Don't know how to swim! [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

snowtulip

10-31-2007, 06:52 PM

Hi everyone,
So i've been mingling in local adventure races and am really excited about the idea of triathalons, but I don't know how to swim, I've just started private swim lessons (I'm a little slow on understanding the mechanics, i.e I have to think way too hard for each little movement and forget multiple limb movements) .

Anyone out there recently learn how to swim and try a tri? How long did it take for you to feel comfortable in the water?

Thanks!

KnottedYet

10-31-2007, 06:56 PM

I know how to swim, I just s*ck at it.

I'm standing here, proof that one can take 25 minutes to doggie-paddle and sidestroke 1/2 mile and *STILL* do ok in a sprint tri!

(couldn't have made it without my wetsuit helping me float, though!)

You can do it!

Zen

10-31-2007, 08:56 PM

You've just started lessons, give it time.
I'm impressed that the thought would even cross your mind without knowing how to swim.

Kind of inspiring, actually...

teigyr

10-31-2007, 09:32 PM

You know, it might be easier for you because you are just starting. You haven't learned bad habits :o

I learned how to swim when I was young but never refined or perfected it. I'm trying to go back to undo/redo it all before the tri season next year. I did do a 1/2 mile OW swim this past year but trust me, it wasn't pretty!

Do you not feel comfortable in the water in general? Or do you get fatigued? Or do you just find it all unnerving? I love the water so that fear isn't there but I am darned clumsy, especially for distance. Just start slowly and work your way up. It'll happen.

If you do a womens tri (Danskin is one) they have people called "Swim Angels". They will, on request, swim beside you to keep your spirits up.

alpinerabbit

10-31-2007, 11:31 PM

I started out just about a year ago and did my first sprint in June this year. I still wasn't able to do all freestyle but I was pretty quick out of the water (25 out of 70).

Same thing exactly, I was a water swallowing klutz in the kids' pool.

I feel quite comfortable now but am not yet fast or technically great...

You can re-read all my agony posts on my training blog....

Tri Girl

11-01-2007, 04:33 AM

I was a swimmer growing up, so it comes naturally for me. Now, my DH just learned to swim last summer. He couldn't do 25 yds without almost drowning- literally (and having to stop halfway and hang onto the lane line to catch his breath). He took a couple swim lessons, and practiced his little heart out. This summer he did a 1/2 IM. He almost did as well in the swim as I did. :eek:
Like Teigyr said, you haven't developed bad habits (which are difficult to correct in swimming), so all you're learning now will translate into an efficient and strong stroke. Good for you for tackling the swim- you're going to do GREAT next season!!!!

luv'nAustin

11-01-2007, 05:00 AM

Hey Snowtulip,

Hang in there and it will get easier! I was in the same position just a few years ago. I had just moved to Texas and wanted to start cycling but didn't want to go on the big bad road alone so I looked at the bio's of the trainers at my local club and found a trainer that was also a certified bike coach.

I asked him if he could train me and he said sure for $5O an hour...or you could join our tri group and cycle twice a week along with two other group workouts in the week for only $150. a month. Hmmmm, that was a no brainer. However, I didn't even own a suit and had a life long fear of water.

I must admit that it was very slow in the beginning and I kept having dreams (some would call them nightmares, but they were dreams to me) at night where I would suffer some injury that would require stitches or a cast. Other nights it might be a disease that would result in surgery and even a longer recovery...the end of the dream always ended with the doc saying that I couldn't go into the water for X amount of time. Yipeeee!

Anyway, I did learn to swim and the dreams eventually stopped. I started my training in March and completed my first Danskin Sprint tri in June of the same year. I've done three in total and get this....I even went on to become a certified triathlon coach two years later. I'm still really slow in the pool and still can get the willies while in open water, but I've really come a long way in just three years time! You will too!!! In fact, my husband loves it when I swim as he says it is the only exercise that I do in the week where i come home in a relaxed state. Go figure!

HillSlugger

11-01-2007, 05:40 AM

I knew how to swim, but when I got back into the water last December to start triathlon swim training I discovered that that I was a really poor swimmer. My kick was a complete mess, I felt like I was flailing, and trying to breathe induced panic. I started private lessons once a week and added in lap swimming a month or two later. It felt really hard because I had to think about everything rather than my body knowing what to do and how to do it. I did a 300m pool swim tri in July and had only swum that distance non-stop twice before. For my 1000m OWS tri in August I knew I could do the distance but I had never done it all freestyle. After my tri season was over I continued swimming and it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started to feel really comfortable swimming. So, of course, I had to shake things up and try to learn bilateral breathing. I feel completely incompetent again!

