Increasing amount of continuous lengths

atilladehun

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on how to get better at swimming a distance without having to stop. I've been having this problem for ages so I went back to adult lessons a couple of months ago. I certainly improved my technique but I'm still only getting 2 lengths done before I need to stop and catch my breath.

I know it's a mixture of fitness and technique that needs to improve. I'm better at just lifting my mouth out but I still feel like I'm not getting a good breath. If I try to stay on my side longer my pointed hand can't stay up and continues the stroke.

Has anyone got any tips?

Thanks.

Surinam

I'm having a very similar problem -cannot go much more than four lengths without having at least a 20-30 second break. Meanwhile, everyone else is zipping up and down the pool. I am reasonably fit and can run on the treadmill for quite a while without having to slow down.

I have been trying to get better with the breathing technique by slowing down my breathing (ie no sudden gulps of air which tire you out quicker) but there hasn't been much improvement in how long I can swim for.

username123

Its all technique. I swim 100 lengths non stop, I dont swim very fast and I wouldnt be madly fit, but if you can imagine that I swim at a pace like Im jogging along nicely, I dont get out of breath at all, no more than I would going for a walk.

I dont think I have the worlds best technique either (as in Im not that fast), but I practiced the breathing for a good while before I was able to go a while without a break.

Its very hard to explain, but I used to feel like I wasnt getting enough air in, like there wasnt enough time to get it in and the two things that I had to practice a good bit were (a) making sure Id exhaled everything while my face was still in the water - Id be exhaling continuously and (b) (this is the important one) I just forgot about the fact that I was trying to swim a length and Id roll my entire body sideways for the breath (and sometimes even stay there for 2 or 3 breaths just floating) until somehow my body got the knack of just getting it. When I started getting it I also realised that part of what was preventing me from getting it was my own tension, when I relaxed more I got more air. I also had to slow down a lot, I was capable of swimming faster but I couldnt get air if I went faster. Now I can get air at any pace, but I will change how often I get it depending on how fast Im swimming.

Probably the best tip I was ever given on it was about taking a quick glance behind because you do get enough time for the air doing that, but when I was practising myself, the rolling to one side and just staying if I needed while taking more than one breath seemed to help relax me and to teach my body how to get the knack. Its almost like I had to forget about swimming and practice just going from being on my front to sideways and back again in a relaxed manner.

lorcan122

Okay sounds like you are having breathing problems, what I would do is, use a float and practise one arm front crawl, breathe every two, and then once you are finished the length, switch the arms and repeat the exercise, make sure you are breathing correctly, when you are pulling with your arm, you arm makes this trough to the side of your face, breathe into the trough, use the roll of your body and tilt your head into the trough and breathe, start of taking your whole mouth out of the water and then try and breathe with half you mouth in the water.

Try the whole stroke together and go slow at first and then make sure your breathing is right. If you continue to have problems with the breathing, go back to the board and try one arm again. Also make sure you exhaling the air out of your lungs when you have your face in the water, it should be sharp and quick exhales to remove all the co2 and oxygen.

atilladehun

Thanks for the replies. I recognize the tension. I was trying just to one side and sometimes with the float, I think I'll go back to it. It's funny how I'll train on my own and be caught up with the tension, but then I'll go to lessons and swim quite relaxed for a part of the lesson at least.

Thanks again - good to know others solved the problem. That'll spur me on.

Burkatron

I'm typing this on my phone so apologies for any mistakes!!!
One of the most common things I see as a swim teacher that people make (&other so called teachers, don't know to correct ) is how they try to exhale using their neck muscles.(mainly the scalene muscles) I've tried breathing like that just to experience it & it actually hurts & causes tension in the body! When exhaling the best way to learn is by using your cheek muscles, puff them up & slowly push the air out your lips, get use to this & your breathing should become easier.(if you're not doing it already)

Colette X

I've been swimming for over 50 years - mostly front crawl (freestlye - competitive when younger). It is only in last couple of years I discovered that breathing on every fourth stroke gives you a chance to fill up your lungs - right down to your 'belly'. That sends the oxygen to your blood supply, stops the constant 'nodding' and allows you the time to exhale fully. I swim as if i am out for a walk, not as slow as you might imagine as I usually find I have to use the 'fast lane'.

