Don't know how to swim!

[kelownagirl]

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"!

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]

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]

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]

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.

[kelownagirl]

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!

Should I be wearing a swim cap? My hair is short-medium length but mostly off my face.

[Wahine]

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

[kelownagirl]

Geez, those are sorta uncool aren't they?

[Wahine]

[mtbdarby]

Swim cap question. Despite the "uncoolness" of the cap 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]

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]

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!

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!

[Kimmyt]

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]

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]

........ 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]

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"