Don't know how to swim!

[snowtulip]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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.
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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!

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!

[Brandi]

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]

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]

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]

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