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Discussion: Swim Training
Subject: Swim Training By: Susie L. Written on: 2006-05-18 11:33:47 Message: I'm a newbie to triathlons and I'm training for my first sprint on July 30. I'm having a little problem where I start getting light headed and dizzy after about 400 yds of swimming. What am I doing wrong? I swim first thing in the morning and I'm wondering if it's because I'm swimming on an empty stomach? I'm still doing pool training and hope to start open water training soon. This might sound weird, but I almost start feeling a little sea sick while I'm swimming. Any suggestions on how to stop this? Thanks, Susie
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-05-18 16:39:01 Message: Susie, I would love to help you but I have NO idea what to tell you. Could it be that you are breathing too hard? I have felt lightheaded at times, I swim way to har for a specific distance (a little like when you over do weight training, you can feel just a little light headed after a very difficult set). Do you have low iron levels? I almost fainted once during lunch (I was out with a client) because I was so hungry that my body just could not take it...It turned out I went to the doctor and they found out I was anemic. After a month of taking over the counter Iron pills it went away and my iron levels got back to normal. The feeling sick while you are swimming, could be sea sickness? Ask a swimming coach...I am sure he or she would know a whole lot more than me.... Good luck with everything, Don't give up until you find out what the heck is going on with your body.... Jael
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Josh T. Written on: 2006-05-18 16:52:17 Message: Susie, It sounds like you may be hyperventilating. A lot of begining swimmers have trouble with this fact. Make sure ,as you are going to take your breath, that you have already expelled all of your air before you turn your head to take a breath. It is hard to explain, and it is difficult to be exactly sure that this is what is going on with ut seeing you swim. To explain it a little better, make sure when your face is in the water you exhale(blow bubbles if it makes it easier for you to remember), then when you turn your head all you have to do is take a long full breath in. If you have not expelled all your air before your face comes out of the water, then you are trying to breath out and take a breath in in a short quick amount of time. This makes the breath short and shallow which will lead to dizziness and hyperventilation. I hope this helps. But as Jael said above find a coach in yor area and see if you can have him check out your stroke even if you don't have a lot of money to pay for lessons once a week, atleast get someone to give you one lesson to point you in the right direction.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Paul B. Written on: 2006-05-18 17:22:15 Message: just one more thing to add...you're never supposed to swim alone, but that advice seems to ring especially true for you. Don't do any solo open water stuff, it sounds like you'd just be asking for trouble. good luck. Paul.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Erik T. Written on: 2006-05-18 17:32:15 Message: As Josh and Jael both mentioned, a coach is the best place to start. If it's a hyperventilation problem Josh's advice should help. You might also try breathing every 3rd stroke or so, and exhaling slowly in between. Blowing bubbles helps that. One thing you might try is a little metabolic kick start before you hit the pool. I have trouble actually eating any less than about 2 hours before a workout, but for early AM workouts I'll have a small glass of grape juice or even a teaspoon of honey about 15 minutes before I go. Seems to elevate the blood sugar enough to get through those pesky morning workouts. Good luck. Erik
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Susie L. Written on: 2006-05-18 21:28:59 Message: Thanks for all your help. I did try eating a banana before my swim this morning and I did feel a little better. I will take your advice to get a coach for a few lessons. I have noticed, when I first start swimming, before I get too out of breath, I only take a breath every 3 or 4 stroke. Also, as I get tired and start doing some side stroke the light headedness starts to go away. So, maybe it is a hyperventilation thing. I think I will try to make sure I am exhaling completely before I take a breath and also check into a coach. Thanks for all your help. You all are great. I love this site!!!
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Eric M. Written on: 2006-05-19 01:01:20 Message: save yourself some money on the swimming coach and join a local masters club. the fee is really reasonable...$40/mo and i get a 90 min. coached workout 3x/wk. check out the specifics in your area.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Jamojman . Written on: 2006-05-19 04:13:42 Message: How hard are you breathing when blowing your bubbles? It should be just an easy breath and I would suggest not to breath out all your air while swimming. You should still be breathing out when you turn your body to breath, gentle breath in and start all over again. thats my 2cents.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Michelle B. Written on: 2006-05-19 04:28:33 Message: To repeat what Paul said, because it deserves repeating, do NOT swim alone. If you can't find a swimming buddy, a kayaker will suffice. It is probably with spending a session in the open water with no goal, just splash around and get comfortable in the water without the pressure of a distance, or time, or that whole breathing thing. Get a feel for how the waves behave, how the current feels and how your body feels in the water (especially if you're in salt water) In the meantime get a littel help with your stroke, and when you're ready to start open water training it will a much more relaxed affair. Having had one less-than-positive experience you should focus on relaxing and getting comfortable in the water before you start stressing yourself about the details. To repeat it again - take someone with you.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Susie L. Written on: 2006-05-19 08:16:13 Message: Tnanks for all your help. NO, I won't be swimming alone in open water for a while. We belong to a small lake here and I will probably be taking the kids there for recreational swimming so the most I'll be doing is playing in the water with my 8 and 13 year olds. No serious swimming yet. I will look into a masters club. Where would I find that? I belong to a very small YMCA, don't think they have anything like that there. Thanks again everyone.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-05-19 12:07:47 Message: I have a hard time relating to the difficulties of ocean swimming as I love it and am a good swimmer. What I think is the problem for many beginning ocean swimmers is the anxiety brought on by the fear of the unknown. I completely agree with Michelles aproach, just get in the ocean and play, swim a little and play some more getting used to the up and down motion of the waves. Developing a feel for the the swells. Just knowing that as soon as you get out beyond the breakers the water is much smoother and easy to deal with should calm you down so that you can just swim normally. You have to feel it to beleive it and playing with no presure is an enjoyable way to start. It's just water with a little salt added for bouyancy, Ron
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Eric M. Written on: 2006-05-19 12:42:39 Message: http://www.usms.org/ is a good place to start.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Susie L. Written on: 2006-05-21 08:48:34 Message: Thanks, Eric. ROnald, I used to live by the ocean and swam in it all the time, so I'm not too concerned about that, just the light headedness I'm dealing with in the pool. I tried changing my breathing Saturday during my swim and I felt a little better. Thanks everyone for your great advice.
Subject: RE: Swim Training By: Leo d. Written on: 2006-05-21 11:12:17 Message: Susie, Sea sickness in the water could be a result of inner ear problems. This could make you dizzy and feel a little awkward. Water entering the ear could intesify the "sea sickness" and even make you dizzy. I use earplugs during my swimming and still get a little "imbalance" during my swim (I have had several surgeries in my ears). Just something you might want to check into. Good luck training for your firsst sprint! Leo D.
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