Now is a great time to learn to swim. Hopefully you'll be a faster learner than I was ;)

HappyAnika

11-01-2007, 11:27 AM

I just started learning how to swim in Jan or Feb, did a sprint tri (500 m) in July (was ready by June).

While I was ok being in the water from the neck down, (you could plop me in a lake and I wouldn't drown), I never got the hang of putting my face in the water without holding my nose, despite seemingly endless swim lessons as a kid. I always got water up my nose and/or swallowed a bunch, so I still have some anxiety about putting my face in the water (w/o holding nose).

I started out just putting my face in the water and gently breathing out my nose to balance pressure. Next I had to learn to swim freestyle. DH and I taught ourselves the Total Immersion technique through the book and DVD. The method starts you on drills, so I just did drills for months. The drills were designed to imprint the movements in your muscle memory, and this technique worked well for me. The drills progressed in baby steps, so it was a long time before I was doing anything that resembled a freestyle stroke.

I would practice 2 - 3 times a week for 30 - 45 minutes, and I always started by just putting my face in the water. If I didn't get in the pool for a week or more, I was definitely more anxious than when I went regularly. So long story short, I'm still not really comfortable in the water, I have to ease myself into it, but after a few minutes I'm fine. I'm hoping to tackle open water next season.

I think that's great you are taking lessons to avoid learning bad habits. Just give it some time. I know it can be frustrating if you're used to picking things up quickly, but patience and practice will ultimately make you a better swimmer.

Kimmyt

11-01-2007, 11:40 AM

The Boy signed up for his tri last year and hadn't ever really learned to swim. He could doggie paddle. He said, "I can do front crawl, I just can't put my head in the water" lol. He took some privates and got through the race, though not in style and not in good time. This year he has joined my masters class and is actually keeping up with me fairly well.

So yes, it can be done!

K.

snowtulip

11-01-2007, 06:16 PM

Wow, thanks for sharing! I was beginning to feel a little defeated, so this really helps.

I've been terrified of water, so my initial lessons have involved just getting used to being in the water and holding on tight to the side of the pool. Since then, I've moved on to where I can float with my head under the water and pull with my arms to move forward, but I have to be in shallow where I can stand up at anytime when I need to breathe (for some reason my brain won't let me lift my head out of the water to breathe, I end up sucking in the water and choking, I'm having a mental disconnect). It's been two weeks with a lesson M-F; so it's been full immersion. I start once a week lessons next week and am a little afraid that having that many days between lessons might drop my confidence about being in the water.

But hearing all your great stories is so helpful, I just have to stick with it. I didn't know about "swim angels", so it's nice to know that that is an option, kind of like a security blanket!

I hadn't thougth about not having bad habits, so yipee! I'll start out with the proper form!:p

It's been very inspiring reading about all of your experiences with triathalons, so you are all responsible for me taking this jump! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the support!:D

Brandi

11-02-2007, 09:20 AM

I learned at a very young age how to swim becuase we have always lived by the ocean. Then in high school I did synchronized swimming for a while. But that was years ago. Every time I swim now I don't seem to like it as much. And chlorine make me sneeze like nobodies business!
I think it is so cool you want to learn. It might be you will like it better then anyother other sport. It is kind to your joints. No impact. Keep us up on how you do with it!

Dogmama

11-03-2007, 05:53 AM

My back is trying to spit out some more disks & my doc suggested swimming. I color my hair. Am I going to ruin it? Is there some conditioner, or something that I can use under the swim cap?

Vanity, thy name is woman.

Wahine

11-03-2007, 09:01 AM

SnowTulip, I'm an adult learned swimmer. I've been swimming now for about 11 years but I started because of a hip injury that prevented me from doing anything else. I sucked at first but improved very quickly once I got some coaching. So hang in there. Happy to hear your going for it!!

Dogmama - the best way to preserve the hair is to soak it and spray it with a leave in conditioner before going into the pool, and always use a swimcap. After swimming, be sure to wash and condition. There are some specialized swimmer's hair products out there but I just use the same stuff I would use normally.

teigyr

11-04-2007, 05:09 PM

I am the queen of hair drama. I have curly hair that gets dry really easily.

Definitely use conditioner. I did a frantic call-out a while ago and learned a lot. What I do now is spray leave-in before I leave the house and then have some leave-in conditioner that I put in before my swim cap. I heard to wet my hair too and that makes sense. Your hair will only absorb if it's dry, I think. My hairstylist has noticed no damage or anything like that.

