Swimming!

[MocMocaMoc]

I'm trying to train to finish in a reasonable place in Triathlons next year. I can run and bike, that's fine (always room for improvement, obviously) but my swimming really lets me down...

It's not that I'm a bad swimmer - I've swam all my life, and my dear mother put it best;

"You'd swim the most perfect stroke, faster than anyone, but then just run out of steam! While your sister, arms and legs all over the place, just carried on all day long"

I've got the speed, and power, and I'm learning good technique (slowly) - but my stamina is utterly shameful. Even when I slow down, I'm still knackerd.

Are there any drills anyone can recommend? Tips, tricks?

Is swimming just the most f*cking exhaustive exercise ever conceived? Or am I just not built for endurance?

Or is it just Rule #5 and put more hours in?

All help appreciated.

Edited by MocMocaMoc on Wednesday 14th November 21:48

[z4chris99]

more hours

train till your sick

do ladders ( see below ) have a short rest and go again and again

BK. BR. FLY. FS
2 2 2 4
4 2 2 2
2 4 2 2
2 2 4 2

[anonymous-user]

Which triathlons are you doing?

I'm only helping you if you're not going to be up against me.

[MocMocaMoc]

Haha, anything around the North East... Or near by. Haven't signed up to any yet, though.

Don't worry - ill be rubbish.

[ApexJimi]

Topical thread, this.

I'm about to start swimming again, after a good few years of not swimming very much at all.

I'm drawn to swimming because of the combination of cardio and resistance it offers, which I think will compliment my strength training quite well.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OP, you sound like an experienced swimmer, so this is probably barking up the wrong tree, but are you sure you have your breathing right. Nothing saps your enegy like getting the breathing wrong.

I'm not the fittest guy in the world, I couldn't even contemplate a triathlon, but I swim 5 days a week and can swim for hours, when I have the time.

[MocMocaMoc]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

OP, you sound like an experienced swimmer, so this is probably barking up the wrong tree, but are you sure you have your breathing right. Nothing saps your enegy like getting the breathing wrong.

I'm not the fittest guy in the world, I couldn't even contemplate a triathlon, but I swim 5 days a week and can swim for hours, when I have the time.

Very good point! I've picked up bi-lateral quite naturally, but could probably do with working on calming down slightly... Finding a good rhythm might help!

[mattnunn]

I've been swimming for the last 6 months or so twice a week, I was in the same position, I had one speed at which I could go all day but any fater and I quickly ran out of puff, but I can run 10K in sub 40 minutes comfortably.

I found it has got a lot easier, I'm not thinking about my stroke anymore or my breathing and can settle in to a nice rythmn, I do 2 lengths slow, 2 lengths mid pace then 2 lengths fast as I can - and repeat for 30 minutes.

I found getting confident in my turns helped a lot maintaining rythmn.

[nick s]

Swimming fitness is completelty different to running fitness IMO!

If you're struggling for breath, have you thought about when you're coming out to breathe? You should be starting your breath as soon as you can. When i started having lessons i found i was breathing towards the end of my stroke, and therefore only having a small amount of time to quickly get a small breath in!Also, make sure you fully exhale and blow out whilst in the water, so that none of the time whislt your head is turned to breathe, is wasted on exhaling fully. Think about those things when next in the water!