That really sounds to me like you aren't breathing properly. If you are holding your breath, that would explain why you can only go two laps before you need a rest. Concentrate on breathing out while your face is in the water; it should be as natural a rhythm as breathing during any other type of exercise. The only difference is that with swimming you breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose (with other exercise, you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth).
Last edited by BlueToBlue; 05-09-2008 at 08:53 PM.
Oh, I remember so well when I couldn't do more than 2 laps then collapse the trick was to finally relax, sloooooow down to a literal crawl and not to take such huge breaths every time I cam up for air...also just rolling your head and looking under your arm pit sort of when you come up for air...
When I first started swimming I took triathlon swimming lessons... I found this video of drills. The are very similar to the drills the instructor made us do.... I used to hate the 10x10 drill it's shown in the video. But it was a lot of fun ...
It does take time to get the breathing down though but once you get it, you get it, KWIM
I am not holding my breath. I exhale when my face is the water and when my left arm is forward, then roll onto my right side, roll my face out of the water when my right arm is forward and take a breath. So I'm not holding my breath. My daughter (who swims competitively) has worked with me on my breathing technique and I really don't think I'm doing it improperly.
I just think it is because I am SO out of shape. But I'm going to continue to plug away. I just wanted some feedback on when I might expect to see some progress.
It could also be your training schedule. If you're not swimming at least twice a week, it may be very difficult to make, or at least see much progress. At least that is true for me.
When I was younger, I could go two or even three weeks without swimming and not notice any loss in conditioning, but over the years that time frame has consistently decreased. Now, if I only go once a week, it seems that I don't get much better from workout to workout, but if I go twice a week, I can easily do more than the workout before. I've been away from it for most of the winter, so I know I will basically be starting over. My lung function has drastically improved though (asthma and allergies have virtually disappeared) since found out I'm allergic to NSAIDS and have stopped taking them), so maybe I'll see progress more quickly, because of the improved lung function.
I'm sure the maximum time between sessions is going to be very individual and reflects variables like age, general health, lung health and overall activity level. Surprisingly, though I haven't noticed that my body weight is nearly as much of a factor. Because of the weightlessness of the water, I can do a tremendously more strenuous workout than on land (Getting out of the water sometimes reveals how much of a workout, because in the water you don't feel yourself sweating).
The way you've described your breathing technique, it sounds like you aren't breathing at the right time. You don't want to actually roll to the side, you just want to turn your head to side. And, if you are turning to the right side to breathe, you should be turning your head when your right elbow is coming out of the water, not when your right arm is forward.
Ah, yep I bet that is it. When you roll, you waste alot of energy. It isn't just the breathing, the roll makes you less aerodynamic (or would that be aquadynamic). It requires more energy to swim, if you're rolling you're body to take a breath.
It's natural, even instinctive to turn your body along with your head. But when you turn only the head, you will move through the water more smoothly and easily (and quickly).
I found this website that shows the swimming strokes from the above and from under the water.
When I'm getting tired, I notice that I tend to forget to turn only my head, or maybe it's just that the instinct to roll is stronger. Then I switch to the breast stroke.
Hi, I'm a former competitive swimmer and I agree with those who mention technique. It's the key to swimming. If you improve it, you will find the whole thing easier and more enjoyable. I suggest a book, Total Immersion Swimming. If you follow the drills as they build on each other, I think you will find that it will ease you into a good technique and help with the breathing, especially. What your daughter says about rolling to breathe is covered by the book, in fact. I learned some things from it and I thought after 40 years of swimming there was nothing more I could do to improve!
It might also help to have someone watch you swim and give you pointers, maybe your daughter's swim coach or a connection could help here? I find that having someone work with you just a little sometimes helps you feel the changes right away, and you can cement them in your mind, instead of wondering, did I do that arm thing right or not?
As to endurance, it will come. Take it a step at a time and you will be surprised at your progress. I also find there are days when I feel just great in the water, and others where I am clunky and sluggish. This is after a lifetime of swimming, it still happens. Just focus on the fact that you are swimming and that you enjoy it, that's what I try to do on days when I wonder how I'm even moving up and down the pool!
I just love swimming. It is so different from all the impact exercises I do and has made a big difference in adding a whole body exercise to the mix. Plus I just like being in the water! Only place I feel graceful! Good luck with it!
Also, if you are breathing to the right when your right arm is forward, that's a really awkward point in your stroke to take a breath and you're going to have to work really hard to do it. I doubt that I could do more than a couple of laps like that and I'm a pretty experienced swimmer. If you breathe to the right, you want to be breathing when your left arm is forward and your right elbow is coming out of the water. That's a much more natural point for a breath and should be much easier.
the trick was to finally relax, sloooooow down to a literal crawl and not to take such huge breaths every time I cam up for air...also just rolling your head and looking under your arm pit sort of when you come up for air...