I went through what you're going through less than 6 mos ago. I didn't even know how to put on a swim cap! I'm still struggling but am learning. And unlearning bad habits. At least you don't have those :o

kelownagirl

11-04-2007, 06:30 PM

I am reading this thread with interest because I am in the same situation. I suck at swimming and because I'm so blind, I have avoided putting my face in the water for 30 years. Now I want to do a tri?! I am going to buy some prescription swim goggles (found out they are way cheaper than I thought) and sign up for private lessons. The hardest part for me is just getting wet. Those darn public swimming pools are always so cold. I never even like going in for "fun"! :rolleyes:

Knot - it's good to know I could theoretically dog-paddle and side stroke my way thru the swim portion - I hadn't thought of that! I would love to do the Try-a-Tri here next summer...

Deborajen

11-05-2007, 07:52 AM

I s*ck at swimming, too. I took lessons as a kid but never did get it. I've never been comfortable in the water . . . But I'm inspired by this thread! Just saw a sign at my gym for a beginners' swimming class and it got me thinking and considering. But I'm not ready yet.--

Good luck, Snowtulip. You're not the only one -- Hope it goes well for you! :)

Deb

Kimmyt

11-05-2007, 09:11 AM

Kelownagirl, since you're shelling out for the perscription goggles, make sure you put the straps UNDER your swim cap instead of on top so that they can't get knocked off and lost! Wouldn't want you to lose those $$ things and be blind in the water!

snowtulip

11-05-2007, 06:36 PM

Good luck to everyone else that is trying to swim better! I'm feel like I should learn how to tread water or doggie paddle, but apparently they don't teach treading water until the very end. And considering I don't even know one swim stroke, I guess I shouldn't be complaining.:D

kelownagirl

11-05-2007, 08:10 PM

Wahine

11-05-2007, 08:17 PM

Yup KG, I'd recommend it, especially if you colour.

kelownagirl

11-05-2007, 08:20 PM

Geez, those are sorta uncool aren't they? :p :rolleyes: :cool:

Wahine

11-05-2007, 08:44 PM

:p :p :p :p :p

mtbdarby

11-13-2007, 06:26 AM

Swim cap question. Despite the "uncoolness" of the cap:rolleyes: what's the trick to putting on and taking off without ripping my hair out? Any cap suggestions since I see different shaped caps out there?

And I've been looking for a UV spray on conditioner and can't find one. Any suggestions?

HillSlugger

11-13-2007, 06:50 AM

I'll take a stab:

I like caps made of silicone

I wet my hair and then put on the cap starting at the forehead, stretching it over my ponytail to the neck. At this point the cap is usually folded on itself at the forehead and needs to be straightened out. After tucking in the wisps, I'm ready to swim. After swimming I remove the cap starting at the forehead.

snowtulip

11-13-2007, 08:16 AM

Ok ladies, I've hit a wall. I'm mentally incompetent with this whole swimming thing. For the life of me, I cannot seem to get a breath in while swimming. This is what happens:
I push off the wall, my head is in the water, I do three arm pulls forward, then it's time to stick my head out to get air and I end up sucking in water, so then I end up having to stand to breath and start over.

Swim instructor says I'm still exhaling and start to inhale when my head goes back in the water, says I need to have all my air expelled by the time my head comes out of the water so that I can quickly inhale. Yes, makes sense, but for the life of me I can't seem to do it!:mad:

Any suggestions, it's beginning to really get to me because I can't move forward until I GET this. I can't seem to fully expel until my head is out of the water.

HELP!:confused:

Kimmyt

11-13-2007, 10:37 AM

It seems like you would benefit from doing some really basic breathing/kicking drills. Take a kickboard and do a length of the pool. Put your head in the water and BLOW BUBBLES until you run out of breath, then pick your head up to breath. Really concentrate on blowing out your air. I think once you become more comfy doing this basic thing you can throw in some more complicated drills while doigmn the actual stroke. Also, you might want to try breathing every 2 strokes, the problem might be that you're taking too long to do your strokes and so feel the need to gasp for air once you bring your head out of water.

Good luck!

K.

wemoon

11-13-2007, 05:53 PM

Sorry to hear that you are having some troubles! I think some breathing drills, like what was just mentioned, should help you out. I'm new to swimming too. I used to be on the swim team waaaaaay back in jr. high, but I was a horrible swimmer. I just got back into the pool this last weekend with a swim instructor. I feel pretty OK about it so far. I'll be going swimming on my own tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

Hope that the drill will help you out!

alpinerabbit

11-13-2007, 11:38 PM

........ I do three arm pulls forward, then it's time to stick my head out to get air and I end up sucking in water, so then I end up having to stand to breath and start over.

