length before I get completely and utterly exhausted (I have to stop part way up a 30m pool!). It's a breathing thing - I just can't seem to exercise by breathing in and out that slowly (out.........in.out.........in..). So, my advice to the OP would be to start with breast-stroke, which offers more frequent breathing, back stroke, or just breath twice as often during the crawl (uni-laterally to one side only). It depends how he's reaching his limit though; personally I've never reached my fitness limit with swimming like I would with running or cycling, I just run out of puff due to lack of air.
If it's not the breathing, then just keep at it and you'll get better
If it's not the breathing, then just keep at it and you'll get better
And I think he probably means 30-45 mins...Good on ya, I used to go swimming 2/3 times a week, will probably start up again in summer. I found when i started that the problem i had was getting my breathing right, and that when i relaxed and concentrated on my breathing rythm (sp) my stroke got better I'd say with swimming its alot about practice, dont get me wrong im no way a perfect swimmer.
TVR MAN said:
Also, how much and what should I eat before I go swimming?
Avoid eating in the hour beforehand used to be the normal recommendation. I can stomach a full meal five minutes beforehand but my other half can't cope if she's eaten in the previous two hours. If you're really hungry have a banana or something light, in general you don't want to be eating too much too close to when you're about to go swimming.RobM77 said:
This may be worth a thread on its own, but I always had a huge problem with front crawl anyway, so maybe if the OP is like me he should try a different stroke? In my current state of fitness I can run fairly comfortably for 2/3 miles, and at my peak I was doing half marathons in 1½ hours and 10k in under 40mins. I can also cycle to a similar standard. However, my maximum distance in the pool is one 25m length before I get completely and utterly exhausted (I have to stop part way up a 30m pool!). It's a breathing thing - I just can't seem to exercise by breathing in and out that slowly (out.........in.out.........in..). So, my advice to the OP would be to start with breast-stroke, which offers more frequent breathing, back stroke, or just breath twice as often during the crawl (uni-laterally to one side only). It depends how he's reaching his limit though; personally I've never reached my fitness limit with swimming like I would with running or cycling, I just run out of puff due to lack of air.
If it's not the breathing, then just keep at it and you'll get better
Thanks Rob.If it's not the breathing, then just keep at it and you'll get better
My fitness level is nowhere near yours outside of the pool. Although it sounds as though I may just have the edge with the front crawl
I'm going to try the breast stroke tomorrow. I've never tried it before because the front crawl feels more intuitive. But I'll try it with a board like this tomorrow; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdquRdeKvQI He makes it look so easy!
I've just returned from the pool. Attempted to learn the breast stroke and started off by using a kickboard. I did this for about 6 lengths but with my head above the water the whole time. I was going ridiculously slowly; looking at the side of the pool, I wasn't sure if I was moving after some kicks!
So I started putting my head in the water but didn't really like that very much so bought some earplugs which helped but I still amn't very comfortable with my head underwater.
I then gave up the kickboard and decided to try the breast stroke properly. I was going along at a really quite good pace now that I was using my arms - until I needed to breathe (after about 3 kicks). I came up gasping for air, fill lungs, mouthfull of water and back under. I couldn't breathe after each arm pull because I was just taking on water.
I think if I can sort the breathing and putting my head under then I'll be able to do quite a lot more lengths. Today in total I did around 10.
So I started putting my head in the water but didn't really like that very much so bought some earplugs which helped but I still amn't very comfortable with my head underwater.
I then gave up the kickboard and decided to try the breast stroke properly. I was going along at a really quite good pace now that I was using my arms - until I needed to breathe (after about 3 kicks). I came up gasping for air, fill lungs, mouthfull of water and back under. I couldn't breathe after each arm pull because I was just taking on water.
I think if I can sort the breathing and putting my head under then I'll be able to do quite a lot more lengths. Today in total I did around 10.
TVR MAN said:
I've just returned from the pool. Attempted to learn the breast stroke and started off by using a kickboard. I did this for about 6 lengths but with my head above the water the whole time. I was going ridiculously slowly; looking at the side of the pool, I wasn't sure if I was moving after some kicks!
