Open water swimming

[fairynick]

After my only swimming experience for the past 15 years being pissing about in the pool/paddling in the sea for a week abroad every year, I joined my local organised open water swimming sessions in April this year. Looking back it was a bit stupid because I wasn’t the strongest swimmer, and would’ve been better off at an indoor pool, and maybe even lessons.
Anyway, the majority of people at the sessions are either triathletes, training for a channel swim etc, and then there may be one or two ladies such as myself just there for a little bit of breaststroke.
I’m ridiculously slow. Slower than everyone. I’m mid twenties, in reasonable health, relatively fit, healthy weight etc. I get lapped regularly by overweight women in their sixties.
Being slow doesn’t really bother me because nobody there is judgemental, and I go more for mental clarity and to get outdoors more than anything.
It’s just HOW slow I am. It seems that I am not just the slowest, but slowest by far.
Today I did 500m breaststroke and it took me about 25mins. I just don’t understand, I’m not particularly knackered when swimming, and don’t struggle in the water, but am wiped after. Does anyone have an idea why I could be so unbelievably slow?
I think for now I’m just going to ignore it and continue to happily plod along until the autumn, when I will begin swimming indoors and perhaps have some lessons depending on finances.

Honestly just keep going and build up your stamina. I’m not in it for speed either. I can now swim a mile, not fast, just under an hour. It’s easy just to chill and swim, every now and again between buoys try and exert yourself to get your heart rate up.

Like you say it’s great headspace and for me that benefit is amazing.

Are you wearing a wetsuit?

Are you doing this in the sea? It is much harder work than swimming in a pool!
When i did a marathon i was overtaken by several armadillos and a fridge. Go at your own pace, work on progression for you and enjoy it!

Keep going and get better.
There may be a less ultra athlete focused group near you. I sometimes swim with a group of splashes and bumbling along rather than timings and tow floats.
There is a slow swimming Facebook page that may give you inspiration.

I'm a fairly strong swimmer, not triathlon level but fast enough at front crawl to be in the fast lane of a pool session.

However my breaststroke is almost stationary! I don't know why, is it technique? I have narrow hands and feet. I just can't seem to make it work and I would prefer it for open water as it keeps my head up.

In Windermere where the lake narrows there is a current and I can't breaststroke against it, have to front crawl until it opens up again

You have to remember you are potentially swimming against a current or rip current so it depends when you go into the sea. If it’s organised they should be swimming in a slack tide. Could you and your friend not break out and go swimming yourselves. We started a group in my village but now everyone has their own little groups who just suit themselves. But always make sure you never swim alone. And enjoy!

If you are enjoying it just keep going and your stamina and possibly speed will naturally increase. Have you tried swimming freestyle instead. Breaststroke is slow stroke and can seem.like swimming though treacle if you dont have the technique spot on.

Thanks all! I definitely will continue, it’s definitely for headspace rather than fitness - although if I’m doing it so often it would be nice to improve a bit more 😂
I should have mentioned, I am wearing a surf suit atm instead of a wetsuit which I have been told is thicker and more buoyant and so does slow you down (however I did do a session in just a cozzie and noticed no difference hahaha).
Even though it’s a lake and there is no current, there are jet skis on the other side that cause little waves - when I’m swimming adjacent to them I have to keep looking behind me to make sure I’m actually moving!
I much prefer breaststroke because I like to look where I am going and prefer my head out of the water. It’s a beautiful place where I swim, and I like to look up and enjoy which might also be great for my speed.
Looking back from April I have definitely improved slightly, so will definitely keep going and try not to think about my pace as much and just enjoy myself. :)

I wouldn't even give being a "slow poke" a second thought. You're out there exercising and enjoying nature which sounds amazing to me. Good on you for being so adventurous!

It sounds like you have a pretty inefficient technique, from your description.
If you're happy as you are then don't worry, just enjoy it.
If you'd like to get faster then a couple of sessions with a good instructor could work wonders. They can teach in open water as well if you don't fancy the indoor pool. Ask the others in your group for recommendations if you want to take that route.

@fairynick

Thanks all! I definitely will continue, it’s definitely for headspace rather than fitness - although if I’m doing it so often it would be nice to improve a bit more 😂 I should have mentioned, I am wearing a surf suit atm instead of a wetsuit which I have been told is thicker and more buoyant and so does slow you down (however I did do a session in just a cozzie and noticed no difference hahaha). Even though it’s a lake and there is no current, there are jet skis on the other side that cause little waves - when I’m swimming adjacent to them I have to keep looking behind me to make sure I’m actually moving! I much prefer breaststroke because I like to look where I am going and prefer my head out of the water. It’s a beautiful place where I swim, and I like to look up and enjoy which might also be great for my speed. Looking back from April I have definitely improved slightly, so will definitely keep going and try not to think about my pace as much and just enjoy myself. :)

Sounds like technique to me OP.

Pre Covid, I took 6 lessons with a coach to improve my technique. It worked wonders (still can't do butterfly though 😂), back, breast and crawl improved a lot. Ask your local council for swim coaches or maybe social media (I'm in a couple of wild swimming Facebook groups).

You’ll be slower than the others because you're swimming breast stroke, keeping your head above water, and wearing a surf wet suit rather than a swimming one (a winter one?).

I say that as someone who used to open water swim, and started off with breast stroke, wearing a winter surf wetsuit (that was slightly too small!) and never putting my head under