Swim instructor says I'm still exhaling and start to inhale when my head goes back in the water, says I need to have all my air expelled by the time my head comes out of the water so that I can quickly inhale.

I can't seem to fully expel until my head is out of the water.

Start by practicing blowing bubbles underwater until you have expelled everything. Maybe standing with your upper body and arms horizontal.

Then go on to the following drills:

http://www.limmatsharks.com/basic_drills.html

Do these religiously. We still do these in Tri Club practice.

Then start back on the arm stroke.

There are more excellent articles on freestyle and other strokes: http://www.svl.ch ---> Tips in English

Dogmama

11-14-2007, 03:31 AM

Start by practicing blowing bubbles underwater until you have expelled everything. Maybe standing with your upper body and arms horizontal.

Then go on to the following drills:

http://www.limmatsharks.com/basic_drills.html

Do these religiously. We still do these in Tri Club practice.

Then start back on the arm stroke.

There are more excellent articles on freestyle and other strokes: http://www.svl.ch ---> Tips in English

I was going to suggest the same thing!

I'm a newbie swimmer & I bought Laughlin's book - Total Immersion. He does these drills starting with swimming on your back, then tilting to the side.

On breathing, his drills say that rather than just moving your head, you need to tilt your entire body during freestyle. He also talks about slipping through the water and not expending a lot of effort, but being slower and more controlled. It works!! I'm working on these drills & they're helping!

I suggest his book for the visuals, like slipping through the water with the smallest form - he compares a tug boat to a kayake. He gives some excellent drills too.

signed - former "glub glub club"

luv'nAustin

11-14-2007, 08:16 AM

Gosh, I really shouldn't be giving you this tip because I became dependent on the darn thing but it really worked for me.

I was doing something similar to what you are doing when you swim. I think mine was a type panic breathing and I believe that I was taking a quick "sip" of air with my nose as it hit the water. So, I purchased a nose piece and it took care of the problem and two years later I was able to ditch it and swim on my own.

Hang in there...it will get easier!

snowtulip

11-14-2007, 05:55 PM

As always, you gals have great advice! I go to the pool with DH tomorrow to practice. I've printed out all the recommendations, I also plan on picking up a kickboard and noseplugs!

I WILL get this!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

HillSlugger

11-15-2007, 11:50 AM

I tend to expel about half my air under water and the rest as I turn to breathe. This morning I made a conscious effort to expel more and it made my breathing easier. It's definitely something I will keep working on.

smilingcat

01-09-2008, 06:52 AM

Signed up for my first swim lesson in decades.

Okay so I have all the bad forms and habits. Never really learned to do the freestyle/crawl. just never could get the breathing thing right. interesting first lesson. :D

I'm swimming because of my back problem. hoping to strech out muscles in my back, IT band, ham string and glutes. So its more of PT thingy than training for a tri.

Swimming has never been my favorite cup of tea:
nearly got drowned by local boys at a swimming area on a river near my uncle's place.

my younger sister decided to stand up in a canoe on Lake Tahoe and panicked when we hit the waer and she nearly drowned me.

had to swim 50yds or 100yds in college fully clothed with tennies. coach said we had to wear sweats full length. safety requirement (NY state law) to be on crew (I was a coxswain for men's 8 men crew sometime on 4 men crew.) rowing that is.

and my good friend from college and I rolled the canoe on American Thanksgiving day while in northern Ontario. coldest 100 yard swim fully clothed in my life. I almost didn't make it. My friend carried me out of the water cause I was shivering so hard.

so I can swim, poorly.

so twice a week. This will be good. :D:D:D maybe I wont thrash so much in the water. I prefer breast stroke over the crawl. Did learn to do the butterfly but for the life of me, I would not even know where to begin today.

Hopefully I wont hold up the class. and oh thanks for all the good suggestions here and links.
smilingcat

KSH

01-09-2008, 07:21 AM

teigyr

01-09-2008, 12:19 PM

I was reading an article for beginner triathletes about common problems in swimming. It mentioned a fear of difficulty in breathing. It said:

"When you get out of breath, the natural instinct is to stop, pull your head out of the water, and breathe. But swimming requires that you're comfortable with your face in the water -- a major source of anxiety for many new swimmers."

The paragraph basically states that when we're anxious or nervous, we want to breathe more often and get more air. As we get more oxygen in, carbon dioxide can build up which, in turn, makes us think that we need more air. We end hyperventilating instead of being calm. (Thanks to Triathlete Magazine)

I think that's a lot of the problem I have in swimming. I did take Total Immersion lessons and that has helped. If you're just learning to swim, try to relax and take it step by step. I wasn't scared of the water at all (in fact I love the water!) but when faced with a non-stop swim, I felt like I couldn't breathe. The more I practice, the better it gets. The less I practice, the more I have that "learning curve" once again.