My adult kids are good swimmers but find it hard to do 2 lengths as they push themselves too hard. I think they might be a bit self-conscious and think people are watching them so they want to put up a good speed. As an elder lemon I have come to realise that if anyone IS watching, they are only watching their own kids or laughing at the person who is swimming breast stroke at about 19 mins a length with their head stuck above water all the time. Best of luck with it and make sure you keep your head above water.:)

atilladehun

Thanks for the replies again. Burkatron Could you describe that in more detail or link a video that explains it well. I don't think I get that quite yet.

Colette I think you're right too, I swim much slower in lessons than on my own. At least 10 mins after the lessons start. I think sometimes I get stressed into doing X lengths and push too hard. Then I relax.

Thanks

username123

atilladehun wrote: »

Thanks for the replies again. Burkatron Could you describe that in more detail or link a video that explains it well. I don't think I get that quite yet.

Imagine how you breathe when you are blowing up a balloon - try to exhale like that into the water.

Burkatron

atilladehun wrote: »

Thanks for the replies again. Burkatron Could you describe that in more detail or link a video that explains it well. I don't think I get that quite yet.

Colette I think you're right too, I swim much slower in lessons than on my own. At least 10 mins after the lessons start. I think sometimes I get stressed into doing X lengths and push too hard. Then I relax.

Thanks

username123 wrote: »

Imagine how you breathe when you are blowing up a balloon - try to exhale like that into the water.

This

Right, take a big breath in so as you have to inflate your cheeks, put your face in the water & slowly purge the air through your lips. Practice this as soon as you get into the water. Try & float about as you let the air out try & sink to the bottom of the pool, this will give you a sense of how much breath/time you actually have with your face in the water. I know it helps to relax my students when I teach them that. Then apply this type of exhilation to all your drills. Avoid using your nose to breath out at this stage, if you're taking on water a nose clip will fix this problem, eventually you wont need it!

username123

Burkatron wrote: »

.......try & sink to the bottom of the pool

Ive read about this a lot and just cant seem to do it - any tips on how to sink? (Bizarre question probably but it bugs me I can never do it!)

lorcan122

username123 wrote: »

Ive read about this a lot and just cant seem to do it - any tips on how to sink? (Bizarre question probably but it bugs me I can never do it!)

Take a deep breath, put your head out of the water, and exhale all your air out of your nose slowly, and you should sink. If you have lots of air in your chest you will float, no air in your chest and then you will sink.

Burkatron

username123 wrote: »

Ive read about this a lot and just cant seem to do it - any tips on how to sink? (Bizarre question probably but it bugs me I can never do it!)

Tie some weights to yourself!! :P
Nah, as said, you just need to keep exhaling till you become less buoyant then the water.
It's crazy,what I've seen over the years when non swimmers get into trouble & panic they sink but when you try to get them to sink in a controlled fashion they tense up (the same way) & float, when they eventually relax they can control where they go in the water & can sink...

username123

Im heading up there now, Ill try it again. Ive been able to swim for over 30 years, never had any fear in the water or anything (Im not tense I dont think!), but I just cant seem to sink!

Burkatron

username123 wrote: »

Im heading up there now, Ill try it again. Ive been able to swim for over 30 years, never had any fear in the water or anything (Im not tense I dont think!), but I just cant seem to sink!

It has to be that you're not emptying your lungs....or you have hollow bones??
I'd love to be not able to sink! It would make everything alot easier!
Did my 1st session of the year yesterday, it was a very slow & (more mentally) torturous mile! I can't wait for tri season

username123

Burkatron wrote: »

It has to be that you're not emptying your lungs....or you have hollow bones??
I'd love to be not able to sink! It would make everything alot easier!
Did my 1st session of the year yesterday, it was a very slow & (more mentally) torturous mile! I can't wait for tri season

Im convinced female bodies find it harder to sink than male - more body fat, extra floatation devices lol!!

Ben D Bus

username123 wrote: »

Im convinced female bodies find it harder to sink than male - more body fat, extra floatation devices lol!!

I'm male but I can't sink. I don't think I'm a girly bloke but I'll try to man up in the pool this evening and see what happens

username123

Ben D Bus wrote: »

I'm male but I can't sink. I don't think I'm a girly bloke but I'll try to man up in the pool this evening and see what happens

lol!!
I didnt make it there in the end, am going in the morning, with my hubby so Ill see can he man up to sinking as well!

Burkatron

username123 wrote: »

Im convinced female bodies find it harder to sink than male - more body fat, extra floatation devices lol!!

This was the casting concept for bay watch, nothing to do with how good the ladies looked in a swim suit, it was practicality!!