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Discussion: Need help with the swimming...
Subject: Need help with the swimming... By: Andrea W. Written on: 2006-01-08 14:03:48 Message: I participated in my first triathlon last summer, but did it as a relay, so I was my team's runner. The event was all so exciting to me, though, that I went out two days later and bought a bike. I was a success on the bike in no time at all. I absolutely love it! Now...here's the trouble. I cannot re-teach myself how to breath in the water. As a kid, I swam all the time. I never had any trouble swimming under water. But today, it's a different story. When I take a deep breath and go under, I hold my breath until I come up again, I do not exhale under water. So as I come up for air, I need to exhale and inhale all out once and am exhasuted. Any suggestions to get me started? I really want to be able to compete this summer on my own.
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-01-08 14:59:07 Message: Hello Andrea, Without seeing you swim it is imposible to know what would help you the most but I can relate one story about breathing difficulty in swimming. My brother was comfortable in the water swimming breast stroke but would become short of breath and could only manage one length before becoming exhausted with freestyle. What he was doing was a common problem for new swimmers. Six months later he could swim a 26 min. mile. New swimmers want to take in a large breath because they feel they need it, but taking a long deep breath takes too long and in the process your body will sink causing several problems. First you are more likely to inhale water, second it will slow you down so much that it makes taking your next breath more difficult. The solution is to take a quick breath every full stroke blow out the air steady or with a blast under the water then another quick breath. ( your mouth should just barely be above the water and to the side ) Swimming faster makes breathing easier wich is a real "Catch 22" for new swimmers so Get a pair of finns to use some of the time to help you swim faster and make the learning easier. I stongly suggest that you find a coach, swim instructor or very good swim racer to give you a little help once a week. If you can't find anyone get a Instructional DVD or VCR Welcome to triathlon it is exciting and the energy of all the people at the races is contageous. Let me Know if this message helps you or not. Use what works for you and forget the rest. Ron
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: keith b. Written on: 2006-01-09 04:21:56 Message: Hi Andrea, When I started to swim front crawl, I had the same problem, gasping for breath. I used a float to practice breathing. Paddle with your legs, take a breath, face into water, blow air out into water, tilt head sidewards breath in again. Using a float lets you control your breathing easier, you are not having to put as much effort into your swimming and therefore you able to slow your breathing down. As it becomes more controlled and you get a rythym going you will find you are able to make a bigger effort. Eventually you will be able return to swimming without the float. I agree with Ronald that it would benefit you to find a coach or join a Tri club as most of them have coached swim sessions for all levels of ability. It is a fantastic sport to be in and the cameraderie and support amongst Triathletes is wonderful. Welcome aboard.
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Ross R. Written on: 2006-01-09 07:54:13 Message: The easiest way to learn how to breath is to go back to the first time you learned how to swim. Take a breath and put your head under the water and blow bubbles to release air. Lift head take a breath and repeat Regards RR
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: bob g. Written on: 2006-01-09 10:08:14 Message: When I teach kids to swim, I have them overemphasize the side to side roll. Almost turning completely over onto their backs, while leaving one arm in front of them and on arm to the side. Take a breath and roll back exhaling into the water and roll to the other side as they stroke with the other arm. As they become more comfortable with the roll, the basic stroke and the breating out under water, we strive to make it fluid with out a stop. Having said that, get a coach, or a ask a High School swimmer to watch you swim. Often it is just something minor that needs to be changed enjoy bob
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Philip S. Written on: 2006-01-16 17:09:53 Message: Hey Andrea, Best advise for learning how to breathe underwater is use a snrkel for about a month. Once you learn how to exhale with your head underwater, then try without the snorkel, actually, most Olympic level and above allow the use of the snorkel in the swim. It is more difficult in the race if it is a wave start though because of all the splashing and you may get some odd looks. But hands down, this is the best way, I was a military swim instructor and this is how we taught in BUD/S and in the Army Combat Dive Schools. You have to retrain your body to breathe with the head unserwater, it is not natural and is diffcult for some, but stick with it and you'll be fine, also are you breathing every other stroke, or every stroke? If it is every other, what I do is start my exhale as I start my head/body rotation, and I take that sides arm high so I give my head a little more time out of the water, it causes more rotation in the hips which in turns make you a little more hydrodynamic, I got a 19 min swim time on the last Olympic Tri 1500M swim I did, and I weigh 245lbs. I don't have good hydrodynamics anyway, and this was minus wetsuit. If I can help any further let me know.
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Lauren M. Written on: 2006-01-23 20:12:04 Message: I did the same thing. So I adapted the counting method. Count 1 and 2 hold breath and stroke. 3 and 4 force exhale out of nose and mouth, stroke. Count 5 inhale on side and stroke. I still count. I swear it helps the time pass and loosens my nerves during the swim when I race.
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Tyler T. Written on: 2006-01-28 16:22:19 Message: Hey, The best thing for you to do is buy a drill book and have a friend record you as you swim. Without see ing you swim it is hard to tell what is going on. By watching your video you or a friend may be able to sit down and go over it. Drill books help a lot too. They give ways to focus on specific problems. good luck
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: alan m. Written on: 2006-02-02 12:49:15 Message: philip s. i have yet to see someone with a snorkel in a race, i am surprised to find it legal. anyways, great topic, i am training a buddy right now who has the same problem. i brake it down barney style and have him put a pull bouy between his legs, and start swimming against the wall. i believe that the over emphasizing the shoulder roll, and keeping your entire body in line helps very much just like bob said. also getting used to breathing out, just do controlled breathes, breath in quickly with the head out of the water, then put your face back down and breathout for 6-10 beats then repeat. sounds corny but it will help you relax. do this with your goggles on and your eyes open, relax your jaw and keep about a quarter of lungs still full (gives you a bit of reserves in case you swallow some H20)
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Damian B. Written on: 2006-02-04 00:26:59 Message: Hi - The above info is great, I would also advise you to buy the book 'Total Immersion' - Barnes & Noble will have it. It will help your form tremendously.
Subject: RE: Need help with the swimming... By: Jay A. Written on: 2006-02-05 23:22:07 Message: If you're going to buy the Total Immersion book I'd suggest buying the DVD also. It's worth the money. Being able to see the proper form/technique on video is much better than static pictures.
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