Give it time, be patient, and it'll come. I know that's easier said than done because when I'm in the water I try to remember every little thing and I get worked up all over again. When I read the bit about carbon dioxide, I realized that it's a very real thing (this feeling that I need more air) and with that, maybe I can do something about it. So maybe do some reading too and you will see that so many people have the same problem and it is completely normal as you start swimming. And congrats for doing it :D

Dogmama

01-10-2008, 04:18 AM

SwimBikeRun

01-10-2008, 07:19 AM

Check out the Total Immersion method. Though I was a lifeguard and WSI, I never learned how to really swim, that is to swim competitively. It wasn't until I purchased the book and DVD Triathlon Swimming Made Easy and worked through the progression of drills that I trained my body and develop the muscle memory to be able to breathe on both the right and the left and to relax in the water. It took me several months to learn to swim again but it has been well worth it.

http://www.totalimmersion.net/

The key is to practice, practice, practice!

snowtulip

01-10-2008, 09:41 AM

Good luck Smilingcat! I'm having a difficult time, but never learned in the first place and not in control of the fear as much as I thought I was. So hopefully you will have a better time with it than I'm having!

Drtgirl

01-10-2008, 10:55 AM

I'm going to learn how to swim this month too. This post has been very helpful...I'm glad I'm not the only one with apprehension!

Dogmama

01-14-2008, 02:00 PM

wavedancer

01-14-2008, 03:44 PM

I have been lurking on the triathalon forum for the past few weeks, toying with the idea...I just started getting back in the pool after MANY years, and my first two visits I was gasping like a grounded guppy after one length of the pool. I realized I am expending way too much energy when I swim, so I started checking out the Total Immersion pearls that I could find online. I have ordered the book for Triathalon Open Water swimming book and the freestyle DVD, but they won't be here for a few weeks.

I went to the pool today and tried doing some of the beginning drills, as best I could understand them, and what a difference! I slowed my strokes way down and focused on rotating my whole body and finding my balance in the water. I am really excited to learn how to swim again!

kelownagirl

01-14-2008, 07:31 PM

Jolt

01-17-2008, 08:25 PM

For what it's worth Smiling Cat... I had to swim for 6 weeks on my HS swim team... in FULL SWEATS. Yes, the top even had a hood to cause more drag. It was my punishment for failing a class. :rolleyes:

LOL...I'll bet you were fast after that though! When I did summer swim team as a kid we'd have things like pajama day, jeans-and-sneakers day etc. at the end of the season, so I know exactly how much harder that makes swimming! And then on high school swim team there was the famous garbage-bag relay (actually, I think we did that on summer swim team as well--same coach)...that one took the cake as far as drag goes!

alpinerabbit

01-18-2008, 09:00 AM

I went to my second lesson today. We reviewed what I learned last wed (rotating my body more, not lifting my head out of the water, proper kick etc) and then we did the back stroke (I did well on this), and then we worked on my stroke. As soon as I started to concentrate on how my arm/hand enters the moves thru the water, I forgot to breathe, or kick, or whatever. :rolleyes: For the most part, I was uncoordinated and sloppy and but every once in awhile, I did a really good lap. :D The good thing was, I didn't think about my breathing as much today and it felt a bit more natural. Next lesson, Wednesday. I can't believe I actually like swimming. I can't believe I actually like running either. Who knew????

for the neuromotor-challenged among us it is incredibly confusing in the beginning. It's good practice to isolate the movements. Can't remember if you're doing Total immersion but if not, read my posts one page up.

After a year and 3 Months I can say I am comfortable swimming freestyle (let's say I was after a little under a year) - although I think my form could be improved.

We did flip turns on Monday and it got me as soon as we were supposed to actually swim towards the wall with arm strokes.

Oh and go and practice in between lessons. No matter how stupid you look.

snowtulip

03-16-2008, 08:27 AM

Well December and January were lost to being sick. February was spent trying to get my body back up to speed, and March is the start of trying to pick up where I left off with swimming.

Once I got back in the water, panic took me. But luckily, it's disappearing again. I've been back in the water again for the past two weeks (much of it relearning what I started in Nov.) and doing all those great breathing drills you've recommended.

During lessons, he doesn't ever have me use my legs, only my arms for pulls and now learning how to do the freestyle stroke (ouch, my shoulder is not flexible enough to keep my arm straight). Maybe legs will come soon?

Just wanted to thank you all again, it was great coming back to this thread to get me back on track after that break!:D