improve my swimming

[sandwiches77]

I can only manage half to three quarters of a length of front crawl. What is the best way to build up to a whole length?! Maybe even two lengths in one go!!?

Watching!

I've recently started swimming, I can do 70 lengths breakstroke but not even a whole length front crawl!

Im a swimming teacher and have taught adults. You need to swim regularly to build stamia, do you breathe to the side?

I always found it so tiring, I'd be gasping after a length if I managed that. Breathing is really key and going slowly, not trying to go fast. Maybe get a leg float thing (forgot the fancy name) so you can do lengths focusing on arms and breathing. Watch YouTube videos on technique.
I can do a few lengths now, I'm still working on it but these are what I've been doing.

Alot of problems with increasing distance with front crawl is breathing techniques. So aquatic breathing ( blows bubbles in the water) then breathing to the side.

I wish I could 🏊‍♀️ properly.
I get in trouble from the life guards for splashing too much when I try to do a length.

I really want a snorkel so I can do it without the annoying breathing!

RagzReturnsRebooted are you blowing bubbles properly? you need to breathe slowing keeping your head in the water and turn to breathe when you need to breathe in. If your gasping your going too fast or your not regulating your breathing properly.

I used to struggle doing one now I can do at least ten in a row. Literally just stamina and practice and you tubed techniques to improve my swimming. Did half a length. Then one. Then I do one breast Stoke one front crawl. And now I’m just building up the number I do slowly.

Cosmos123 focus on your arm pull if your splashing it sounds like your smacking the water than relaxing your hand and stretchng and pull down.

I had lessons with a coach to learn to do crawl properly. I suggest breaking it down first. Hold a float and try kicking with just your left leg, then just your right leg. You might find one or both are not moving you forward. Then practice just your arms.

I've been watching a guy at my local pool. He's massively overweight and looks so unfit, yet he swims relentless lengths every day front crawl and from what I can it's the fact he's got his breathing down to a great rhythm and goes fairly slowly/quietly that is the key. I admire him so much, but I try not to stare... I should probably ask for tips, but he just never stops. It's quite mesmerising.

In terms of breathing guys get a float two hands at the bottom and get your face in and practice blowing bubbles the key is to regulate your breathing so your breathing all the air out in the water when you turn you breathe back in ( half a second) then back to blowing the air out in the water. The process to one hand on the bottom of the float and turning to the side once all the airs been blown out with the other arm to the side rolling the face back in kicking continuously. Then introduce the arm pull and breathing. It's important to break it down and get that breathing right and then the turn.

@Bananarama21

RagzReturnsRebooted are you blowing bubbles properly? you need to breathe slowing keeping your head in the water and turn to breathe when you need to breathe in. If your gasping your going too fast or your not regulating your breathing properly.

No I'm definitely not doing the breathing properly, hence the gasping still no matter how hard I try. I can't seem to get enough out before it's time to turn my head? I think I take too deep inhales, like I'm scared ill drown. Which is silly because I can do a length (small gym pool, 15m) without breathing at all! I only breath out through my nose underwater, is that wrong?

Thats why you need to be blowing bubbles through your mouth and nose only turn once all the air is gone, if you turn too early you will be gasp.

Banararama21 yes I breath on my right side only, I just don't seem to have the stamina to complete one whole length

Get a float and build up get practising the aquatic breathing even in a 15 metre pool, until you build confidence doing 25 metres.

sandwiches77is your right side stronger? It sounds like your a unilateral swimmer, if you struggle swimming and changing to different sides try breathing every 2 or 4. It's common in adults who may have an previous injury to have a stronger side. I was a club swimmer and after having dd and sustaining an hip injury during labour and then spd with ds I find my rotation of my breastroke legs is slightly off because of this.

When I used to teach, I gave people homework- get a washing up bowl of water, or in the bath, put your face in and practise blowing out, and then turning your head to the side to breathe in. There are various drills you can do with floats, too.

Are there any options near you for getting a session with a swimming teacher? That will be more effective than us trying to describe it in writing!

I was a terrible swimmer a few years ago, then got injured running and wanted to keep my fitness (and sanity) so went to the pool.

I did 1 length of terrible crawl, one of breast and 2 just flipped over on my back to recover. To start with I stayed in the pool for 45 mins and didn't count lengths. Went 3 times a week and slowly got more stamina, worked out how to breathe, stopped trying so hard but thought about form and technique.

In time I improved. Got some tips from friends - get someone to watch you swim.

Now I regularly do 1km front crawl and also open water swimming.

Running is still my first love but I have found a different love and buzz from my swim.

nb I did the 1 crawl, 1 breast, 2 back repeatedly, not just once!

I recently got a swimming teacher to get me swimming properly at the age of 60 plus and 12 lessons in I can now do two lengths
(about 36mts) of the front crawl. I’m lucky that I have a swimming pool at home so I swim about 4 times a week in total after doing about a 5k walk on my treadmill. My coach also does aqua physiotherapy with me for a neck and shoulder injury and I’m now so much more mobile than before.

Are you good at other sports like running and cycling? If so then it might be that your technique is lacking in which case a couple of lessons might help.

If you are generally unfit then simply keep at the swimming and as you build endurance the distance will improve.

Banararama21 I am right handed so guess that is stronger. Dont really know why I only turn on my right side, I've just got into the habit

@Bananarama21

Cosmos123 focus on your arm pull if your splashing it sounds like your smacking the water than relaxing your hand and stretchng and pull down.

Thank you. Will try

I’ve just done lessons to learn crawl as I couldn’t do a length. We went right back t basics of arms, legs and breathing. Did a lot of my lessons with flippers on which makes you a lot faster but feels like a false sense of security a bit! I still find it hard and I’ve been swimming several times a week. I really need to relax into it more and remember to breathe out and not hold my breath! I can swim breastroke forever so think I just need to keep building up the crawl now I’ve got the technique right.