So I started putting my head in the water but didn't really like that very much so bought some earplugs which helped but I still amn't very comfortable with my head underwater.
I then gave up the kickboard and decided to try the breast stroke properly. I was going along at a really quite good pace now that I was using my arms - until I needed to breathe (after about 3 kicks). I came up gasping for air, fill lungs, mouthfull of water and back under. I couldn't breathe after each arm pull because I was just taking on water.
I think if I can sort the breathing and putting my head under then I'll be able to do quite a lot more lengths. Today in total I did around 10.
Water confidence is very important, because it'll also help you relax. What is it about being underwater that you don't like? If it's water choking you then you may like to try a nose clip. Some people (such as me) can't block their noses to stop water getting in; I really struggled with anything water based until I realised that most people can block their noses and some people just can't, so I bought a nose-clip and have been fine ever since. That said, with the breaststroke the underwater phase is quite short, so it should be possible to keep water out of your nose just by exhaling through it.So I started putting my head in the water but didn't really like that very much so bought some earplugs which helped but I still amn't very comfortable with my head underwater.
I then gave up the kickboard and decided to try the breast stroke properly. I was going along at a really quite good pace now that I was using my arms - until I needed to breathe (after about 3 kicks). I came up gasping for air, fill lungs, mouthfull of water and back under. I couldn't breathe after each arm pull because I was just taking on water.
I think if I can sort the breathing and putting my head under then I'll be able to do quite a lot more lengths. Today in total I did around 10.
It's hard to say why exactly I don't like having my head underwater. I'm completely comfortable in the water with my head above but just not when it's under.
I don't think I can block my nose and I can't really exhale for long enough to keep the water from going in. I tried a nose clip today though. It did help in the underwater part but then meant that breathing in was more difficult above water. I'll try again tomorrow though with the noseclip and hopefully I'll get used to it.
I don't think I can block my nose and I can't really exhale for long enough to keep the water from going in. I tried a nose clip today though. It did help in the underwater part but then meant that breathing in was more difficult above water. I'll try again tomorrow though with the noseclip and hopefully I'll get used to it.
d though.....TVR MAN said:
It's hard to say why exactly I don't like having my head underwater. I'm completely comfortable in the water with my head above but just not when it's under.
I don't think I can block my nose and I can't really exhale for long enough to keep the water from going in. I tried a nose clip today though. It did help in the underwater part but then meant that breathing in was more difficult above water. I'll try again tomorrow though with the noseclip and hopefully I'll get used to it.
Don't worry, it's quite common. I suggest that you practise just putting your head under the water slowly whilst not swimming (whilst exhaling, like you'll be doing with the breaststroke, though I'd suggest starting by holding your nose). Eventually you'll just get used to it. Meanwhile, just swim with your head out of the water; that on its own will help with water confidence and improve your swimming and fitness. I've never really been able to block my nose either, and have met a few others with the same issue. I can now partially do it through learning over a period of weeks, but not enough to swim front crawl without a noseclip or capsize a sit-in kayak (I paddle a sit on top kayak because of it). I also had problems learning to Scuba Dive, especially with my confidence (they do begrudgingly allow you to hold your nose during mask-off exercises, but it's not confidence inspiring on the bottom of the sea!). I don't think I can block my nose and I can't really exhale for long enough to keep the water from going in. I tried a nose clip today though. It did help in the underwater part but then meant that breathing in was more difficult above water. I'll try again tomorrow though with the noseclip and hopefully I'll get used to it.
Once you're relaxed and better at the swimming bit, you should find that you have the fitness to exhale for long enough to do the breaststroke (front crawl is another matter altogether because your head's under for longer). By the time your swimming is relaxed and stronger hopefully you'll have improved at the head under the water bit so can put the two together.
Good luck!
PS - don't practise the head under the water bit in the bath; to block your nose or exhale to stop water ingress whilst lying on your back is very difficult, if not impossible (if you're a non-nose blocker).
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